campaigns

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Successful Volunteer Event in Historic Park

We had a wonderful work day in Bromley Palace Park on Saturday 15th February. With a good number of volunteers there, we were able to achieve a lot. Installed; ornamental grasses, ferns, and a couple of small trees in the Fernery. Also re-sited another bench here, which combination has transformed this small peaceful area. Elsewhere further bramble, ivy etc was cleared back along the Carriage Drive, in preparation for much shrubs to be planted. We have some 80 such shrubs to be planted, so a lot still to plant!

Volunteers also installed some spare paving stones. This, along with improved signage, has improved the path to the Rafford Way entrance. Preparations for the later installation of interpretive boards was also undertaken.

So thanks to all the volunteers that turned up. This included; Kerry, Phil, Jan, Jeff, Moira, Kristen, James, and all the rest…….. Much remains to be done.! Our next work party takes place on Saturday 8th March, anytime 10 am – 4 pm. Part of our ‘Love Bromley Palace Park’ project. So please come along and make a difference.

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Celebrating St.Blaise & Bromley Palace Park

Last Sunday there was a ceremony marking the connection between Saint Blaise, a 4th century christian bishop & martyr from Lower Armenia in modern Turkey, with this town centre park. He is celebrated as the patron saint of animals, healing of throats, infants, wool workers, etc, etc.

The above spring-fed chalybeate (iron traces) well was established a long time ago in the grounds of the Bishop of Rochester’s former palace – now Bromley Palace Park. To celebrate this an event to bless the current well by the Deacon at St.Joseph’s RC School, Bromley, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bromley in attendance, plus approximately 40 members of the public.

In opening the event the Mayor mentioned how Saint Blaise was connected to the healing properties of water and speculated how Bromley might have become a spa town, perhaps rivalling Royal Tunbridge Wells! However he would not recommend anyone drinking the spring waters today. He also pointed out the many wonders of this park which, while so quiet and rural feeling, was only some 400 metres from the busy High Street.

The Deacon of St. Joseph’s then conducted a brief service and official Blessing of the well and its associated spring, with the attendees taking part. After the ceremony people were encouraged to tour the park which, despite the sell-off of the northern parts of the site, was still fully open to the public. To find out more about this park and how you can help the ongoing efforts to restore the park please HERE.

Volunteers are carrying out further work to further improve this historic park. Next work session is on Saturday 15th February, any time between 10am and 4pm.

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Glassmill pond: Tree work

Earlier this week a contractor was on site, removing fallen and damaged trees as well as coppicing the remaining willows. This was to allow more light as well as in preparation for future activities. as much as possible of the wood cut will be used on site.

Next the water level in the pond will be temporarily reduced to allow contractor machinery to access the pond; excavate the silt and reuse to raise the level of the island, create a bank to separate an enhanced water channel and pond area. The weir boards will be permanently removed to allow fish and eels to freely move upriver.

This project, when finished, will restore this pond’s heritage and biodiversity. It has been carried out in a partnership of our Friends group, Thames21, Environment Agency, Thames Water and Brom;ey council.

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Working party on Glassmill Pond

For our latest working party we chose a hot bank holiday weekend, which was probably not the most sensible. However this urgent decision was taken as at the time there was a large number of shopping trollies and scooters dumped in the pond. However Environment Agency staff had removed them before we turned up, so saving us a lot of hard work – phew!. We also decided that with the island very overgrown it was not safe to go on there. 

Working party volunteers
Working part volunteers
Some of removed vegetation
Pollution trapped by shrub
Just some of rubbish collected
Cleared area

However we still had plenty of tasks to be done – and we achieved the following — 

  • Collected 4 large bags of rubbish, including a number of golf balls, tennis balls and two footballs
  • Cleared two large piles of undergrowth and saplings from around the weir end (see ‘after’ photo below).
  • Partly cut back an overhanging buddleja bush near the concrete ramp. This has been trapping some pollution from upstream for some time (see above images). 

Our next scheduled working party will take place on a weekend sometime in November, when we hope that the vegetation will have died back and we can safely work on the island. If you wish to get involved please Email. You can find out more about Glassmill, and our project to refurbish it HERE.

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Glassmill refurbishment project update

As part of our ongoing project to bring this historic mill pond back to its earlier glory, we continue to work with other parties to greatly enhance its historic and ecological value. Led by Thames21 this project also involves amongst other stakeholders; Bromley council (as site owner), Environment Agency, Thames Water, and of course our Friends group.

Last Friday, Thames21 staff met up with Friends at the site, off Glassmill Lane, to carry out an important survey of the pond. They measured those features required to refine the design of the renovated pond, and for an important food risk assessment.

Tony Banfield (left) with T21 team
Feeling their way
Measuring position
Measuring an island
Thames21 Survey

This flood risk assessment, and approval by the Environment Agency to dredge and reuse the silt as part of the new pond design, is critical to this project being viable. This decision is complicated by some of the silt samples previously found to contain medium levels of pollution. To read about the background to this pond and its refurbishment go HERE.