Holland Park School Playground Site

When planning permission was granted for the new Holland Park School, it was also given to a soulless, monolithic, luxury apartment block to be built on the school’s playground, just a few metres from the Park boundary. The new owners/developers, Native Land and Grosvenor, are trying to improve it, which is excellent. However, there are indications that they also wish to increase the building height and the risk is that the new block will be visible above the trees from the Park’s North Lawn. This would be a disaster. The North Lawn at present is not overlooked and no buildings outside the park can be seen from the North Lawn. It is a beautiful, tranquil green space, much enjoyed and valued by Friends and visitors wanting to get right away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world for a little while. We must ensure it is not spoilt forever.

Please visit the public exhibition of the developer’s new plans to be held in the Westminster Suite of the Royal Garden Hotel on 15th and 16th July between midday and 8.00 pm and if you are not satisfied with their plans, register your concerns with them and be ready to object when the planning application is lodged. Our website will keep you up to date on likely timings.

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood...

The park is using pigs to sustainably manage the Arboretum Enclosure and to re-establish the wildflower meadow, which has become encroached with bramble and nettles, and is in need of urgent attention if it is to be restored.

The two options for restoring the meadow were spraying with chemicals or using pigs. Glyphosate, the only suitable chemical, is harmful to most plants and would adversely affect the park’s biodiversity. Using pigs is the most sustainable approach with a minimal impact on biodiversity.
They will turn over the bulbs in the area which is likely to reduce this year’s flowers. However, they do not eat them, unlike our friend the squirrel who loves to eat bulbs! In the longer term the bulbs will benefit from the disturbance and being “chipped” will mean that they are likely to flower more vigorously in following seasons.

These pigs, a sow and her three piglets, are British Saddlebacks. The breed was recognised in 1967 when the Wessex Saddleback and the Essex breeds were amalgamated. Both breeds date back to 1918. They are hardy and noted for their mothering capability. Pigs are effective foragers - using their highly sensitive snouts to turn the ground over so they can find a wide variety of foods such as roots, mushrooms, grasses, and earthworms.

The pigs provide an excellent natural clearing source and can be used to remove bracken, bramble and nettles. This clearance of the ‘brash’ and undergrowth of woodland helps the regeneration of saplings, woodland pasture and small herbaceous plants. It is anticipated that the clearance may take up to three months, then the pigs will be removed, possibly to another area of the park. Once the pigs have turned over the soil, the emerging vegetation will be assessed as seed stock held in the soil has the opportunity to grow. If necessary, the enclosure will be reseeded with a woodland meadow grass and wildflower seed mix.

Wildflower meadows are a valued part of our countryside and are one of our fastest disappearing habitats: over 95% have been lost. As a result, many of our native wildflowers are in decline and some have almost disappeared. Wildflower meadows support birds and small mammals; they are also home to many invertebrates, including butterflies, grasshoppers and bees.[Spring 2010]

Vote Holland Park the People’s Choice

Subscription Reminder and Gift Aid

Thank you to all those who have renewed their subscriptions for 2010.  The subscription year starts on 1 January when all renewals were due except from those members who have joined since September 2009.  Currently we have about 740  members paid up for 2010, including over 500 who paid by standing order on 1 January.  That leaves about 200 who have not yet paid and if you have not done so, PLEASE PAY NOW!

We are very grateful to all our members without whom there would be no Friends. It is your impressive numbers which give us influence among the councillors who make policy, and ensure that we are at least listened to if not always agreed with. We hope you will all want to renew.

Over half of you give us standing orders, payable on 1 January, and to these we say ‘thank you’, and you never need do any more. To those who still have to pay, please use the order form and make your cheques payable to The Friends of Holland Park. Minimum dues are £12 or £9 for seniors. The only exception is that those who have joined since 1 September 2009 have their membership valid for 2010.

Over half of you have also signed Gift Aid forms, which means that the Friends can reclaim 28p in the pound from the Inland Revenue, and this adds up to over a thousand pounds a year. If you find a Gift Aid form with your newsletter, please sign and return it if you pay UK tax. If you do not pay tax and tell us, we will try to ensure we do not ask again. Thank you.

All queries about membership (e.g. ‘Have I got a standing order?’) to Rhoddy Wood on 020 7602 0304 or rhoddy.wood@virgin.net