Information and Events

We last put news on this page on December 19, 2011

Checking our accounts

Dear Friend of Shrewsbury Park,

Would you be willing to check our accounts for the last financial year, or do you know someone who will? It should not take more than a couple of hours to go through our income and expenditure, check it against the receipts and invoices and sign them to say they are correct.

We need this done so we can apply for funding. We would be grateful if someone was willing to take it on.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks

Kathy

Latest newsletter

Cleaning the Woods

On Sunday 20th November, Kathy, Les, Liz and Richard spent an hour cleaning the rubbish from the woods next to Dothill. Among the rubbish found were 2 TV satellite dishes, clothes and wire as well as the usual cans and plastic. It was great to see the mushrooms in the woods. The weather, although misty, kept dry.

Thank you to everyone involved, including the Council. Paul from the Parks Department supplied the bags, and Larry arrived fifteen minutes after the cleaning event to clear away the rubbish and to talk to Kathy about getting rid of the barbed wire in the woods.

Fungus growing in the woods

Notice Board at entrance to Dothill

Ron Senkus made a notice board for the Dothill entrance (thank you Ron), and the Council erected it.  We are keeping it up to date with our notices and notices of local events.

If you want to advertise a local event, let us have a poster for it.

New steps in path

"Thank you” to Ron and Miles for their work on putting steps into the path leading down from the Green Chain Walk to the old allotment. The steps have made a huge improvement to the path.

2011 AGM

This was held in the Slade Community Hall on 22nd October 2011.

David Waugh, from the Flamsteed Society, was unable to attend due to ill health, so Richard Buchanan stepped in with a talk on "Street Furniture".

The members came up with a number of ideas/suggestions or improvements to the Park, which the Management Committee agreed to take on board.

Thank you!

We would like to thank all the people who gave their time to run the Summer Festival this year. We would particularly like to thank Nicolle, Jane and Lesley who gave so much of their time to put on the ever popular dog show.

We would also like to thank the people who donated items to our raffle, including:

Audience listening to music at the FestivalSummer Festival photos

See photos of this year's festival.

New 'Did you Know?' section

Have a look at our new section under Flora and Fauna called "Did you know?".  Lots of useful and useless information - enjoy!

Management Committee

We need more people to join our Management Committee.

Do you have time and skills that will help us?  We meet one evening every two months to work on our events and plans to improve the Park. We particularly need people with fundraising skills.

If you have the time to help out, please let us know by emailing us.

New photos on the web site

Do have a look at the new photos of the Park. They are on one of our gallery pages.

Subscriptions are now free!

We wanted to be as inclusive as possible, and whilst £2 per year is not a lot of money for most people, it is difficult for people on low income. It has also taken a great deal of time to collect some members' subscriptions and has cost us money (stamps, envelopes and paper).  If you know a "Friend" who has not got an email address, and you are willing to undertake getting the information in our emails to them, please let Kathy know. It will save us money.

We are happy to receive donations from Friends, and if you would like to make a donation when your next subscription would have been due, then please send a cheque made payable to “Friends of Shrewsbury Park” and send it c/o 159 Garland Road, Plumstead, London SE18 2PP.

Group improving the drainage at DothillImproving the drainage in Dothill

We have had problems with flooding in Dothill for several years. The huge puddles has made it impossible for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs, and the many children on their way to school. The photo of the puddle shows you the size of the problem.

As the Council were unable to help solve the problem, a working party of volunteers from the Friends of Shrewsbury Park gave up a couple of hours on a Sunday to dig a soakaway at the side of the path.  We are delighted that the large puddle is no more! The soakaway is working well.

You can see some photos of the work on this page.

Ticks

A number of dog owners have reported seeing ticks on their dogs. I always check my dog after a visit to Woodlands Farm!

There is a useful web site, www.bada-uk.org, (Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness UK) which has information about ticks, how to avoid them and how to remove them.

They suggest that you should search your pet thoroughly for any attached ticks as they can be very tiny (less than 1mm), even when fully engorged. Brush against, as well as with, the hair-growth to see any ticks that are close to the skin. 

You should check around and inside the ears, around the eyes, on the chin and around the muzzle, as well as between pads and toes.

Tick Removal Instructions

Ideally, wear rubber / plastic gloves or, in the absence of gloves, shield fingers with tissue or paper.

  1. Choose the most suitable twister hook, according to the size of the tick (O’Tom Tick Twister hook pack contains two sizes, one for adult ticks and one for the tiny nymph ticks).
  2. Engage the hook by approaching the tick from the side (the body of the tick is flat) until it is held securely.
  3. Lift the hook very lightly and TURN IT (screwing or unscrewing). The tick detaches itself after 2-3 rotations.
  4. After removing the tick, disinfect the bite site and wash hands with soap and water.
  5. Save the tick for identification in case you become ill within several weeks. Write the date of the bite in pencil on a piece of paper and put it with the tick in a sealed plastic bag and store it in a freezer. Your doctor can use the information to assist in making an accurate diagnosis. Although not every tick carries Borreliosis or any of the associated co-infections, immediate removal of an attached tick is recommended.

Diagram of how to remove ticks

DO NOT use petroleum jelly, any liquid solutions, or freeze / burn the tick, as this will stimulate it to regurgitate its stomach contents, increasing the chance of infection.

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