Bat Walk Friday 10th May 2019 @ 8.45pm

Bat Walk Friday 10th May 2019 @ 8.45pm

The Friends of Streatham Common Present an Evening Bat Walk

Bat Walk Friday 10th May 2019 @ 8.45pm

click for a larger image

Dr Iain Boulton, Environmental Compliance Officer for Lambeth Parks and Open Spaces takes you on an evening walk & talk about one of our very popular residents, the much misunderstood bat. Now protected, they are a small but important pollinator & pest controller for our common.

Free, but booking is essential.
Book your place at IBoulton@lambeth.gov.uk

Meet at the Rookery Cafe at 8.00pm

Free event – donations welcome

Winter Tree & Bird Walk: Thursday 21/02/19 @ 11.00am

Winter Tree & Bird Walk: Thursday 21/02/19 @ 11.00am

Join the Great North Wood and Friends of Streatham Common for a guided walk on Streatham Common. There is an interesting array of woodland trees and planted specimens dating back to the Victorians.

Come along and learn about the trees of the Great North Wood and brush up on your identification skills.

We’ll also be looking out for birds and hope to spot winter thrushes, woodpeckers and perhaps a goldcrest.

Wear suitable footwear for a woodland with rugged paths and inclines. If there is prolonged heavy rain, thunderstorms or high winds the walk will be cancelled.

This is a free walk, but donations are always welcome

2018 Christmas Carols and Party

2018 Christmas Carols and Party

The Friends held their annual carols around the Xmas tree on Wednesday 5th December. In spite of rain in the afternoon in was dry before the carols. This year we were unable you use the yard for our ‘meet and greet’ due to the works for the new kiosk but we managed very well outside and were pleased to see we had a real tree again.

Unfortunately, the Xmas tree lights were not working during our actually singing though  they were on by the time the party was over! Many thanks to Sainsbury’s for the mulled wine and mince pies which put us all in the right mood for singing!

Thanks also to Phil Robinson, from Streatham Baptist Church, who opened and closed the carol  singing. He has been supporting this event for years and we were sad to say goodbye as he is moving on at the end of January 2019, to a new position in Leicester. He has a fine singing voice which we shall also miss! Elizabeth Shearcroft, the vicar from Immanuel church, joined us as usual, but was out of voice due to a bad cold but we’re hoping she will be back at the helm next year.

Once again, we held our Xmas party at The Bull. We’re very grateful to the Bull for continuing to support us by giving us good terms for our party. Excellent food, drink and service.

We were joined this year by the Sing out Streatham choir, who sang some wonderful specialist numbers and led the rest of us in more traditional carols. Many thanks to Xenia, choir leader, for her flexibility and enthusiasm!

Thanks in particular to Anthony Gold solicitors who have been sponsoring this event for many years now. Without their generous financial contribution and the Fortnum and Mason’s hamper for our raffle, we would not be able to offer the party as a free event for our members.

All in all, another great evening!

 

 

[With Thanks to FoSC member, Jane Peake for review]

 

Keeping Your Dog Safe on Streatham Common.

Keeping Your Dog Safe on Streatham Common.

There’s nothing lovelier than seeing dogs flying around the common, finding their inner wolf, running after that ball as if it was an escaping antelope.

But there are hard & fast rules to keep everyone safe, including your dog and other dogs safe, with bylaws such as
– Keeping your dog under control, by either commands or a lead.
– Picking up your Dogs poop  – The fixed penalty notice is for £50 [but if  prosecuted in court for dog fouling you could receive a maximum fine of £1,000].

Most dog walkers on the common follow the rules. There are also unspoken rules, just etiquette that keeps all of us and our pups safe. One of those rules is that you know exactly what your dog is doing, and that its behaving appropriately. This becomes a problem when technology gets in the way.

Mobile phones. They are a necessity – but are they necessary when taking your dog for a walk? The answer is “Not really”.

Taking your dog for a walk isn’t just about exercise, although it is very important – its also about bonding as a pack.  Dogs look to us for guidance, and if we have our heads buried in a screen, they don’t get that. If they aren’t getting guidance, then they decide for both of you – that they will take control. Its pack nature.

It’s also dangerous. dogs wander off – bored. So they make their own fun. This means running over to other dogs on the Common. However, this isn’t always welcome, either by the dog who is being approached or the owner. Recently I saw a dog dawdle dangerously close to the road, and was just about to run on to it, until a passer by managed to grab it. The owner still blissfully unaware of its dogs near death experience, too busy checking life or death info on the screen. Yesterday a very friendly Lurcher wanted to say hello to my anxious dog [on a lead] and no amount of shouting was able to get the owners attention, who was having a fabulous conversation on her phone quite some way off. Fortunately Mr Lurcher had the good manners to stop when I shouted very assertively to him to ‘stay’ and eventually went on his way.

Click for a larger image

Refresh your memory on how we interact with other dogs. Take a moment to look at the Space Etiquette for Dogs poster [left]. It really does make sense. Even if you have a brilliantly chummy dog, remember, other dogs may be on leashes for many different reasons. Please respect their boundaries and their owners requests  – there is usually a good reason for it, and will keep your dog safe also.

More scarily though, there are people specifically stealing dogs. No reports on the Common as yet, but there are reports lately from nearby Brockwell Park & Dulwich Park where distraction crimes have seen owners have attempted thefts of their dogs. Very recently in Black Park [nr Slough] where a dog was happily trouncing around, disappeared. After an hour he reappeared, accompanied by strangers. The owner, on her own in a deserted car park with these criminals was threatened that if she didn’t pay, the dog was going in the back of the van. They wanted a £1000, they got £100. Don’t lose sight of your pets and be aware of your surroundings, you dont want to make yourself a target for phone thieves either.

The bottom line is, dogs need communication, and your walk is mostly what keeps them on track with you. Enjoy your walk. Enjoy the space, the sky, the trees with your dog. Reports tell us they get depressed. I don’t doubt it. Many a time, I have passed a human statue, focused on the white screen while their dog awaits instructions, or just a bit of interaction.

Our days are crammed with incoming information – you can look at your phone 23 hours of the day. Give your dog that one hour of undivided attention. You will both enjoy it more.

 

Links

If you have a repeat offender on not picking up their dog poop – you can report it. Not clearing up is an environmental crime.

If you find a lost dog on the Common [-which also leads into Croydon borough]
you can call the 
Lambeth Dog Warden: 020 7926 1000‬
Croydon Dog Warden: 020 8726 6000

They mainly work office hours but also some hours over the weekends

But if it is out of hours you may have to get it to Battersea Dogs Home
T: 020 7627 9245 24hrs a day

If you can get it to a local vet, they maybe able to check the chip for you. The nearest ones are:

Easipetcare Streatham: 3-7 Hermitage Lane, SW16 3LH
(Next door to Lidl – just off Streatham High Road!)
8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 12pm on Saturdays
T: 0203 621 6114

Streatham Vets [24 hour]
23 The High Parade. Streatham High Road Sw16 1EX [Near Nandos in Streatham Hill]
T: 020 8677 0976

There are useful groups like:
The Streatham Common Furry Clan: Members will often recognise a dog if you have a photo of it, a very useful group to share information with [you have to be a member and have a dog]. They might be able to give you good advice if you are really stuck!

If you have time – maybe check DogLost to see if it has been reported there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Fair & Market 9th December 2018

Christmas Fair & Market 9th  December 2018

Located within the grounds of our beautiful Rookery, this is the fourth year for the event and is a brilliant day out for adults and kids alike. What better way to spend a Sunday in December with some traditional cheer and grab that last minute gift!

This year will feature over 40 stalls with local arts and crafts, gifts, hampers, home wares, clothing and treats. There will be delicious food stalls, a Christmas cafe, mulled wine stall and our on site Brewers, Inkspot, who will be serving their craft beers, ales and lagers.

The marshmallow toasting area and flame garden will be back, so come along and warm your fingers whilst eating a gooey marshmallow treat!

New for this year will be an area for the monthly Farmers Market – a chance to buy delicious food for your Christmas table, plus a series of festive Workshops – available to pre book – details to follow.

Our beautiful Winter Wonderland Santa’s Grotto will be open from 11.30, with a donation of £3 per child. Each child will receive a gift from Father Christmas.

Musical entertainment will come from our favourite DJ Tony, alongside songs by local choirs and a gorgeous Carols by Candlelight led by the Streatham Central Church. Do stay, light a candle, grab a glass of mulled wine and enjoy this perfect end to the day.

The fair is proudly sponsored by Douglas & Gordon and we are very grateful for their continued support.

For Christmas Fair information, get in touch with events@sccoop.org.uk.

Christmas Carols: Wednesday 5th December 2018

Christmas Carols: Wednesday 5th December 2018

Join in the carol singing by the crib at the foot of the Common.
From 7.00pm, there will be mulled wine and mince pies.

Singing starts at 7.30pm.

The Friends Christmas party at The Bull pub follows the singing. The party is for members only, including those who join on the night.

Join now and give yourself an early Christmas present – or better still, give someone the gift of a FoSC membership!

Individuals – £6
Families / Organisations – £12
Concessions – £2.40
Concession Families – £4.80

Consultation: Tree Felling Thursday 22/11/18

Consultation: Tree Felling Thursday 22/11/18

Thursday 22nd November
The Rookery Cafe
Time: 6.30 – 8.00pm

Streatham Common Cooperative, Lambeth Council & London Wildlife Trust are planning some tree works to promote further regeneration within the fenced area in Streatham Common Local Nature Reserve

They plan to fell invasive Turkey Oaks and coppice some Sessile Oak trees to encourage natural regeneration of Oak trees and a more diverse ground flora.

For more information and to discuss plans for the area, please attend the consultation evening or contact them directly at greatnorthwood@wildlondon.org.uk

Or telephone 07734 599 286

Raising Money for the Paddling pool 2019

Raising Money for the Paddling pool 2019

As always, John Rhodes and his wife are up with the lark and out in all weathers raising money to ensure the Children’s paddling pool will be reopened for Summer 2019.

The Rhodes are committed volunteers to Friends Of Streatham Common, Streatham Common Cooperative which looks after the Rookery and the Pool. They also spend a  huge amount of time fundraising and raising the profile of the Pets as Therapy Charity

The Doggy Splash day at the start of October raised in total £1200. John is hoping to collect at least £2000 in total of the £5K needed to get it opened.  The stall has lots of fun, silly and useful items – Bric-a-brac –  with 100% of sales going to the Pool fundraiser. Currently we are in negotiations with Lambeth Council about having the pump repaired….which all costs money!

Johns stall will be up outside the Rookery Cafe  until midday Weekdays and all day on weekends.  Please show your appreciation to him when passing, either buying something, passing him any spare change or indeed you could inquire about doing your own fundraiser for this much loved play area.

Please contact SCCOOP for details on how to help

If you are a parent – we would love to see your involvement in keeping this vital corner of summer heaven alive and kicking.

Photos of Kite Day 2018

Photos of Kite Day 2018

Thank you all for making KITE DAY 2018 a wonderful success.

The wind was down a little on previous years but it was still a fabulously sunny day to enjoy beautiful Streatham Common, and the community who worked hard to make it an amazing event!

For more images keep track of the KiteDay instagram page

[fts_instagram instagram_id=streathamkiteday access_token=4691957950.da06fb6.7787d695be9a467ab1c819dedc3d5869 pics_count=6 type=hashtag super_gallery=yes columns=3 force_columns=no space_between_photos=1px icon_size=65px hide_date_likes_comments=no]

 

Also, please take a look at local photographer Roy Reed’s great pictures of the day:

Crocodile Kite