Friends of Streatham Common AGM: Virtual Meeting Wednesday 28th October 2020 @7.00pm

It is obviously not possible to hold any form of normal AGM this year. The FOSC executive committee has therefore decided that we will have a short, essential business only AGM. It will start at 7pm Wednesday 28th October. It will be an online event.

Proxy voting is allowed by the Friends’ Constitution and this year it is encouraged by the FoSC Trustees for this virtual AGM . So if you are happy to support the election of Trustees and Officers listed below, plus agreeing that the membership subscription prices should remain the same, please help us by emailing the Chair at chair@streathamcommon.org saying “please act as my proxy for my vote supporting all the proposals listed on the Agenda for the FoSC AGM”.

Alternatively, if you would like to attend this short online meeting live, please email that you would like to and we will send you a link to the meeting. If you would like to ask any questions, please submit them in advance before 21st October.

The agenda is attached to this email and all other documentation relating to the AGM can be viewed using the following link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1AsVA8-4_ECSpq6_xkk8mnd3dbEoRKCeB

Friends of Streatham Common

Trustees, Officers and Executive for re-election 2020

Tracey Williamson and Dave Malley are standing down as Trustees having served for 3 years but are willing to stand again, Lizzie O’Grady is standing down as she is moving.

The following have been proposed and seconded as Trustees:
Tracey Williamson
Dave Malley

Other Trustees:
Harriet Blacklay
Claire Hopkins
Mike Robinson
Peter Newmark
Nick Cattermole

The following Officers are up for election:
Officers (Who must be Trustees)

Chair – Tracey Williamson
Vice Chair – Claire Hopkins
Secretary – Harriet Blacklay
Treasurer – Nick Cattermole

Officers (who need not be Trustees)
Membership Officer – Caroline Hewitt
Volunteer co-ordinator – Richard Payne standing down
Publicity and Social Media Officer – Richard Payne standing for election in new post
Common Knowledge Editor – Peter Newmark

Executive Members
Andrew Simpson

Regards,

Tracey Williamson

Chair
Friends of Streatham Common
chair@streathamcommon.org

CANCELLED: Bat Walk: 25th September 2020 @ 7.00pm

CANCELLED: Bat Walk: 25th September 2020 @ 7.00pm

10/09/20: Due to new government restrictions on public gatherings on more than 6 people, our planned bat walk has been cancelled until further notice. We know many of you were looking forward to it. We will keep you posted with any updates on the FoSC webpage

#wearamask #washyourhands

Unless restrictions prevent it, this walk will start at 7.00pm by the Rookery main gates. Numbers will be capped and regulations, such as social distancing, may apply.

Join Dr Iain Boulton for 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.

Bring a torch.

Bat detectors will be available.

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

Meet by the Rookery gates at 7.00pm
Free event – donations welcome

For more information on the British Bat population – please go to http://www.bats.org.uk

Kite Day 2020: Postponed

Kite Day 2020: Postponed

Kite Day 2020: Postponed.
Please read our statement below.

A great FREE event for all Streathamites, Kite fans and those who want a fun day out from further afield. It has everything…music, food…and kites!
Volunteers will be needed so if you want to join in – please let us know. We can only make it happen with the community being a part of it. its good fun and you get to be part of a really important Streatham Event.

Its that time of year where professional Kite fliers from all over the country congregate in the heart of Streatham

We are planning to make this event as green as possible. We have food vans on the day selling a fantastic range of food and will be trying to ensure no single use plastics are brought on to the site. WE ASK THAT YOU DO THE SAME. Leave zero trace. Please expect to take every bit of packaging back with you to recycle. We rely on volunteers to litter pick but WE DO NOT HAVE THE FACILITIES TO RECYCLE.

Planning ahead: How to get to Streatham Common

By Car – THERE IS NO PARKING ON STREATHAM COMMON SOUTH AND THIS ROUTE WILL BE SHUT. SURROUNDING STREETS ONLY HAVE RESIDENTS PARKING. PLEASE USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

Lets help the environment and travel by public transport instead. Do your bit for greening our City.

By Bus – 50, 60, 109, 249, 250, 255.

By Train – Streatham or Streatham Common stations.

By Bike – A23 Streatham High Road – ample space for cycle parking around the common.

Map link to Streatham Common

Evening Bat Walk: Cancelled

Evening Bat Walk: Cancelled

The Friends of Streatham Common Present an Evening Bat Walk

Bat Walk Friday 08 May 2020 @ 20:45

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

Bird Box Survey: Cancelled

Bird Box Survey: Cancelled

Help us find out what birds are using which nest boxes on our 13th annual survey of the bird boxes on Streatham Common.

We shall be watching the boxes to see what species, if any, are going in and out of the boxes, feeding their young. Bring binoculars if you can.

Meet by the Rookery Cafe at 9.30am.

Free event – donations welcome

If you want to support the voluntary work we do with a donation in advance please use our Just Giving Page
https://www.justgiving.com/friends-of-streatham-common

Doggy Splash Day Fundraiser 2019: Report

Doggy Splash Day Fundraiser 2019: Report

It rained and rained, but even the dismal weather couldn’t hold back the joy felt by the dogs who got their once a year treat on Doggy Splash Day. Lots of soggy jolly dogs went home tired and happy, with only one little spat to report. Amazing given the amount of dogs in the pool at any one time. They could teach our humans a thing or two!

Doggy Splash Day is held on the last day that the pool has water in before being drained for the winter. It is organised by John Rhodes, long serving volunteer to the Friends of Streatham Common, and Pets as Therapy. This event raises money for the paddling pool.

The pool is only able to open through the hard work of volunteers all year round. Dogs are charged a fee for entry, with this, plus the raffles and money donated by stalls raised a grand total of £1200 this year. This is in addition to the £200 raised for the pool at Scruffs Dog show [donations split between FoSC & Pets as Therapy].

John will be carrying on the paddling pool fundraising through until Christmas with his Bic-a-Brac stall outside the Rookery Cafe. This will be open between 9 – 12 everyday. Please give generously.

We ask all parents & families, who use the pool in the summer months to keep this fabulous asset to the community open – we need your help. We want to keep this asset free to use for all our community. Fund raising cannot remain the responsibility of a few core members of FoSC – we need the community to help.

To support the aims and work of the Friends of Streatham Common, you can make a donation through our Just giving page

All images copyright of Amanda Taylor-Purchase. October 2019

FoSC Public Meeting Thursday 19th September 2019: 7.45PM

FoSC Public Meeting Thursday 19th September 2019: 7.45PM

The Rookery Cafe – Streatham Common South

You do not have to be a member to attend this meeting.

There will be two presentations followed by discussions.

One is a proposal to install some kind of fitness equipment on the Common. But what and where?

The other is a proposal to carry out restoration work on the area of Acid Grassland on the Common. Why and what could this involve (planting heather for a start)?
Read more about the importance of Acid Grasslands here

Your views would be welcome.

The Rookery Cafe bar will remain open
for refreshments.

We look forward to seeing you.