September 2023
The footpath that runs from opposite Sainsbury’s to opposite Valley Road is being resurfaced because it was in a very poor state in some places.
Uncategorized
Staying safe on the Common during the pandemic
If visiting our beautiful Common to have a picnic or take a walk – it is really important more than ever that you take home any litter with you, for 2 reasons. The Common does not have recycling facilities and the bins will never deter wildlife from pulling out your old picnic items. To keep EVERYONE safe, members of the public and park workers alike – please take everything home with you. You can spread the virus without presenting symptoms. Please do not put others at risk.
To prevent a second wave of Covid, we must work together to ensure our contact points are lessened. Please be aware the benches are not sanitised. If you do use the benches be aware and ensure you remember to wash your hands thoroughly when you get home.
At this time, please keep 2 metres apart from others whilst on the common.
It is great to see that most joggers have chosen to run on the grass and are leaving the pathways for walkers, those less mobile, those using wheelchairs and parents with children. We very much appreciate the efforts of our community to make change to their routine. Early mornings and late evenings are great times to engage in exercise, you have more room to move about, and enjoy the quietness of the common.
Dog owners – please respect other dog walkers right to asking you to call your dog away if they get too close. This can reduce the opportunity for any complications with social distancing. Please be extra vigilant on picking up your dogs mess, since it is important that more people may need to sit on the grass rather than the benches.
And remember – this is all temporary. The sooner we can get this virus under control – the sooner our lives can get back to normal. All of us have a role to play in supporting each other and our community
Christmas Carols & FoSC Party: 4th December 2019
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.
EVERYONE WELCOME
Its that time of year again where we get to say thank you to members for their support so The Friends Christmas party at The Bull pub with some lovely food & wine will follow the singing.
The party is for members only, including those who join on the night.
NOT A MEMBER? No fear! 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
Donations welcome:
For a less stressful life…come and sit by a tree!
In the early Eighties, a young psychologist did something unusual. His name was Roger Ulrich, and he started reviewing the hospital records of patients recovering from surgery to compare the recovery rates for people with bedside windows looking out on to trees with those of patients who could only see brick walls from their beds.
What did he find? On average, the ones who could look at natural landscapes healed faster, needed significantly less pain medication and had fewer complications post-surgery.
Read the full Evening Standard article here
Birds of Prey Flying Display 30 July 2017 @ 13:00
A variety of hawks, falcons, owls and other birds of prey will be on display throughout the afternoon, during which there will be two flying displays.
On the Common, near the path from opposite Copley Park to opposite Valley Road. Birds (owls, falcons, hawks etc) on show from 1.00pm to 5.00pm, and displays of flying at approximately 2.00pm and 4.00pm.
A free event but donations welcome on the day.
Bird Boxes Surveyed
This year’s survey proved that 14 of the 35 bird boxes around the Common were occupied, which is one of the best year’s yet. Of these, 13 were occupied by blue tits and one by great tits.
George Tuson
In memory of George Tuson by Barbara Wright
George Tuson, who some of you may have know, sadly passed away in December 2016.
As many people know, Streatham Common had considerable protectionist intervention over the years, however by the 1990’s the Streatham Common area was a little ‘tired’ and under resourced. It is against this background that the citizen involvement such as provided by George, on such groups as the Neighbourhood Watch, the Police Consultative Committee and the Streatham Common Management Advisory Committee was so crucial.
The Streatham Common Management Advisory Committee first met on 17th April 1996 and at this meeting George represented Fontaine Road Neighbourhood Watch. He eventually became Chair of the Streatham Common Management Advisory Committee. At about this time the Friends of Streatham Common (FOSC) was set up, primarily to run events on the Common.
Living close to the Common George become involved in numerous meetings to do with local affairs and generously hosting them at his house.
It was during George’s chairmanship of the Management Advisory Committee that I and others on the Committee worked from 2004 with FOSC to produce a ‘Vision’ for Streatham Common, in 2007, bringing to fruition a long outstanding desire of people locally to have written down for posterity all the history, facts and figures about the Common and the Rookery as well as making explicit our vision for the future .Eventually, George joined the Executive of the FOSC in 2010, and the Management Advisory committee ceased to exist in 2011.
George took an active part in many campaigns, events and forums such as:
– To stop a temporary ice rink being built on the Common
– Attending the borough wide Lambeth Parks and Green spaces forum on behalf of local residents,
– The Rookery centenary preparations and celebrations
– The conversion of the derelict kitchen garden into a community garden,
– The Wandle Valley conference in 2010, with regard to the views from the Common
– Regularly volunteering at events on the Common
George will be remembered for his good nature, his campaigns and his absolute commitment over the years to keeping Streatham Common as a Common, as a wild place so precious in a city.
I attended his funeral, on 29th December 2016 representing Friends of Streatham Common, along with Andrew Simpson of the Streatham Common Community Garden.
Thanks to Joyce Bellamy of FOSC formerly of Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA) for some of the background information on George.