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With the help and support of our volunteers, the following activities were undertaken: Conservation, protection and improvement We took action to protect the Park’s habitats, animals and wildlife, including:
• Funding the mowing of key meadows and cutting back of invasive bramble
• Objecting to the proposed development of properties in the Park on environmental grounds
• Increasing the number of workdays - now held five times each month We recognise the role of other stakeholders in Scadbury, and work with them when we can, especially ODAS, who have actively supported the Friends group throughout the year. We also met with the new management team at the Shaw Trust Adult Education Centre which operates out of the TReE Centre in the park. Education We supported or organised a number of events during the year:
• The annual Open day organised by ODAS at the site of the moated manor
• The Orchard Project - to discover more about the apple varieties grown at Scadbury
• Visits to the Park by schools or other Friends Groups
• Regular guided walk through the Park, including bird walks, spring walk, and a regular Sunday walk Communications We ensured that our communications were effective and up to date: • A new website was developed and launched during the year
• New information boards were installed at key locations
• Our social media activities continued Provision of facilities The Park has been starved of investment in recent years, and our fundraising has enabled us to improve facilities, including: • Clearing and extension of the playground area
• Replacement of the information boards around the Park
• Installation of more signposts around the Park
• Review of those parts of the footpaths which require attention More needs to be done, and must be addressed in the development of an agreed strategy with idverde and LBB for investment in the Park. The Friends, working with ODAS, have continued to press idverde and LBB to develop a long term strategy for the Park’s future, and the related investment. The Friends are keen to participate in the development of the strategy, and have already contributed ideas and suggestions. Now that idverde have been confirmed in post for the foreseeable future, we hope that we are now able to see this strategy developed. Funding During the course of 2017 we have obtained significant funding including from:
• Tesco (Bags of Help)
• The Chislehurst Society
• Chislehurst Rotary Club We are very grateful to all those who donated funds to the Park during the year. Thank you to our volunteers All the work undertaken by the Friends of Scadbury is voluntary. I would like to thank all those - committee members, maintenance volunteers and supporters - who have contributed time and resource during the year to safeguard our wonderful Nature Reserve.
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