DMTrust Newsletter Spring 2007

I would like to introduce myself as the new Development Manager for Dukes Meadows Trust having taken over from Kathleen Healy in February earlier this year. I am hoping to keep up the amazing work that Kathleen has undertaken over the past six to seven years for the Trust, with the help and kind support of friends and members.

Kathleen has continued her support for the Trust by volunteering on task days and has provided further assistance with our funding applications for the exciting development of a new play area at Dukes Meadows.

Space to Play

The existing playground at Dukes Meadows consists of apparatus that is nearing the end of its recommended lifespan with no plans for further development by the Council. Dukes Meadows Trust has written a brief to develop the area working from an initial consultation with local school children and disabled children at the Croft Centre in Kew. We are working with the same architect used for development of the paddling pool area, Alice brown of AAB Architects. She has drawn up plans for an exciting, naturally landscaped play area together with new equipment, all offering great play potential. As well as working on an application to the National Lottery for their ‘Playful ideas’ grant worth £200,000 we will be applying to the London marathon Trust for an additional £150,000.

The plans for the play area are anticipated to integrate with the wildflower garden due to be constructed on the site of the redundant paddling pools. We are awaiting a decision due this month from the Breathing Spaces Grant as to whether we will receive their award to fund this part of the plan.

Paddling Pool

The paddling pool opened for its second season on the Easter weekend earlier this year. Our ‘Dukes Meadows Summer Fun’ programme of children’s events was kick-started on Easter Sunday with an Easter egg hunt, egg & spoon races and egg painting. It turned out to be a glorious sunny day and great fun was had by all. The Urban Farm visited Dukes Meadows 2 weeks later and a legendary Punch & Judy show found puppets fighting against the wind as well as each other! The programme continues every fortnight on Sundays with Amanda’s Action Kids next on the stage, followed by Albert & Friends conducting circus workshops, Donkey Rides on 17th June and 2 more toddler activities in July. All events have been able to be hosted free to the community due to kind sponsorship from Hamptons Estate Agents (£1,000) and Chiswick Area Committee. (£500) Dukes Meadows Trust had also contributed £500 towards the funding.

The Meadows café is sub-leased to Mike Cormano who is also responsible for the health & safety relating to the paddling pool management, thus making the project sustainable external from the Trust’s funds. The café offers a range of hot snacks, ice creams and beverages and we would like to encourage patronage of the café to maintain the paddling pool’s future. Volunteers have helped to maintain the planted areas and Barry from the Masonian Bowls club has done a sterling job keeping the grass trim.

Boat Race Day

This year Dukes Meadows Trust teamed up with conservation charity Thames21 to help organise a family friendly event for Boat Race Day. Children had the opportunity to dip nets into the river with Thames21 and learn about some of the small creatures found in the Thames. Then they joined artist, Kevin Herlihy (who created the ‘Magnificent Herons’ on a previous project with DMT) in a ‘Recycling Rubbish into Art’ workshop. The children got busy recycling paper and card into different creatures to adorn a beautiful, colourful riverscape scene.

There was a kids funfair with bouncy castle and slide plus some small carousel rides. The Fulham Brass band played two sets and marked the start of the race with their second set, playing as the rowers went past and headed for the finish line.

Bandstand

The bandstand situated along the riverside on the Promenade has now been repaired, funded by a £10,000 grant obtained from Euroclear. Volunteers also helped to paint the Bandstand and restore it to its former glory. The Bandstand then came alive on Boat Race day with the Fulham Brass band triggering many happy memories.

Enterprise

The farmers market has welcomed a few new faces and we are always working on selecting stallholders that will provide a full complement of produce to customers. We now have a full range of Vegan products, sweet & savoury crepes and pancakes ripe for summer, Olives and Olive oils in addition to your staple breads, cheeses, meat, fish, vegetables, tea and coffee. Check our website for more details.

The Pavilion Flat has undergone some redecoration in order for it to be marketed and re-let to new tenants.

DMT have had plans drawn up by an architect to develop 4 more artist studios on the site of the Old Tractor Shed attached to the Pavilion. The income generated from these is intended to form part of the sustainability plan for maintenance of the new play area, if these plans go ahead.

Volunteering

We would like to thank all those who have volunteered their time to help every other weekend. The Trust relies on this help to get much of its practical work completed across the site and this really makes a big difference to the area. We are always looking for more volunteers so if you can spare a few hours, whether it be at the weekend or mid-week, we would love to hear from you.

To receive regular updates by e-mail regarding volunteer task days please contact me: verity@dukesmeadowstrust.org

Many thanks for your continued support and if I haven’t done so already, I look forward to meeting you at some point in the future.

Yours faithfully,

Verity Thomson

Development Manager

SPACE TO PLAY EVERYONE NEEDS IT

Spring 2007 Newsletter

Dukes Meadows Trust Spring Newsletter 2007