January can feel a bit muddy and dark at times, but there have been some beautiful moments in the park this winter. The dogwood, with its bright red wood by the Langley pond has been spectacular. The low winter sun can create some magnificent scenes.

Even the wet patch near the orchard has a certain rugged beauty.

I wonder if you share with me the sense that our park is a rather special place with its combination of play areas and wild spaces, its foxes, kingfishers and moorhens, dog walkers, shoppers and children, all mingling together and tolerating each other in the peace that only outdoors can bring.

You will have noticed that the hedging has been removed beside the formal garden near the nursery. For me,  it makes it all feel more open and friendly. What do you think? Any ideas about why this was done, who was consulted etc. It would be good to know.

Thanks also to the council for reinstating the borders to the paths, filling in with earth and reseeding, which happened over the autumn. It is a little sad to see this work so quickly undone by the council van failing to drive on the tarmac.

Soon we will see the snowdrops and daffs – but even now there are some lovely signs of new growth like this cow parsley near the Langley pond.

I am wondering whether it might be helpful to have a meeting of the Friends of Emersons Green Park shortly, to see how people are feeling about the park and any particular ideas we have for action this year. I also wondered if I should invite a friend from the Feed Bristol site who is an expert on wildflowers and forest gardens and who might have some interesting ideas. Please could you let me know if you would like me to call such a meeting – if there is interest I will.

In the meantime, enjoy the outside. They say there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!

Chris