The nights are drawing in so it’s time for the AGM.

A chance to hear about what has happened in the Park this year and to make suggestions for the coming year.

Monday 27th October, 7:30pm,

Park Room, Emersons Green Village Hall

All Welcome…

We will be at the Autumn Gathering, where we will be making Apple Cider Vinegar.

Come along and see us!

Thanks to a grant from Emersons Green Town Council we now have the funds to make Earthfest 2025 a reality. Since the first meeting in early February we’ve been busy arranging events for the programme (see below) and will be finalising the details shortly. The next step in the process will be a review of the programme and sorting out the volunteers to help at each event. In order to facilitate this we will be holding another Earthfest meeting on Monday 24th March at 7:30pm at the Emersons Green Town Council Offices. Please come along if you want to be involved!

Earthfest 2025 Provisional Programme
Event Eco Day (treasure hunt, casting dinosaur footprints…)
Date and Time Thursday 29th May, TBD
Venue Dinosaur Garden, Emersons Green Park

Event Bat walk by Steve England
Date and Time Friday 30th May, 9-11pm
Venue Emersons Green Park

Event Creative listening workshop with Emily Correa
Date and Time June 5th 7pm (with park walk around 8.30pm)
Venue Willow Room Village Hall

Event ELCoE – Renewable Energy
Date and Time Saturday June 7th, 11.30am to 1pm
Venue Lyde Green Community Centre

Event Vegan Cooking with Rachel Mills
Date and Time tbc
Venue tbc

Event Wellness afternoon (yoga and sound bath)
Date and Time Sunday June 8th, 2pm-4pm
Venue Emersons Green Park

Event Wildlife photography with Nick Wilcox Brown
Date and Time June 11th 6pm
Venue EGTC office then Park

Event Planning for Nature with Ed Drewitt and S Glos Common Connections
Date and Time June 12th 7.30pm – 9pm
Venue St James Church

Event Sensory Walk(s) with guides from Westonbirt Arboreturm
Date and Time June 14th 11am, with optional 2nd at 1:30pm if there is demand
Venue Park and green lane

Event Discover Nature in Lyde with Ed Drewitt
Date and Time June 18th 9am – 10.30am
Venue Meet at Lyde Green Community Centre

Event Art Afternoon
Date and Time June 19th 2pm – 4pm
Venue Willow Room, Emersons Green Village Hall

Event Picnic in the Park with music
Date and Time Saturday 21st June
Venue Emersons Green Park

11am Locked Horns Jazz band play
11.20 Intro CS
11.40am Druid Tales 1
12 noon Kazuchy – Ukrainian Choir
12.30am Druid Tales 2
1pm Emersons Green School and Blackhorse School Choirs
1.30pm 45 steps of Earth History
1.45pm Clube De Choro
2.15pm Locked Horns

There are also four primary school Little Bird Workshops with Emily and Francisco
Emersons Green: 3 June 11am
Barley close: 17 June 9.30am
Blackhorse: 17 June 2pm
Mangotsfield 16 June 9.30am

And two renewable energy exercises for primary schools run by UWE
Emersons Green 11th June
Mangotsfield 18th June

Last Saturday, Dec 14th, we had a small gathering in the park to celebrate the opening of the Earth Trail, which is now installed on posts around the Langley end of the park. it was opened by James Hunt, the Mayor of the Town Council, pictured here (right) with Emily Andrews, of Andrews Massey Duo, (left) who composed the music for the trail and Chris Sunderland, the author and narrator (centre). James welcomed the installation and recognised that it might actually be unique. Nowhere else, as far as we know, has such a trail, telling the history of the Earth to words and music.

Claire Hazelgrove, our MP, could not join us on Saturday but sent a message to the gathering in which she complimented Friends of Emersons Green Park, on their ‘passion and imagination for reconnecting communities with nature’ and described the Earth Trail as a ‘truly beautiful initiative’. Thank you for those kind comments, Claire.

If you haven’t listened to the trail yourself yet, why not take the time over the Christmas holiday and treat yourself.

The Friends of Emersons Green Park held their AGM on Monday 14th October at the Emersons Green Library.

The accounts for the year were presented by Sharon Bonson and accepted by the committee. Overall, there was small surplus of about ~£100 for the year, once outstanding credits and debits were accounted for. So, the adjusted balance for the start of the year is just over a £1000.

After a very long and very successful stint over many years as Chair, Chris Sunderland stepped down from that role, but remains on the committee. The new Chair is Graham Johnson, with Sue Fenton acting as Deputy Chair. Ann Birkett will act as Secretary and Sharon Bonson continues in her role as Treasurer. The other committee members are Elizabeth Fusine, and Bobbie and Chris Sunderland.

Graham Johnson began as Chair by providing a brief review of the year, the highlight of which is the new Dinosaur Garden with the centrepiece being ‘Dinomite’ our willow sculpture Saltasaurus. This has proved to be very popular with the children and has become a talking point for people who use the park.

The meeting concluded with an open session to discuss future plans and ideas. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the Friends of Emersons Green Park please let us know…