This is the first of our 2014 visits to some of the other Royal Parks. We are being guided by an expert “funerologist” and will be joined by the Mayor of the Royal Borough. A delicious tea will be served either in the Rotunda or the Chapel, neither of which is normally open to the public.

Please meet at 2.30pm at the Old Brompton Road end (West Brompton tube)

Cost: £15 pp to include tea. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

For more information click here: Brompton Cemetery

For information and tickets please contact Mrs Tina Raymond, FHPKG, ℅ Coppers, Ommanney Road, Yarmouth, PO41 0QA

By popular request, this (hopefully) beautiful summer evening event will be enjoyed on the docks at the Boat House, and also on board the solar powered boat for a short voyage across the Serpentine, possibly with musical entertainment.

Ticket price: £20 to include plentiful drinks and canapés.

For information, click here: The Boat House

To book tickets please contact Tina Raymond, FHPKG, ℅ Coppers, Ommanney Road, Yarmouth PO41 0QA.

The AGM will take place at 6pm on Wednesday 26 March in the Beech Suite at the Lancaster London Hotel, Lancaster Terrace, W2 2TY.

All members are invited to attend and we hope that as many as possible will do so. Our guest speaker is Nigel Williams, Secretary to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 – to the uninitiated this may sound dry, but we can assure you, it’s not!

This is a popular Hyde Park event which returns to our summer calendar. We are hoping to organise an element of competition to the Bowls, for which there will be a small prize.
Recognising that many Friends will have no idea of the rules of Bowls, expert tuition will be on hand to assist.
Non-playing Friends are welcome as spectators too.

Please wear soft shoes for bowling

Cost: £10 to include drinks

For more information, click here: Will to Win

To book tickets please contact Tina Raymond, FHPKG, ℅ Coppers, Ommanney Road, Yarmouth PO41 0QA.

Hunterian Museum, Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincolns Inn Fields

We will have a private guide for the Friends’ visit to this special exhibition, organised to coincide with the centenary of the outbreak of the first World War.

Henry Tonks was the artist/surgeon involved in reconstructive surgery in its pioneering days. His work, together with that of the group of artists he taught at the Slade (featured last year in the “Crisis of Brilliance” exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery) make up the core of this special show.

For more information and to reserve tickets, contact Tina Raymond by clicking here

Join the celebration of Horseman’s Sunday on 21 September 2014!

The blessing of the horses takes place in the forecourt of St John’s Hyde Park and forms part of a festival service that begins at 10.00am in church.

This is one of the most colourful events of the year to take place on the Hyde Park estate and attracts many horses and their riders. It is a celebration of horse riding in the heart of London and is accompanied by wonderful choral and orchestral music as well as informal jazz music outside the church.

For more information, click here

Event details

Date: Saturday 20 – Sunday 21September 2014
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Location: The Isis Education Centre at The Lookout, Hyde Park

FREE access to the grounds of the Isis Education Centre as part of London’s Open House Weekend.

Join us on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September at any time between 10am and 4pm and look around this exciting new building, designed to blend beautifully into the landscape of Hyde Park.

Marvel at the amazing architecture of this modern building and find out about the sustainable features and hidden secrets of this new structure.

Opportunities to learn and connect with nature will also be available for all ages as you get the chance to try pond-dipping in our Sunshine pond, or use our plant spotter sheet and discover our butterfly border, meadow, mini-beast area and stunning carved entrance poles.
Find out more by clicking here

The Friends, in conjunction with Kensington Palace, are delighted to offer 30 members the chance to attend the Orangery for a garden-themed talk and tea from 2.30pm.

Terry Gough, Head of Historic Royal Palaces’ Gardens and Estates team, will tell us about the Royal Gardens at Kensington. His talk will be followed by a delicious garden-themed tea.

Cost: £25 per person

To reserve your place by email, click here, or by post to Tina Raymond, ℅ Friends HPKG, Old Police House, Hyde Park, W2 2UH

This event is now fully booked, but there are plenty more coming up – so make sure you reserve your place early!

Sorry – fully booked.

To avoid disappointment, make sure you sign up in good time for other future events!

The tour will be led by the Friends of Bushy Park and include a visit to the Woodland Garden, the Diana Fountain (designed by Hubert Le Sueur for Charles I). The tour will finish with tea at the Pheasantry Café.

Directions: Train 13.42 from Waterloo, 13.46 from Vauxhall, to Teddington, arr 14.15 – 10/15 min walk to the Park. Driving – Sat Nav TW11 0EQ – park at Pheasantry Café.

Cost: £15 per person to include tea.

NB This visit is not suitable for those with mobility problems.

Last year, at short notice, we enjoyed a visit to this hidden spot in Hyde Park, which is not open to the public. It was very popular and oversubscribed, so we have added two dates for the visit this year.

Mike Jone, the Nursery Manager, will show us round. This may be the last chance to see the nurseries before they are closed for rebuilding. We will finish with drinks either inside, surrounded by flowers or outside in the sunshine.

Cost: £15 per person

Last year, at short notice, we enjoyed a visit to this hidden spot in Hyde Park, which is not open to the public. It was very popular and oversubscribed, so we have added two dates for the visit this year.

Mike Jone, the Nursery Manager, will show us round. This may be the last chance to see the nurseries before they are closed for rebuilding. We will finish with drinks either inside, surrounded by flowers or outside in the sunshine.

Cost: £15 per person

Rob Dowling, Assistant Park Manager, has kindly offered to guide us through some parts of the Park not normally open to visitors. We will meet at the Volunteers’ Kiosk at 6pm.

We will finish with drinks and canapés in the Ranger’s House garden (indoors if wet).

You are welcome to join the other members for drinks if you feel unable to do the walk. The Ranger’s House is situated next door but one to the Old Police House in the centre of Hyde Park.

We are delighted that the Royal Albert Hall, a new Corporate Member of the Friends, has offered various generous discounts (see Member Discounts section).
A “Secret History” tour of the building, above and below ground, will be followed by afternoon tea in the Verdi restaurant.

Members and guests £25 per person to include tour and tea.

This is a repeat of last year’s special event, organised with the kind permission of Andrew Williams, Manager Kensington Gardens. As it was heavily oversubscribed last time, this visit is open to members only.

Cost: £20 per person, to include tea, coffee and light refreshments.

NB Wear flat, sensible shoes, bring a torch and be prepared to negotiate steep steps with no hand rail. The ground is uneven in places.

The 2016 AGM will be held in the drawing room of Queen Alexandra’s House, a private venue of great interest situated in Bremner Road next to the Albert Hall.

Our guest speaker will be Andrew Scattergood, Chief Executive of The Royal Parks, who will outline the aims and ambitions he is hoping to achieve in his new job.

Doors open and 6.30pm and after the meeting, FHPKG members will have a chance to meet Andrew and other members of the Royal Parks staff over a glass of wine.

Once again, and with many thanks to Peter Scott we have been invited to the Boat House for a summer party. With plenty of nice chilled wine and masses of canapes, we will enjoy some live music and songs on the jetty from Peter at the piano, as well as other performers. We will be able to take some mini voyages on the solar-powered boat and the beautifully restored gentleman’s day boat “Peter Pan”.

Do join us as it is a wonderful chance to meet each other and welcome new members and has in the past been a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Cost: £30 per person.

Open to Members and guests.
Location: Boat House, Serpentine Road, Hyde Park
Time: 6pm

We are honoured that the Queen has given her approval to a visit to her gardens for a group of Friends. We are grateful to Head Gardener, Mr Mark Lane, for facilitating this event. The tour lasts two hours and members need to be able to walk a reasonable distance.

There is, necessarily, a great deal of security involved in this visit and details will be passed on to members who have their names drawn in a ballot.

As this is at the invitation of the Queen, we are not asking members to pay as we usually do. However, we would hope that you would feel able to give a donation to the Friends in appreciation of this special event which rounds off the summer activities to mark our 25th Anniversary. Limited numbers.

Open to Members only.
This event is now sold out!

The Royal Parks will be popping up across the parks with considerate cycling events as part of National Bike Week running from June 13th – 18th

Event details:
Kensington Gardens (junction of The Broad Walk and Mount Walk)
Tuesday 14th June 2016 between 3.30pm and 7.30pm
Free activities:

• Cycle training session for children under 10
• Dr Bike mechanics will offer maintenance check ups
• Metropolitan Police will be registering bicycles

We have now confirmed the walks, talks and demonstrations for the Horticulture Show, taking place during the midweek of British Summer Time Hyde Park. We hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Tuesday 5th July Main Tent

• 14:00 to 15:00 Talk: Deer Management in Richmond Park
• 15:00 to 17:00 Activity: The Royal Parks Foundation family activities
• 16:00 to 17:00 Demonstration: The Regent’s Park Allotment – Growing food in containers
• 17:00 to 18:00 Horticulture Show Awards – Winner presentations

Wednesday 6th July. Main Tent

• 12:00 to 13:00 Talk: All about bats – meet our very own batman!

• 13:00 to 14.30 Walk: Guided Walk around Hyde Park – 1000 years of history (please meet in the main tent)

• 14:00 to 15:00 Talk: Royal Parks Question Time – come in and meet the faces behind the parks – your chance to ask the experts for advice and tips

• 15:00 to 16:00 Talk: St James’s Park – trees, wildlife and horticulture

• 16:00 to 17:00 Demonstration: Plant propagation

Thursday 7th July. Main Tent

• 13:00 to 14.30 Walk: Guided Walk around Hyde Park (please meet in the main tent) – 1000 years of history (please meet in the main tent)
• 14:00 to 15:00 Talk: Royal Parks Question Time – come in and meet the faces behind the parks – your chance to ask the experts for advice and tips
• 15:00 to 16:00 Talk: Royal Parks projects – A story of death, pirates, plants, princesses and champions
• 16:00 to 17:00 Talk: The Role of the Royal Parks in World War 1

Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park is delighted to announce Open House – a host of weekday activities in between two weekends of legendary musical line-ups. Make the most of the long days and warm summer evenings across four fun-packed dates in London’s iconic Royal Park.

On offer will be FREE open-air movie nights and Wimbledon screenings, street food stalls, daytime DJs, live music and entertainment, free badminton sessions, ping pong and much more. Not to mention the Barclaycard Betterview platform offering amazing views of Hyde Park and London’s skyline from 100ft above the ground – for free!

For more information please visit the British Summer Time Hyde Park website Click Here: www.bst-hydepark.com

Come and enjoy an autumn feast of traditional fayre, with scrummy scones, Banbury cakes, finger sandwiches and the famous Bath Bun. Or go the whole hog and order the ’1851 Afternoon Tea’.

Will To Win Tennis is celebrating the 1851 Great Exhibition, which was staged on the very site in Hyde Park where the courts and bowls greens now stand. On offer are all sorts of delicious treats, inspired by the ingredients and catering available to the public of the time.

Checking out the 1851 Afternoon Tea (and enjoying the Friends’ discount) are FHPKG chairman Sue Price and committee member Tessa Singleton.

Will To Win Tennis is celebrating the 1851 Great Exhibition, which was staged on the very site in Hyde Park where the courts and bowls greens now stand. On offer are all sorts of delicious treats, inspired by the ingredients and catering available to the public of the time.

Looking back over the summer of 2016, members enjoyed special visits to an Ambassador’s garden, the Queen’s Garden (at Buckingham Palace) and a float on a boat on a fine summer evening on the Serpentine as well as a perfumed reverie in the Hyde Park Nurseries. We were looked after on all these occasions by expert and very hospitable hosts.
We have plenty of fun to look forward to in the winter/spring and summer of 2016/17.

To tempt members (and for some events their guests as well) here are some tasters:

Go down deep under Harrods, ever deeper in Mayfair and stumble around under Prince Albert. Marvel at marine treasures, contemplate cool, cogitate on a costume collection, munch on a brunch, brave bowls and practice putting. Support a session on a bandstand and delight in an AGM in a VIP Drawing Room

Look out for dates and details.

Explore behind, and below, the scenes before the store opens.

With grateful thanks to the Directors for giving us this special opportunity.

Members Only. Limited numbers

Cost: £15 per person

Exact joining instructions will be given to members who apply.

By kind permission of the Secretary, Captain David Freeman. And with thanks to art expert Nick Bonham who will guide us round some of the exceptional marine paintings and other treasures at the Club. Start with coffee and biscuits and end with a short Q&A session over a glass of wine at 12.15 p.m.

Members are invited, if they wish, to stay for lunch at the club (at own cost). To book a table call 020 7235 2121 and mention that you are a Friend of HP&KG.

Members Only. Limited numbers

Cost: £20 per person

60 Knightsbridge, London SW1× 7LF (close to Knightsbridge Tube) 10.30 for 10.45 a.m.

Once again we have Andrew Williams (Kensington Gardens Manager) to thank for inviting us to explore below the Albert Memorial. This is not open to the public. For those of you who haven’t enjoyed this event, it’s a “must do”. In addition, Theresa Short, assistant manager, Kensington Gardens, will give us an insight into the South Flower Walk and we can also get up close to the memorial above ground.

It is essential that members and guests wear sensible walking shoes and are steady on their feet. A torch is useful as it is quite dark underground and the visit involves steep steps without handrails..

Members may bring one Guest. Limited numbers.

£20 per person – Tea/coffee and cake etc. are included.

An introduction to the recently revamped exhibition “Fashion Rules”, followed by a private visit, before it opens to the public. Members may “drop in” at any time between 9 and 10 a.m. if they feel the 9 a.m. slot is a little early! At 10 a.m. we will go to The Orangery for a special breakfast organised for us in an Apse.

Members may bring Guests.

£25 per person to include both the Exhibition and the Breakfast.

The 2017 AGM will be held at Queen Alexandra’s House, Bremner Road, Kensington Gore SW7 2QT (by kind permission of the Chairman and Principal)

There will be short presentations from the managers of both Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and our dedicated Police Officer

Wednesday, 26th April 2017 6.30 for 7.00 p.m. Followed by a Reception.

Members Only.

The Friends annual summer party will be held at the Will to Win Tennis Centre, South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park (by kind permission of Steve Riley)

Bowls and Putting. Absolutely no experience of either needed or any special equipment apart from soft shoes (or bare feet if it’s warm enough). Lots of comfortable seating for those just wishing to watch the fun. Plenty of drinks canapes and prizes.

Members and Guests.

Cost: £35 per person.

Will To Win will be hosting an open house for all key stakeholders and users of Hyde Park and Regent’s Park to discuss the proposed Court and Facility enhancements. The aim of the open house is to give everyone the opportunity to ask questions and engage in open discussion about our proposals.

Both Steve Riley, Founder and Director of Will To Win and Jon Paul Dorrian (Hyde Park) and Chris Pearce (Regent’s Park), Centre Managers will be present to discuss proposals designed to improve visitor experience and increase participation in sport.

When:
Hyde Park: Friday 25th November 2-6pm and Saturday 26th November 11am-3pm.
(We can be found at the corner of West and South Carriage Drives)

Regent’s Park: Sunday 27th November 11am-3pm and Monday 28th November 2-6pm.
(We can be found opposite Regent’s College)

Please note that the information will be displayed at all times in each Centre. If you are not fortunate enough to make it to the above dates please feel free to visit at any time afterwards where a member of staff will be happy to answer any questions.

We look forward to seeing you soon and showing you what we hope to achieve.

The developers, Manhattan Loft, have a ‘topping out’ celebration at 1pm on Wednesday, with the invitees promised to “be among the first to experience London’s most stunning view” – made possible by ruining our view. Help us to protest the development and push for action from the Mayor and the developers.

Go to our News section on this website, for more information on the construction of a skyscraper destroying the 300 year Old View of St Paul’s from Richmond Park

Date/time: Wednesday 14 December, 10.45 for 11.00, should end by 12.00/1230.
Location: King Henry’s Mound
If you can confirm you’ll be joining us on the 14th we’d much appreciate it, by emailing bulletins@frp.org.uk

The Queen Alexandra’s House is not only in the most wonderful position just next to the Albert Hall, but we are lucky enough to have a superb drawing room with a Steinway Grand Piano.

Some of the very talented students living in the house have got together under the guidance of Valentina Ciardelli, who is our Curator of Musical Performance, to prepare a live classical music concert at 4.00pm on Sunday, 12 March. The concert duration will be approximately one hour.

There is a limited capacity so the Association would really appreciate it if you would email them directly at your RSVP event@queenalex.com, if you are able to come. They are asking for a small minimum donation of £2.00 to cover nibbles and a glass of wine after the concert.

Last year some Friends of Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens attended and had a very enjoyable evening.

Queen Alexandra’s House Association
www.queenalex.com

From 6th March for three days the shire horses are due to return to Hyde Park to mow the Meadows and in the area of the Look Out. This is weather dependent and we have no exact times or locations on these days….But they are quite large horses so hopefully you will be able to spot them!

Visit to knightsbridge Barracks courtesy of Lt. Col. James Gaselec and Captain Harry Boyt, Adjutant, Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment)

Because of the limited numbers (ten only for this visit) we will hold a draw on 24th April and you will be notified if you are successful by email.

Cost £20
Meet at pedestrian entrance at 9.45am on Kensington Road opposite Trevor Place
Dress code: Smart/casual

This is a repeat of one our favourite events, is thanks to Mike Jones, Nursery Manager, and is a close to the opening of the brand new £5 million facility as we could manage, so be amongst the first to visit!

It will not be finished in time for the summer flowers, but Mike assures us that it will be ready and full of the Autumn flowers and plants for the Royal Parks and flower beds round Buckingham Palace.

Finish with drinks in a hot house!

Cost: £20 per person.

Please note numbers are limited.

There is going to be a World War One project running on Buck Hill in Kensington Gardens on the 17th and 24th September between 11am and 4pm.

Sunday 17th September – Camouflage School Public Open Day: Come along to the Camouflage School and find out how Kensington Gardens was used in WW1 to experiment with new ways of misleading the enemy.

Sunday 24th September – Come and experience Kensington Gardens as it was a century ago.

More details can be found by accessing the website Royal Parks website

On Sunday 24th, there will also be the Harvest Festival running all day in the allotment behind the Kensington Garden offices (it is just behind the Magazine resto at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery.) This year the volunteers there have planted examples of lots of veg and plants which would have kept the country going during WW1. There is also, in this allotment, a happy band of chickens!

We have had a generous invitation thanks to Suzy Griffiths who is head of hospitality at this event. We meet at the Crystal Lounge (the V.I.P entertaining area) for mulled wine, hot chocolate and mince pies, followed by a tour during which we visit a couple of attractions. None of these will be sickening. We finish with tickets to Cinderella Ice Ballet which ends at about 4.50pm

£25 per person, all inclusive
Open to Members and Guests

The Kensington Wine Rooms is well known locally for the range and excellence of its wine list and offers Friends and exciting opportunity to beat the winter blues and enjoy a tutored appreciation of fine wines. The tasting will focus on New World versus Old World, exploring the different heritage and character of some specially selected wines. Lunch can be had there before tasting and a discount will apply to members on presentation of their Friends card

£30 per person
Open to Members and Guests
Time: 2.30pm – 4.30pm
The Kensington Wine Rooms, 127-129 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LP

This has become a firm favourite with members and their guests, thanks to Kensington Gardens Manager Andrew Williams, Assistant Manager Theresa Short and their team. It is your chance to explore underneath the Memorial, which is not open to the public. We will also go behind the gates and railings up the steps, and get close to the carvings and statuary. Refreshments are included (last year for some of us this was an ice cream!).

Members and guests need to be very sure on their feet as the visit involves steep steps, no hand rails, some low ceilings and of course areas of darkness. So sensible flat shoes are advisable.

Limited numbers
Tuesday 17th April at 2pm
Meet at Albert Memorial
£20 per pesron
Open to Members and Guests

The AGM for the Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will be held at Queen Alexandra’s House, by kind permission of Chariman Adrian Harvey and Principle Anet Brown.

A reception will follow Business and Presentations. It would be helpful with our catering arrangements if members give notification of their intention to attend.

Speaker: Lord Grossman CBE, Charman of The Royal Parks and Presentations from representatives of both Parks.

Members Only
Wednesday 11th April. Doors open 6.30pm for 7.00pm.
Queen Alexandra’s House, Bremner Road, Kensington Gore, SW7 2QT

This is our first visit to the new multi-million pound facility when it will be packed with flowers and plants ready to go out to all the Royal Parks and to the beds at Buckingham Palace. Thank you to Mike Jones, the manager who will guide us on this behind the scenes visit. We will end the tour with drinks amongst the flowers

Members & Guests: £20 per person

There will be an activity day taking place in Hyde Park on 12th April as part of the Mission: Invertebrate project. This project focuses on the plight of invertebrates across the Royal Parks and beyond.

On the 12th April, between 11am and 3pm, we will be helping provide more food for our pollinating insects by planting several thousand plugs of spring flowers in the meadow area adjacent to the LookOut Education Centre.

Invertebrates are often the underdog of conservation, and not usually given a look in when in competition with much ‘cuter’ and more ‘cuddly’ animals. We want people to understand and discover how truly amazing and vital invertebrates are, and how we can help them, at a time when they need us the most.

Everyone is welcome – the more hands the better! No booking required

For more information go to Mission:Invertebrate

We have a special opportunity to enjoy a curated private tour of the spectacular British Galleries with accredited V&A guide, Jane Reddish. Jane will share her insights and expert knowledge of our rich heritage from 1760 to 1900. We will start our visit in the highly decorated V&A cafe at 10:10 and will finish at approx. 12.15. This is a very small group limited to twelve people.

Members only: £16

Greg Packman is one of our experienced tree officers and is an expert on our veteran trees, the stories behind the Royal Parks stock and the diseases which are the latest world issue we have to worry about. Greg, who enjoys leading small groups, is looking forward to meeting members and we will have a chance at the end of the walk, to enjoy drinks together, at approx. 12 noon, in a tucked away private area of the Gardens.

Members & Guests: £18 per person

Nigel Thorne, who is the project manager in charge of restoring this wonderful member of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ garden cemeteries built in the 1830’s, will guide a small group of us to revisit the monuments, stone arcades, catacombs and chapel. We last saw this ‘sleeping beauty’ about four years ago when much of it was in a perilous physical state. Large scale finding and great effort has gone into restoring the cemetery to former glory. We will finish the tour with refreshments (included) at the north end of the site at the new North Lodge Cafe at approx. 12 noon.

Members only: £20 per person
South Lodge Project Office
Fulham Road entrance SW10 9UG

London is competing with over 60 cities worldwide to find and record the most wildlife across the city between 27 and 30 April 2018. Join the Challenge and help make London one of the winning cities for 2018!

Surveys and nature-themed activities will be taking place in Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens throughout Sunday 29 April including bug hunts, pond dipping and guided walks. All activities start at The LookOut, Hyde Park.

You can also take part at home any time over the four days using the free iNaturalist app.

For more information go to www.nhm.ac.uk/bioblitz

Family sports day – try tennis, netball, football, bowls, putting and paddle tennis at Will to Win, Hyde Park.

Price: £50 family, £20 individuals. Lunch included

When: Sunday 10th June 2 – 4pm

Where: Will to Win, Hyde Park

More details can be found here

The 18th – 24th June is National Insect Week and to celebrate we are hosting a FREE butterflies walk and talk at Brompton Cemetery with expert Dr. Tim Freed.

This event is a general introduction to butterflies and their life- cycles. About 24 different types have been seen in Brompton Cemetery over the years although the number of regular resident species is somewhat smaller.

Join us on Sunday 28th June...

10:30am – 12: 30pm – In the morning we will begin with an introductory presentation and then look for caterpillar foodplants and adult nectar plants out in the grounds. This session is aimed at all ages, children are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

1:30pm – 4:00pm – The Afternoon session will explain how to record butterflies using the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. We will then walk around the cemetery transect route and record what’s about. This session is aimed more at adults as we are hoping to recruit regular volunteers to help us with a regular transect around the Cemetery, if you think you would be interested in regularly volunteering for this transect please do stay on for this part as well.

What to bring:
-camera and pair of binoculars would be useful but not essential.
-keen eye and lots of enthusiasm
-packed lunch and water
-Clothing and footwear suitable for walking outdoors, including sun cream, hat etc. if it’s warm

Please sign up here!

A Harvest Festival will be held at the Allotment in Kensington Gardens on Sunday 16th September. You and your families are invited to join what will be a fun day.

There will be plenty of family fun from petting Zoo, Shire Horses, Ginger Cat productions (all sorts of fun for kids, e.g. face painting, potato man and corn doll making, etc), Charlie the clown doing storytelling.

The RSPB and a charity on beekeeping will also be present.

Also you will have the opportunity to meet the Allotment volunteers who will be offering the produce of the allotment for a small donation.

Lavender bags, cakes and a great day in all are on offer. Please see the attached flyer Allotment Harvest Fetival

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Click here for more information on the Kensington Gardens Allotment.

Free tickets will be available for the family-friendly screening of England vs Croatia

Fans advised to only attend Hyde Park on Wednesday night if they have a ticket they’ll be no admission without one
Biggest London screening of a football match since 1996
Visitors to Hyde Park will not be able to see the football screens unless they have a ticket for entry to the site

For more information click here

The Friends have been invited by the Conservation Foundation to join the London Plane Tree Conference.

London Planes are a vital part of London’s landscape with an estimated 121,000 planes growing in and around Central London. This is 4% of the 8.4 million trees in total, but a number which is decreasing as planes are often replaced by other species.

Wherever they grow plane trees face multiple threats including redevelopment and development, public spending cuts, air quality, storm force winds, canker stain of plane (Ceratocystis platani), drought and climate change. Increasingly planes in London are threatened by Massaria which is which spreading north, up through Europe possibly as a result of climate change.

Join a discussion on how we can protect London’s unique landscape and what action is needed to save the views for future generations with experts including:

Prof Chris Baines environmentalist and campaigner, Paul Wood author of London’s Street Trees and the recently published London is a Forest, Dr Ana Perez-Sierra, Head of Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service, at Forest Research; Greg Packman of the Royal Parks and Barbara Milne, City of Westminster and London Tree Officers Association. Although not yet confirmed we also hope to welcome Professor CY Jim, Department of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong.

The event will be chaired by Matt Brown, Editor at Large of The Londonist Tickets are £10.

To register visit The Conservation Foundation – London Plane Tree Conference

Kensington Gardens Allotment are celebrating a successful year of food growing on Sunday 15th September.

Come along to learn about growing techniques, meet the Royal Parks magnificent Shire Horses and take part in the ‘big dig’ of the potato crop. There will also be live music and refreshments, plus lots of free nature activities for children such as seed sowing and bug hunts.

Why not bring a picnic blanket and make a day of it?
Free and open to all!

The Kensington Garden allotment day will run from 11am to 4pm and is located behind the Serpentine Sackler Gallery.

See the flyer for more information Allotment Day Flyer or visit Kensington Gardens Allotment webpage|

The Royal Parks need help to manage an area of naturally occurring heather in Kensington Gardens. This is a very unusual habitat in Central London, likely occurring as a relict of former habitats with heather germinating from the seed bank in the soil. The Royal Parks have looked after this area of heather which has expanded, but we now need to undertake some management work to help control competing self-set trees and scrub which will shade out the heather, and to manage the heather itself, ensuring its growth remains robust and hopefully spreading seed to new areas.

This will involve the following activities:
•Pulling up or cutting saplings/young trees
•Raking up leaf litter and grass thatch around the heather, and scarifying nearby grassland to encourage more seed germination
•Cutting/pruning heather and collect cuttings
•Scattering heather seed / seed capsules to scarified areas and rake these in before removal of cut material
•Bag up green waste for collection by contractors

Please visit The Royal Parks website for more information an to register your interest by clicking Here

Enjoy a private and uncrowded visit to two very popular shows ‘Victoria: A Royal Childhood’ and ‘Victoria: Woman and Crown’.

A curator will give us a short presentation before we are free to look around. At 10am we will continue with a light breakfast in the Pavilion where Sam and his team will update us on progress on the Orangery development.

£20 per person

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled due to the Covid 19 situation. We look forward to seeing you at this event next year.

Once again we are very lucky to be able to explore underneath the Albert Memorial (hard hats provided) in an area not open to the public. We will also climb the steps to have a close look at the Parnassus Frieze and learn a little more about the world-famous monument. We will finish with tea, coffee, ice-creams at the smart kiosk at the memorial.

This visit involves steep steps, some areas without handrails and uneven flooring in a darkish space, so a torch is very handy and sensible shoes essential as well as steady feet!

£20 per person. Limited to a maximum of 25

This has now become a very popular annual event. We meet in the VIP Crystal Lounge and over mulled wine, coffee, hot chocolate and mince pies Suzy Griffiths from IMG Events and her team brief us on the logistics of planning, setting up and running an event on this scale.

We’ll then set off to experience various attractions including the Ice Kingdom and ending with the Ice Show.

£25 per person (everything included). Warm clothes and flat shoes essential.
Numbers limited to a maximum of 25

The Garden Museum explores and celebrates British gardens and gardening through its collection, temporary exhibitions, events and garden

Play, Protest and Pelicans: A People’s History of London’s Royal Parks is their new exhibition and will explore the secret histories of London’s Royal Parks. From royal hunting grounds to debauched pleasure gardens, from wartime training grounds to the heart of protests and rallies, Royal Parks have a rich and varied past. They have played a vital social role throughout the centuries, providing a gathering place and sanctuary for London’s ever-evolving population.

Looking at Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, St James’s Park, Green Park, Regent’s Park, and Greenwich Park, London’s Royal Parks will draw upon paintings, drawings, photographs and memorabilia from the Hearsum Collection, Royal Collection Trust, Royal Museums Greenwich and the Museum of London to illustrate the surprising histories of London’s Royal Parks.

For more information on the Exhibition visit the Garden Museum website by clicking Here

The Royal Parks have a fun volunteering opportunity to plant bulbs ‘in the green’ at Speakers corner.

Speakers’ Corner is a traditional site for public speeches and debates since the mid 1800’s when protests and demonstrations took place in Hyde Park and is located on the north-east edge of Hyde Park, nearest Marble Arch and Oxford Street. Historic figures such as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and George Orwell were known to often use the area to demonstrate free speech.

It is also one of the busiest and most used entrances into the Park. We have several fenced areas that we would love to fill with welcoming colour. Planting spring bulbs including bluebells and snowdrops will not only create some fabulous displays, but also provide spring nectar and pollen for our resident insects.

We will be meeting at Speaker’s Corner – look out for the green “Help Your Parks” flag.

Please wear sturdy shoes, hiking shoes are ideal, and please bring a waterproof jacket/ appropriate clothing for the weather on the day. We ask that you can bring a bottle of water with you on the day and if possible a reusable cup for tea and coffees (we are trying to reduce our use of plastic!).

All tools, training and equipment will be provided.

Please note, this activity does require bending down and kneeling.

Please visit The Royal Parks Website for more information

This year Hyde Park will host American Express presents British Summer Time, BBC Proms in the Park and Radio 2 Live, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and The Royal Parks Half Marathon as well as other smaller events.

The Royal Parks will be working hard with their event organisers to minimise disruption to park visitors and the local community.

Please see the schedule of events for Hyde Park for 2020. Hyde Park Schedule 2020

This is an invitation members of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, to join the Charity’s 2020 Annual General Meeting.

In this exceptional year the AGM will be held as an on-line Zoom meeting on Monday 30th November at 5pm.

Your attention is drawn to:
•The Charity’s Constitution
•Annual report and accounts for the year to 31st December 2019 (as already approved by our trustees) containing the trustees report
•Minutes of the 2019 AGM
•List of FHPKG trustees
Click here to access the above documents

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will be held via Zoom at 5pm on the 30th November 2020 to transact the following business.

AGENDA
1.Approval of the minutes of the AGM held in 2019.
2.Receipt of the 2019 annual statement of accounts and the trustees’ annual report.
3.Election of those trustees retiring on a 3 year rotation (Joanna Clark, Susan Heywood)
Note: Julian Peach who was appointed a trustee in 2016 and who has made a valuable contribution to the success of the charity will be standing down at the end of 2020.
4.Any other business

By order of the Trustees

We have invited senior members of the Royal Parks to give us some brief presentations.

If you intend to attend the AGM please could email membership@friendshpkg.org.uk and we will arrange for you to be sent the Zoom details prior to the AGM

It is a great shame that we are unable to meet properly in person for our AGM this year. I hope it will not be too long before we are able to meet more informally at a Friends’ event, preferably one where we may have a glass in our hands and raise a toast to the resumption of our normal activities in support of our wonderful parks and their magnificent staff.

Sue Price
Chairman

Request from Heritage Insider

Dear Friends,

As I’m sure you’re aware, the Royal Parks run an annual programme of events and workshops for adults. Royal Parks want to make sure what they offer is vibrant, relevant and inclusive for the future and wants to find out what members of Friends groups think.

We are looking for 6-8 people to participate in a focus group on WhatsApp Tuesday 23rd February at 7-8.15pm.

This 75 minute informal small group chat will focus on the Parks and some of the ideas on what we could offer. More information will be circulated to participants beforehand and as a thank you, everyone will be offered a £15 High Street shopping voucher or a donation of the same amount to Royal Parks on your behalf.

If you would like to participate please email our consultants Heritage Insider who will be running the focus group on inspireme@heritageinsider.co.uk with ‘PARK’ in the subject line to apply.

WhatsApp is free to download on smart phones or to a computer
https://www.whatsapp.com/download/?lang=en

This is an invitation to you, as a member of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, to join our Meeting on 26th May at 5pm. The meeting will be held as an on-line Zoom meeting.

Friends will be notified directly of the Zoom dial in details.
Once again, it is a great shame that we are unable to meet properly in person for this meeting. I hope it will not be too long before we are able to meet more informally at a Friends’ event, preferably one where we may have a glass in our hands and raise a toast to the resumption of our normal activities in support of our wonderful parks and their magnificent staff.

For technical reasons, this meeting will not constitute our formal AGM which will be held later in the year and at which members will be able to vote including on appointment of new trustees and re-appointment of existing trustees.

So apart from this the only other thing missing this evening is that glass of wine!

AGENDA

1. Receipt of the 2020 annual statement of accounts and the trustees annual report.

2. We are most fortunate to have senior members of the Royal Parks to give us some brief presentations:

• Tom Jarvis, Director, The Royal Parks
• Andrew Williams, Manager, Kensington Gardens
• Jason Taylor, Manager, Hyde Park
  This is a chance to hear and see photographic illustrations from insiders with news and views from our own two Parks, and an overview of all the Royal Parks.

3. There will be a Q and A session.

Tuesday 29th June
Plant Sale in the super nursery in Hyde Park
Members only
This is a favourite date which lots of you have been looking forward to. Wonderful plants, surplus to the Parks’ needs, will be sold in aid of the Royal Parks charity. Timing and arrangements will be made to make sure there is safe distancing will follow.

A very small group with expert help and guidance, to look and identify species in two private gardens in Hyde Park at lunchtime.
15th June, 17th June and a reserve day, in case of total wash out, 24th June

All details and how to book a time slot in the next Blog, which is emailed to all Members

Thursday 11th November: Plant Sale in the Super Nursery in Hyde Park

Members only

Tickets to the plant sale is £5.

We will be allocating 1 hour time slots from 10am and 2pm. The nursery will close at 3pm. There will be plenty of plants supplied throughout the day.

All members will receive a link to book online and for those who can not book online a contact number will be provided.

Please note only cards will be accepted on the day for purchases and remember to bring bags!

After a period where things rather stood still, the allotment has burst into life again with a new manager and a very willing and hard working band of volunteers.

If you have been before to the Autumn Harvest Festival, this is not quite as large an event but there will be plenty of things to see and do.

A team from Mission Invertebrate will be there and there’s lots to learn about the wonderful world of invertebrates and how important they are to our ecosystem.

The allotment (it’s quite tucked away so some of you may not be aware of it) is behind the Serpentine North Gallery which is the one with the restaurant on the bend in West Carriage Drive.

After a period where things rather stood still, the allotment has burst into life again with a new manager and a very willing and hard working band of volunteers.

If you have been before to the Autumn Harvest Festival, this is not quite as large an event but there will be plenty of things to see and do.

A team from Mission Invertebrate will be there and there’s lots to learn about the wonderful world of invertebrates and how important they are to our ecosystem.

The allotment (it’s quite tucked away so some of you may not be aware of it) is behind the Serpentine North Gallery which is the one with the restaurant on the bend in West Carriage Drive.

Hyde Park’s Super Nursery will be stuffed with Autumn/Spring bedding plants, thanks to Mike Jones

This will be a thrilling tour through the Nursery. It’s always a treat to be guided by Manager, Mike Jones who is most generously looking after us again in this special environment.

Members will be emailed with details as to how to book online and a contact number for those who are unable to book online.

Our first event for the Autumn is a tree walk with our old (young) friend, Greg Packman, on Wednesday 15th September at 11am.

Welcome back to ‘The Friends’ for the “new term’. I hope you have all been patiently holding the date for our tree walk, I apologise that the final steps, ie booking, have taken so long to get to you.

However, happily all is now in place for another of Greg’s wonderful walks. A little rain will have refreshed Kensington Gardens but we hope not on Wednesday, perhaps be prepared with suitable clothing. I very much look forward to meeting some of you again especially when we have a chance to talk afterwards over a glass of wine or something long and cool.

Andy Williams, the Manager of Kensington Gardens has very kindly invited us to his very pretty courtyard at the end of the walk. He may also join us for the tour.

So, I hope to see you all at the Albert Memorial, close to the kiosk, at 11am on Wednesday 15th.

Members will be emailed a link to book a place on the tour and for those who can not book online a contact number will be provided

Dear Member,

We are holding our 2021 AGM (which was deferred last Autumn) on Wednesday 5th January 2022 at 5pm, in the drawing room of Queen Alexandra’s House, Bremner Road, SW7 2QT. Accompanying this letter is the formal notice.

The meeting is being held to cover the normal AGM business and to seek approval to changes to our constitution principally to enable us to hold future AGMs and other general meetings electronically or as hybrid meetings where necessary or appropriate.

Your attention is drawn to:

The Charity’s Constitution
Proposed amendment of Constitution to allow for AGMs to be held electronically online and for proxy voting. click here for Proposed Amendment of Constitution

Annual report and accounts for the year to 31st December 2020 (as already approved by our trustees) containing the trustees report.

Minutes of the 2020 AGM

List of FHPKG trustees.

All three of the above documents can be found on in the Policies and Report section of the website. click here to access this section

All members are entitled to attend but this is to be a formal business meeting only. There will be no presentations or refreshments on this occasion. We may have to make changes to the arrangements depending on the COVID situation and Government regulations at the time – these will be posted on our website.

We hope to be able to return to our old style of AGM’s in the near future at which we can enjoy presentations followed by a pleasant social reception. And there will be special cause to celebrate if this event isn’t thwarted by Covid restrictions.

Best wishes to all our members
Sue

Sue Price
Chairman
contact@friendshpkg.org.uk
www.friendshpkg.org.uk

IMG Vice President, Suzy Griffiths, who is the director of Winter Wonderland, has invited us for an afternoon to learn more about running this massive event and to enjoy some of the experiences.

We will meet at the Red Gate, which is close to Marble Arch at 14:00 to be escorted in groups to the Crystal Lounge where, over a mulled wine and mince pies or hot chocolate, we will listen to a short presentation.

Afterwards we will move off to the Magical Ice Kingdom, the Big Wheel, and end with a performance of the Circus at 16:00.

Warm clothing and gloves as well as winter footwear are all necessary, especially for the Ice Kingdom.

Numbers are limited and this has always been a really enjoyable afternoon. As entrance to the site is ticketed this year, we are meeting outside, so it is important to arrive on time. We will give you a mobile number to contact in case of difficulty.

BOOKING
Wednesday 15th December 2021
14:00 – 17:15 GMT

Tickets: £27.54

Please book for ‘The Friends’ event through the Eventbrite link which will be sent to you via email

This is an invitation to you, as a member of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, to join the Charity’s 2022 Annual General Meeting.

Welcome on behalf of the LookOut Team, where the meeting will be held. Below is a map illustrating how to reach the LookOut location in Hyde Park. There are signposts around the Park.

Your attention is drawn to the Friends website where all formal documents are available: www.friendshpkg.org.uk
Approval of Trustees’ Annual Report which includes the 2021 Annual Statement of Accounts for the year to 31st December 2021

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2022 Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will be held at The LookOut, Hyde Park at 6pm on Wednesday the 6th July 2022 to transact the following business.

AGENDA 1. Welcome by Chair, Sue Price 2. Introduction from the LookOut Team 3. Approval of Trustees’ Annual Report 4. Resolutions a) Appoint new Trustees Christina Shiatis Lynden Easton

Following the Agenda there will be Presentations by:

Reception to follow the Meeting

If you intend to attend the AGM please could you let our secretary, Kathy Spanos know, for catering purposes only.

If you are unable to attend then you can appoint a proxy pursuant to sub-clause 11(10) of the Constitution. Please inform Kathy Spanos. events@friendshpkg.org.uk

The entrance is on the Bayswater Road side. Nearest parking is in The Triangle Car Park on West Carriage Drive, just north of the Serpentine Bridge. The car park and tube stations all take about 10 minutes to walk to the LookOut. Please click here …
Directions to AGM

The Royal Parks charity has enlisted the help of The Urban Birder, David Lindo, to inspire a new generation of bird watchers.

The charity will be running free sessions for bird watching novices across all of London’s eight Royal Parks in June and July. Binoculars will be provided, and sessions
will last up to two hours.

To find out more and dates/ times of the bird watching sessions click here

The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens have organised four free Bandstand Concerts in August and September:

• Sunday 7th August: South London Jazz Orchestra with Simon Selman (Swing Dance Teacher)
• Sunday 21st August: Melodians Steel Orchestra
• Saturday 10th September: Orquesta Mambarito Cancelled
• Sunday 18th September: Snowden Colliery Band Cancelled

All the concerts will run from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and will be held at Hyde Park Bandstand, off Serpentine Road (near Serpentine Bar/Kitchen).

Kensington Gardens allotment is having an open day on Sunday 11th September between 12pm and 4pm. Everyone is welcome to celebrate this year’s harvest.

There will be many activities to take part in from digging for potatoes, harvesting crops, learning about organic food growing to seed sowing and games. You will also have the opportunity to go on a guided walk with the wonderful volunteers who work in the allotment.

Entertain the little ones with orchard storytelling, bug hunting and more!

click here for more information on the Royal Parks website

By kind invitation of the manager, Rob Dowling, we have been invited to see the Winter and Spring planting before it leaves the nursery to be planted in the parks and at Buckingham Palace. Rob’s insights are always interesting, and if you were thinking of coming to the plant sale later in October, you might be pleased to plan what you need. We will finish with a drink in the warm glasshouses.

To join the Tour of the Nursery, please click on the link provided in the October newsletter emailed to all Friends on 2/10/2022

Again, thanks to Rob Dowling for his kind invitation. Autumn, Winter and Spring plants, to see you through until the glorious burst of colour during next Summer, will be on sale to our members. These fabulous plants, which are left over stock, are grown for the parks and are available for us to buy at bargain prices. All takings go to the Royal Parks Charity.

There will be help to load up cars if you want to buy a large quantity. Experience from the last sale is that we were astonished at the selection and quality of the plants, and found it hard to make decisions.

We will be setting up until 10am so don’t arrive too early, there will be masses of plants for everybody.

Please note this event is for Friends of Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens

CARDS NO CASH PLEASE

And now for something we haven’t tried before …

The boating on the Serpentine has been taken inhouse by the Royal Parks, and new manager, Tom Kiddey, is keen to meet us and for us to have a go at rowing. He has invited us to join him and his team and promises there will be plenty of help and assistance, and you won’t be shoved out to sea (sorry I meant lake) on your own.
To join the Rowing Event, please click on the link provided in the October newsletter emailed to Friends on the 2nd October

Tea, coffee and even cake will be on offer to strengthen our arms, and our photographer will be in attendance. I am mad keen to try it out and am hoping that some of you would be interested in joining fellow trustee, Tina Higginson, and me in having a go.

A VIP date for all our members:
Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
Annual General Meeting
Weds 19th July
6pm at The LookOut in Hyde Park

This is an invitation to you, as a member of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, to join the Charity’s 2023 Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will be held by kind invitation of Graham Alderton on behalf of the LookOut team. Below is a map illustrating how to reach the LookOut location in Hyde Park. There are signposts around the Park.

Your attention is drawn to the Friends website where all formal documents are available:
Friends Annual Report
The Trustees’ Annual Report which includes the 2022 Annual Statement of Accounts for the year to 31st December 2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2023 Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will be held at The LookOut, Hyde Park at 6pm on Wednesday the 19th July 2023 to transact the following business.

AGENDA

1. Welcome by Chair, Sue Price
2. Introduction by Graham Alderton of the LookOut team
3. Approval of Trustees’ Report and Accounts
4. Appointment of New Trustees
• Allyson Andrews (elected 22.03.2022)
• William Gray (elected 07.09.2022)
• Re-elect Trustees retiring on a 3 year rotation
• Joanna Clark
• Simon Cox

Following the Agenda there will be Presentations by:

• Hyde Park Manager – Jason Taylor
• Kensington Gardens Manager – Andrew Williams

Concluding with a Q & A session

Reception to follow the meeting

Please let our secretary, Kathy Spanos know, if you wish attend the AGM, for catering purposes only: events@friendshpkg.org.uk

If the LookOut is not easily accessible for you, we can arrange buggy transport collecting you from a convenient place on the edge of the Park.

Should you require a buggy do contact: Will Gray – williamgray101@gmail.com

If you are unable to attend then you can appoint a proxy pursuant to sub-clause 11(10) of the Constitution. Please inform Kathy Spanos via email events@friendshpkg.org.uk

Re-discover your inner child…our new playground manager, Ryan Gill is keen to show us what is happening, tell us about plans and show us what’s changed since we were last able to get in (if ever).

This is a private visit in the morning, before the Playground opens to the public. At 10 am, the magic hour, the children pour in and we retire to recover over coffee/hot chocolate/tea, cakes and pastries to reward our early(ish) start.

Very limited numbers, members only.

Booking by eventbrite – members will receive an email with booking details.

This part of the Royal Parks empire has been transformed, since it was taken under the wing of new manager Rob Dowling a year ago.

It has always been a highlight of our calendar. I booked us in quickly, as Rob told me that his diary was filling up with visits……followed by drinks (last year it was Pimms)

Booking will be via Eventbrite – members will receive an email to book the event.

The sun has come out at last and it’s warming us all up. We have a lovely couple of hours planned floating around on the water, either rowing, in a pedallo, being driven in the electric launch or sitting on the pontoon and observing.

We have space and it’s not too late to book for a few more to join us and we (the trustees) would be delighted to meet you all there.

Soft shoes are recommended and the ability only to climb in and out of boats (with plenty of help) or just sitting, and watching with a suitably summery drink and tasty nibbles is also an option. The Eventbrite form for booking, before Monday, is below.

Tickets £22

All members will receive an email detailing how to book this event

Details of the concerts available on line

Thanks to the generosity of The Royal Parks, our members are offered a pair of tickets to any concert of their choice during this summer season.

We are proposing a draw out of the hat (Kathy’s still got the hat she used a few years ago for the Winter Wonderland draw).

Win a prize pair of tickets by sending your name and email address to our secretary at events@friendshpkg.org.uk

Apply for the draw by Sunday 18th June
We will let you know that you are the winner and pass your details and concert request to the Royal Parks events team who will make the arrangements.

Our members are lucky enough to be invited to this private sale for the ‘Friends’ and all takings go the The Royal Parks charity. Members may bring friends, family and neighbours with them.

The nursery entrance is about 200 meters east along the private park road, heading towards the Old Police House. It is marked on maps.

There is a secure gate which will be attended and it will open at 10am prompt.

PAYMENT BY CARD ONLY
Our thanks to manager Rob Dowling and his team of experts

Hyde Park will be alive with the Sound of Music.
Our mini-series of Hyde Park bandstand concerts starts on Saturday, August 19th from 2.30 to 4.30 pm

We welcome Orquesta Mambarito, with their star singer Victor Marchangioli, who will produce a cool Latin American sound for us to dance to, or just sit and relax and listen, and perhaps tap your feet.

Generously supported by the volunteers in the Information Kiosk at Hyde Park Corner.

There is no need to book and no tickets to pay for any of these concerts. They are designed to be enjoyable, musical events for everybody. Chairs will be set up, an ice-cream van will be in attendance, and all we need is some proper summer weather.

Following this, we have on Sunday, 3rd September 2.30 to 4.30 pm The Snowdown Colliery Welfare Band from East Kent.

This takes us right back to the silver bands, which used to feature on bandstands in parks and at the seaside, all over Britain.

These brass or silver bands are part of our musical history, but their repertoire will certainly not be stuck in the past, and they will feature many arrangements of catchy, numbers from the shows.
It’s a spine-tingling sound when their dozens of musicians strike up with fanfares to attract the crowds.
Generously supported by member Carl Richardson.

To round off this little series, on Sunday, 10th September from 2 to 4.30pm we welcome back the South London Jazz Orchestra, with their swing dance teacher Simon Selmon.

The earlier start is designed so that Simon can take us through some steps. Last year, his contribution was impressive and as well as many of us being encouraged to get up and dance, large groups of wonderful dancers turned up from all over. It is always a special and very popular afternoon.

Many thanks to the Marble Arch BID team for funding this concert.

We have to thank these generous supporters and several others who, over the last few years, have funded these lovely concerts and for their support through several years of Covid Lockdowns, and then the sad death of Queen Elizabeth last year.

We are back in business this year, the rain must surely ease some time soon, and we’ll see the sun again?

Sue Price
Chairman
7th August 2023

At the kind invitation of Director, Justine Locker, we are privileged to be offered a private tour of Kensington Palace and this beautiful exhibition.

The visit will take place on Monday 23rd October at 10.00am.

The exhibition has been a huge success for Kensington Palace, with over 200 stunning exhibits of couture, jewellery and handbags worn by Royalty and celebrities. This fashion exhibition draws parallels between the world of today’s red carpet and the Georgian Royal Court in the 18th century.

Our tour will commence at 10:00am prompt, please gather at the front door of Kensington Palace.

Friends will receive an email with a link to book tickets

By kind invitation of the Nursery Manager, Rob Dowling, our very popular plant sale will take place on Tuesday 24th October 10am to 3pm in The Hyde Park Super Nursery.

This is to sell, at bargain prices, the excess plants used throughout all the Royal Parks. There is plenty of stock and all proceeds go to the Royal Parks Charity

Gates will open at 10am. We will be setting up until 10am so regretfully there won’t be any earlier entries.

Help will be available to get multiple purchases to your cars.

Located on the private road between West Carriage Drive and The Old Police House. Nearest parking in the Triangle Car Park on West Carriage Drive (opposite Serpentine Gallery North).

PAYMENT IS BY CARD ONLY, NO CASH

Members are welcome to bring guests along with them.

Some of you were at our October Sale. If you have a few gaps or felt you were missing a little splash of colour there is a great selection for you to pick up at this short notice sale.

Rob writes “We have come to the end of the Parks’ spring display deliveries and so there are a number of spring bedding plants left over. We have plenty of wall flowers, pansies, violas, myosotis, bellis, ajuga, heuchera, ornamental cabbage, grasses, fox gloves and knock down price primulas and polys.”

Payment is by card only

Help will be available to get large quantities into your cars, the location is on the private road which runs from West Carriage Drive towards the Old Police House. Parking is in the Triangle Car Park opposite the Serpentine Gallery North. Members are welcome to bring guests.

Christmas stock is now arriving and there will be a lovely selection of stocking fillers and gifts by late November.

FLASH! A one day 15% discount will be available on the 21st November to staff, volunteers and members. Why not call in and have a look? Remember to take your new card with you.

The Royal Parks Shop
Serpentine Road (by the Hyde Park Boat House)

At the kind invitation of Director Suzy Griffiths we are again able to offer our members this great treat. This is ideal for those who have perhaps never visited, don’t want to go on their own and would enjoy joining a small friendly group and be very well looked after.

We are whisked into the VIP lounge where we have a presentation from Suzy who, over drinks, coffees, hot chocolate and perhaps mince pies, will give us an idea of what it’s like to run Winter Wonderland. We’ll move on through the Magical Ice Kingdom where we’ll learn a little from the expert about different kinds of ice, and then on to the Circus for a 4.00pm performance.

As dusk arrives we ride on the Big Wheel for a spectacular view of Winter Wonderland and London, provided we have a clear evening. There may well be some more treats along the way, we’re sure to end the day feeling we are Winter Wonderland experts. It’s a great way to start Christmas.

Logistics
Booking is for members only who may bring one guest. Numbers have to be limited as this event is always very quickly booked up. You will receive an email with an eventbrite link, to register your request

This is an invitation to you, as a member of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, to join the Charity’s 2024 Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will be held by kind invitation of Graham Alderton on behalf of the LookOut team. Below is a map illustrating how to reach the LookOut location in Hyde Park. There are signposts around the Park.

Your attention is drawn to the Trustees’ Annual Report which includes the 2023 Annual Statement of Accounts for the year to 31st December 2023

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2024 Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will be held at The LookOut, Hyde Park at 6pm on Wednesday the 3rd July 2024 to transact the following business.

AGENDA

1. Welcome by Chair, Sue Price

2. Introduction by Graham Alderton of the LookOut team

3. Approval of Trustees’ Report and Accounts

4. Re-elect Trustees retiring on a 3 year rotation

• Sue Price
• Carol Joseph

Following the Agenda there will be Presentations by:

• Hyde Park Manager – Jason Taylor
• Kensington Gardens Manager – Andrew Williams
  Concluding with a Q & A session

Reception to follow the meeting

Please let our secretary, Kathy Spanos know, if you wish attend the AGM, for catering purposes only: secretary@friendshpkg.org.uk

If the LookOut is not easily accessible for you, we can arrange buggy transport collecting you from a convenient place on the edge of the Park. Should you require a buggy do contact: Will Gray events@friendshpkg.org.uk

If you are unable to attend then you can appoint a proxy pursuant to sub-clause 11(10) of the Constitution. Please inform Kathy Spanos: secretary@friendshpkg.org.uk

The entrance is on the Bayswater Road side. Nearest parking is in The Triangle Car Park on West Carriage Drive, just north of the Serpentine Bridge. The car park and tube stations all take about 10 minutes to walk to the LookOut.

Click here for Directions to AGM

From Marble Arch walk towards The Reformers Tree Memorial (a mosaic, not a real tree). In front of you there is a small dark brown wooden building with a turret on the top, this is the entrance to the LookOut

From Hyde Park Corner – make your way to the Serpentine Road and head west. At the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen take a right towards the public toilets in the middle of the Park. The entrance is on the north side so simply follow the boundary around until you come to the gatehouse, a small dark wooden building.

Walk with Greg Packman, Tree Expert and Beth Handley, Head Gardener

Members will be sent an email with booking details

A tour of the Nursery with Rob Dowling, Nursery Manger

…for an early evening with the most attractive ambience, it’s hard to beat the gigantic Hyde Park Nursery at this time of year. It’s bursting with flowering plants ready to go out to all the Royal Parks. Enormous exotics which have over-wintered in the shelter of the nursery are about to make the short journey to St James’s Park, and guardsmen red geraniums are ready for duty standing to (very tall) attention in front of Buckingham Palace.

The nursery is located on the private road close to the Triangle car park on West Carriage Drive, opposite Serpentine Gallery North.

Members will be sent an email with booking details

Ready to strike up again, and an exciting first for the Kensington Gardens bandstand.

The Band of the Mercian Regiment will be travelling from the Midlands. We’re confident that they will make a splendid sound and will give us a fine start to the season.

Orquesta Mambarito Salsa band with Victor Marchangioli, attract a large following. The costumes and dancing are spectacular. Join in for a dance.

Bandstand is close to the south of the Round Pond.

South London Jazz Orchestra (SLJO) will be playing their superb brand of swing and big band tunes. And Simon Selman, swing dance teacher, is the bonus as he will teach us all the steps beforehand and get us tapping our toes and dancing along.

Epsom and Ewell Silver Band. This is the first time the band has played for us, so we want a good turn-out to give them a ‘Friends’ warm welcome. Also, it’s a chance to help launch the future of this beautiful bandstand.

We look forward to seeing your photos, so snap away during these dogdays of Summer.

The Bandstand is close to the south of the Round Pond.

And, if you think you can help fund this last special treat, please email: contact@friendshpkg.org.uk

Many thanks to Alexa Chow, who is the Project Curator at the Serpentine Gallery, for her offer to show a group of members and guests round the temporary Summer Pavilion. This will be before it opens to the public at 10am.

This Event is free. There will be a 30min tour of the construction and explanation of the design, before the public arrive.

Alexa will then be available for a Q & A session.

We need to keep a register of participants (limited numbers) so are asking you to book through Eventbrite (please see Summer News email for link to eventbrite). There is no charge for this interesting start to the day.

Or, how would you like it to grow in the Spring?

We are grateful to Rob Dowling (Nursery Manager) for giving us another date for our own Autumn / Winter/ early Spring plant sale at the Nursery.

HOLD THE DATE!
Tuesday 22nd October 10am to 3pm

More details will follow as logistics may be slightly different this time. A reminder will be sent nearer the date.

Join us for our annual visit to our favourite tucked away location in Hyde Park. Thanks to Manager Rob Dowling this event is one which some of our members enjoy every year, and we would love to be joined by new members and first time visitors .

We will be surrounded by scents and flowers, comfortable in any weather conditions and with some good things to nibble at.

Members will receive an email to book tickets via Eventbrite

The Royal Parks would like to invite members of the ‘Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens‘ (FHP&KG) to a special event at The Hyde Park Learning Centre (The LookOut)

Darren Share, the Royal Parks Director of Parks, will give a talk on current projects and plans for the future of the two Parks. Members of the charities team will explain the vital role that gifts, in wills, are set to play in protecting Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens as they face new challenges. They will share information about the Royal Parks new Free Wills service.

There will be a special tour of the Learning Centre’s one acre garden following Darren’s talk, after which, you are invited to join the charity team for a cream tea at the Centre.

Places are limited

Do visit royalparks.org.uk/legacyevent to register your interest. You are welcome to ask for a family member or friend to be registered with you.

Our members are lucky enough to be invited to this private sale for the ‘Friends’ and all takings go the The Royal Parks charity. Members may bring friends, family and neighbours with them.

Details to follow

This is an invitation to you, as a member of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, to join the Charity’s 2025 Annual General Meeting. Some details have been updated.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2025 Annual General Meeting of The Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens will be held at the ‘Hyde Park Learning Centre’ formerly called ‘The LookOut’, (by kind invitation of Manager Graham Alderton). Will begin at 6pm on Wednesday the 2nd July 2025 to transact the following business.

Your attention is drawn to the Friends website where all formal documents are available: Friends Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

This includes the Trustees’ Annual Report which contains the 2024 Annual Statement of Accounts for the year to 31st December 2024

AGENDA
1. Welcome by Chair, Sue Price
2. Introduction by Graham Alderton of the Learning Centre team
3. Approval of Trustees’ Report and Accounts
4. Resolutions:
a) Appoint new Trustees Patricia Ladkin
b) Re-elect Trustees retiring on a 3 year rotation Tina Higginson, Lynden Easton, Christina Shiatis, Will Gray
c) Any other business

Following the Agenda there will be Presentations from:

Hyde Park Manager – Jason Taylor
Kensington Gardens Assistant Manager – Pat Kelly

Concluding with a Q & A session

Reception to follow the Meeting

For catering purposes only, do let our secretary, Kathy Spanos know if you wish to attend the AGM: events@friendshpkg.org.uk

The ‘Hyde Park Learning Centre’ is quite a long walk. If it is not easily accessible for you, we can arrange buggy transport, collecting you from a convenient place on the edge of the Park.

The entrance to the centre is on the Bayswater Road side. Nearest parking is in The Triangle Car Park on West Carriage Drive, just north of the Serpentine Bridge. The car park and tube stations are about a 10 minute walk away.

Sue Price
Chairman
13/06/2025

Friends of Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
email: contact@friendshpkg.org.uk
website: www.friendshpkg.org.uk

Photography Paul Shelley
Design Lynden Easton

We are grateful to Emma Sparre-Newman, manager; Chris,head gardener and Matt,cemetery supervisor for inviting us to this magical spot in West London .

It is several years since our members last visited, restoration work was on going and the catacombs were not accessible. We loved it. The grounds were changing and so much for the better.

We can now see the cemetery looking even lovelier as the work on horticulture, bio diversity and maintenance blends with restoration of the historic and notable elements and the cemetery is becoming an even more peaceful and reflective space which families are choosing for their resting places.

Emma, Chris and Matt will accompany us, we will discover and learn about this listed place. In small groups we will be taken into the catacombs, and end at 15:45 with some light refreshments at the cafe at the North Gate.
*
Be prepared!*
The area we are covering is quite large so reasonable walking pace will be needed and certainly comfortable shoes.
Bring water, and prepare for sun if it’s hot.

Meeting point: Entrance Cemetery, Southgate on Fulham Road at 13:50, nearest tube West Brompton by the northgate entrance.

Please register via the link, which has been emailed to all members.

SUMMER PAVILION TOUR
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion
West Carriage Drive
Tuesday morning 17th June 8.50 – 10.00am

This will be a private curated visit to view in detail, the new structure outside the Pavilion. Every year a new design is installed.

“The curator, Chris Bayley will take us around Marina Tabassum’s Pavilion: “A CAPSULE IN TIME”

We will also have the opportunity to see the small temporary pavilion designed for children which is close by.

Chris will explain how the designers and the design are chosen along with the thinking and ethos behind them. Last year, we visited the pavilion with Alexa Chow. She gave us an understanding of her exhibition which allowed us to see it from an informed perspective, rather than simply walking around and observing.

This tour is free for members. For security reasons we do need your names, so please register on the Eventbrite link which has been emailed to you.

The Trustees and I look forward to meeting you all for this most interesting tour.

Sue Price
Chairman

Out and about in Hyde Park with Matthew Pottage
Starting in the ‘LookOut’

A very special evening, finishing with drinks in the Dell (weather permitting).

Booking via Eventbrite – an email will be sent to all members.  This will be for limited numbers only so look out for the booking alert giving you more details.

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, the following dates are in the diary

The Hyde Park Bandstand
Sunday August 17th 2.30pm to 4.30 pm
The Band of the Mercian Regiment

Sunday 31st August 2.30 to 4.30pm
Orquesta Mambarito

Sunday 7th September 2pm to 4.30 pm
(note different time)
South London Jazz Orchestra (SLJO) and dance teacher

Kensington Gardens – POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN FORECAST
Sunday 14th September 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Epsom and Ewell Silver Band.