Our AGM will be held on Tuesday 20th June at 7pm at the Bothy, St James Church, North Cray Road DA14 5EQ The formal Notice has been sent by e mail to our members. If you have not received it, please contact us by e mail; ffcm06@gmail.com that we can check our records.
All only members are eligible to vote on the Formal Matters of the AGM but we welcome all to come along with a few to joining the ‘Friends’ Please see below for full details included in the formal notice.
Canines bring your handlers to the Information Centre Saturday 20th May 10am to 1pm for a tea party and lots of cake – fundraising for Blue Cross Charity and the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows.
The rain held off on the Monday of the Big Help Out Volunteering day and we were able to meet many visitors to the Meadows at the ‘Five Arches’ and tell them about the Meadows and our Friends Group. A big thank you to the volunteer litter pickers who went off in family groups and collected a surprising amount of rubbish littering the site.
We also introduced our exciting QR Code Post project which is in the advance stages of development. Watch this space for further information on this project and our plans to plant a Coronation Commemorative Oak Tree on the Meadows later this year.
A successful event for the Friends and a big thanks to the team that made it happen. Our next event is ‘Paws for Tea’ on Saturday 20th May.
Images below: the Friends Base beside the Lake at Five Arches and the Team with Louie French MP.
A reminder that the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows, will be hosting a volunteer information event as part of ‘The Big Help Out’ Coronation weekend celebrations.
In tribute to His Majesty The King’s public service, The Big Help Out, on Bank Holiday Monday, encourages communities across the nation to highlight the positive impact volunteering has in their area. The hope is that this will encourage more local people to volunteer.
If you’d like to find out more about what the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows community group do, or if you want to volunteer to help, go along to the event from 10.30am – 1.30pm. You will find the Friends beside the Five Arches at Foots Cray Meadows, Rectory Lane Car Park DA14 5BP, Leafield Lane (North Cray Road) DA14 5EB.
There will be a special display and information on volunteering activities, including river restoration work, tree planting, woodland management, and litter picking. It is a family event so bring the kids along so they can join in some activities.
The Friends will also be showcasing their QR Code project that when complete will enable visitors to learn more about the history of the Meadows, with QR code signs positioned at key points, to provide a digital guide.
Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Place, Cllr Peter Craske said:
“We’ve got some amazing volunteers in Bexley who give their time to help improve the lives of local people and to keep our Borough clean and green.
‘If you are thinking of starting a new activity, or if you need a new challenge, that will help you meet new people, why not try volunteering with one of our wonderful local organisations?”
We have suspended this Saturday at the Information Centre and will meet you on Monday instead.
Our Images for this posted remind us that its nesting time and why dogs should be kept out of the Lake and River at Five Arches this time of the year. If the swans do have a brood this year they will protect their young and The Cob Swan can be a match for any dog in the water.
Thanks to our member Michael Melia for these photos.
Your opportunity to find out what the FFCM do & how you can join in. Join us on the ‘Coronation ‘Big Help Out Day and learn about our volunteering activities e.g. River Restoration Work, Tree planting, woodland management, Litter picking, and Children’s activities.
We shall also be showcasing our QR Code project, where members are transferring our Natural Environment and History Knowledge to the website for immediate visitor access by QR code signs to be situated throughout the Meadows.
This event is suitable for all the family providing children are accompanied by an adult. From 1030am to 1.30pm
Our pictures for this post are Spring Daffodils at Rectory Lane by Anthony Ghanney and the Swans framed in his favoured composition of through the Arch at Five Arches by Michael Melia. Many thanks for these lovely pictures, do keep your pictures coming to delight our website readers.
The Friends Foots Cray Meadows will open the Information Centre this Saturday 1st April from 10am to 1230, come along to meet the committee, pay subscriptions and volunteer to help out with our forthcoming event on the Coronation Holiday Monday 8th May.
With spring about to arrive! it’s time to send in your springtime pictures of the Meadows for publishing on our website, visit footscraymeadows.wordpress.com picture below some of the limited March sunshine on the North Cray Road daffodils.
First – Wednesday 1st March 2023 7pm, the Policing Ward Panel which includes Foots Cray Meadows has a public meeting at the United Service Club in Sidcup, You are welcome to attend and The Meadows will feature in this meeting. There will be presentations from The London Fire Brigade and the Local Police. This will be an interesting opportunity to find out local community issues concerning Public Safety, Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime Matters, in the St Mary’s and St James Ward area and beyond. It is a public meeting, and all are welcome so bring a neighbour or friend. Teas and coffee are provided and the Bar will be open for a social chat after the presentations. see below for full details .
Secondly – Saturday 4th March 2023 10am – 12noon, We shall have the information Centre Open, as usual for the first Saturday of the Month, do pop in and meet the committee who will be discussing our exciting programme of events (see previous post) .
Look forward to seeing you at both of these events.
Best Wishes
Michael
Michael Heath Chair Friends of Foots Cray Meadows
Todays picture from B Weight of a Little Egret beside the Cray at Foots Cray Meadows.
To accompany this post we have a wonderful photo of a Redwing taken this winter on the Meadows by Bernie Weight a keen local Photographer and Birder.
Remember that with our mobile phones we can all take great photos whilst visiting Foots Cray Meadows. Please do send us your pictures we would love to publish them here on this web site. send to ffcm06@gmail.com.
With a Thank you and apology to those of you who have sent your subscription or recently joined us.
January is the start of our member ship year and I remind you to pay your subscriptions for 2023. You can pay the £5 pa per household into our bank account at HSBC, Account number 61550985 and sort code 40-42-01 (please add your home address as a reference and confirm by e mail to ffcm06@gmail.com ). Our membership subscription pays our costs and maintains the capability to deliver events and host organisations through the Information Centre.
As a member you receive our newsletter and regular updates of our events and activities. You have a vote at the Annual General Meeting. Being a member is also about belonging and making a difference, we want to be inclusive, welcoming new and younger people with new ideas to take part and be engaged with us for the Meadows.
Nick Grant and I attend the St Mary’s & St James Ward Panel, where we have an opportunity to bring any criminal and anti-social behaviour issues on the Meadows to the local police. The ward panel has an open public meeting on Wednesday 1st March 7pm at the United Services Club, Sidcup. See below for full details.
It would be good to see some of the Friends Members at this meeting especially if you are a resident of St Mary’s & St James Ward.
Our pictures to cheer up this ‘Money Please’ message have been submitted by Michael Melia a big thank you, and why not take some seasonal pictures when you are out on the Meadows and send them in to the e mail above.
Windy and wet meant not many Visitors to the Information Centre or even out and about. But a visit to Foots Cray Meadows is always a joy even in this weather.
Do cheer us all up, and send in your photos, below are a selection from the ‘Autumn Colours Theme’ from Ray and Raj. send to ffcm06@gmail.com
Hopefully we will open next month Saturday 4th February 2023, don’t forget to renew your membership or join the ‘Friends’ see members page.
Friends of Foots Cray Meadows 