Seasonal Greetings from the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows at a time when the Meadows have just presented a December winter snow scene in this the seventeenth year of our organisation. I am incredibly pleased to report that the FFCM is in fine form.
Our AGM in September heard how the Friends has developed over the years and how the past 12 months have seen a return to normality with the ongoing challenge of being an ever (and seemingly increasingly) popular public open space along with the issues of arid-like conditions during the extended and spectacular heat wave last summer. Our members enthused on future challenges and heard how we shall continue to deliver our aims and objectives, as well as engaging with our visitors.
A big ‘thank you’ to our committee, which continues to open the Information Centre on the first Saturday of each month from 10 am. Check for full details on our website at https://footscraymeadows.wordpress.com/
Thank you to Ray Hudson and his group of River Action Volunteers, who are out all year on the River Cray at Foots Cray Meadows. I am sure many of you have seen them working on riverbank habitat and keeping the water clear of rubbish. We thank you for your committed work whatever the weather. This is an opportunity for volunteering, and an event to focus on clearing and monitoring the plastic rubbish inflicted upon the river is being planned for early next year.
We are, of course, asking for subscriptions for 2023 and you can continue to 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.
One exciting development is we have a working group, led by Jacky Turner, that is exploring the possibility of enhancing our community engagement by bringing QR Code information signs to Foots Cray Meadows. Lookout for more information on this and other updates on our website postings.
On behalf of the committee, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year – and we look forward to meeting up in 2023.
Michael Heath, Chair FFCM December 2022
Banner Photo by Terence Dixon.
This image of the Old sweet Chestnut Tree by D Chudgar.
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