Shakespeare Neighbourhood and Butterfield Green

It's newsletter time

2010-05-25T16:49:00.002+01:00

Summer seems to have arrived with a sunny vengeance, and it's time for the SRA newsletter.

Please click this link to view the PDF newsletter

Butterfield Green News April 2010

2010-04-18T17:32:00.000+01:00

The BUG committee met with the parks development officer on Friday 9th April. We are extremely grateful for her support and all the actions she has carried out for the park

Table tennis

The site near the bandstand for the adult table tennis agreed with Hackney Parks cannot be used, as the slope is too great and cannot be levelled in time. So the table, supplied by the English Table Tennis Association, has been placed on the hard area at the back of the electricity sub-station, near the alley-way separating the main park from the Wordsworth Road play area. We have been told that the area will be repaired.
Planting

Allen Road gates area

The perennial planting near the Allen Road gates went ahead according to plan, but is suffering somewhat from some poor preparation of the beds. There is topsoil over the area, but the ground below is very compacted. Because water settles just below the surface, some plants are ‘lifting’ from the ground.

We have been told that mushroom compost will be spread on the bed.

Round bed next to the Wordsworth Road playground

This area is going to be replanted as a slightly more formal bed with drought tolerant, insect-friendly plants: white lavender, white candytuft and an olive tree. We have asked that the bed be prepared properly with free-draining soil.
Play area in Wordsworth Road section

As part of the green flag action plan, the grass play area was going to be extended and ‘amenity’ shrubs removed. There is apparently no money for this now. This is a cut since our original agreement for the Green Flag plan.
Cherry tree near bandstand

The cherry tree that Hackney agreed to plant (to replace the one mistakenly chopped down 2 years ago…) has not yet appeared . We have chased this and the parks development officer is also doing so.

Woodland planting

The next area to be planted is the long strip next to the basket hoop court, alongside Palatine Road. We agreed on woodland planting for this area and have asked to meet to discuss how this will be done.

Old planting

The native roses along the path behind the old chapel, which BCT volunteers rescued from the clutches of ivy (after they’d been strimmed down to ankle level) are recovering really well.

The planting alongside the stream, which was all done by volunteers is also doing really well and looking great.
Orchard

We planted new fruit bushes: a blackberry, a loganberry, a jostaberry and summer raspberries on Sunday 11th April as well as weeding round trees (their fine feeding roots can’t take the competition from the grass).

Most of the trees are looking great, but a pear tree has been severely damaged – the whole top has been broken off (by bending it to the ground). The tree guard round this tree had been taken away. We have tidied the break and are leaving the tree, as we expect it to regenerate. We have put a notice on it and have asked Hackney to replace the tree guard. An apple tree has also had a main branch torn off and the compost containers have been damaged. Dogs and dog owners are the main suspects - a bad year for dog damage…

Stream

As you will have noticed, work has stopped on the stream (coming up for its first anniversary of not working….) The contractors said they would be working on the pipe connecting the pump to the high end of the stream. The parks development officer is chasing this.

Repairs to paths

These have also stopped as Hackney ran out of repair material. We hope this will be continued soon.

Biodiversity officer

We met Hackney’s new biodiversity officer. She has a brief across all Hackney developments as well as parks. She was interested in what we have done in BG and appreciated our concern about ground preparation for planting in Butterfield Green.
Youth Event

Children and Young People’s Services are working on a major project to refurbish and revamp youth centres in the borough and this includes one at the Milton Gardens Estate. They are planning to run a celebratory launch event at Butterfield Green in July. The parks development officer has spoken to them about some of the issues that we experience at Butterfield, most notably damage to trees by dogs and dog fouling / fighting etc. She asked if they could include something on dogs in the event, perhaps a dog show / dog whisperer-type training and maybe even some people from the Dogs Trust to offer free micro chipping / dog health checks.

We said that this sounds like a fantastic idea for the park and its users!

Streaming Ahead

2010-04-18T17:29:00.002+01:00

The Fountaineers – the contractors working on Butterfield Green Stream have replaced the main pipe connecting the pump with the head of the stream and are expecting to switch on the water on Friday 15th April. If the test run is successful, the stream should be running again. They have also put barriers in place to prevent debris falling into the stream.

Our thanks to Hackney Parks Development Officer, Eleanor Johnson, for her tireless work on this project.

February 2010 committee meeting minutes

2010-03-13T09:36:00.008Z

Here are the (draft) minutes of the February 2010 committee meeting of the Shakespeare Residents' Association and Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format - you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view them.

Butterfield Green: Sustainable Planting by the Allen Road Main Gates

2010-02-22T16:59:00.000Z

This Spring the old shrubs near the Allen Road Gates are going to be removed and replaced by a mix of flowers and grasses.

These plants come up every year and require little care. The flowers provide food for butterflies, bees and other insects and the seed heads of the flowers and grasses are food for both insects and birds.

Proposed planting date: Friday 12 March – come along to help!!

January 2010 committee meeting minutes

2010-01-15T20:33:00.004Z

Please click here for the minutes of the January 2010 committee meeting of the Shakespeare Residents' Association and Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format - you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view them.

Letter template re dangerous dogs

2010-01-14T00:11:00.011Z

Dear all

Happy New Year!

Following on from our concerns regarding dangerous dogs,(details here), here's the template for letters to Diane Abbott MP and Mayor Jules Pipe.

You can contact Diane Abbott MP here and Mayor Jules Pipe here.

Best wishes
Keith Magnum
Chair

---

Dear Ms Abbott MP / Mayor Pipe ( delete as appropriate)

I am sure you are aware of the rise in numbers of so-called ‘status’ dogs in inner city boroughs such as Hackney and the problems they cause.

These dogs are often bred to attack and can be very unpredictable - yet are often kept off lead by their owners.

There have been a number of incidents in our neighbourhood of pet cats being killed by such dogs – in one incident this happened on the doorstep of the cat owner’s home. Other residents’ dogs have been set upon in the street and left with horrific injuries. It is surprising but fortunate that, so far, no child (or adult) has been injured.

Many people in our community have said that they feel intimidated and are fearful of dogs, particularly so when they are not on a lead.

Currently the law states that dogs should be kept under control, but it does not specify what this entails.

Clearly, a lead is a visible sign of control that could help prevent further attacks on and deaths of local people’s pets, and it would also help residents feel safer when out in their own neighbourhood.

I therefore ask if you could possibly assist in passing a law which specified that, in residential areas in cities, dogs have to be kept on a lead on public roads and street pathways.

I hope you can help, and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

November 2009 committee meeting minutes

2009-12-29T19:45:00.022Z

Please click here for the minutes of the November 2009 committee meeting of the Shakespeare Residents' Association and Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format - you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view them.

October 2009 committee meeting minutes

2009-12-29T19:45:00.020Z

Please click here for the minutes of the October 2009 committee meeting of the Shakespeare Neighbourhood Residents' Association and Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format - you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view them.

September 2009 general meeting minutes

2009-12-29T19:45:00.019Z

Please click here for the minutes of the September 2009 general meeting of the Shakespeare Neighbourhood Residents' Association and Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format - you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view them.

The problem with dogs

2009-11-09T13:54:00.006Z

Image of Islington tree damaged by dogs
by Graeme Robertson for The Guardian

Dogs are a frequent topic of conversation in our residents’ group, usually on the subject of dog fouling in the park. More serious issues have come to light in recent months concerning the fighting breeds of dog, which seem to be so much a feature of inner city life, and yet are a source of fear to many in our neighbourhood.

Several trees in Butterfield Green have been so badly damaged by these dogs that metal guards have had to used to protect them. Disturbingly, dog fights have been reported taking place in the park at night.

Of greater concern is the number of pets killed by these dogs. Bred to kill, they are very unpredictable and yet are often kept off-lead. Several local people have had their cats killed on their doorsteps by dogs off lead, others have been left with badly injured pets requiring extensive surgery. It’s surprising that, so far, no child has been injured.

Is it time that a law was passed requiring all dogs to kept on a lead on public roads and pathways in cities? Our councilor Karen Alcock is investigating what the council’s policy is on dogs, but if you have a view on the issue we welcome your comments.

Please click 'comments' below to leave your thoughts.

BUG Meeting Notes

2009-11-06T13:35:00.001Z

Click here for the notes from our last meeting.

As you can see - there are lots of things we are hoping will improve...

The green zone

2009-10-19T16:05:00.001+01:00

Butterfied Green is profiled in a feature for Regeneration & Renewal magazine -- read all about it here.

Planning Alerts shut down by The Royal Mail

2009-10-14T20:06:00.003+01:00

The very useful website PlanningAlerts.com has been forbidden to use the Royal Mail postcode database. So, no more early warnings about planning applications that could affect our communities.

Please consider signing the petition below. And/ or telling Marples whether you'd be willing to pay for their service. As we all know, Royal Mail is short of a bob or too and charging for a database is one way to make revenue in a connected world which is otherwise hitting them pretty hard.

Some of you may already have spotted in the news, Planning Alerts has
been effected by legal action by the Royal Mail:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7700621.stm

We are left with the choice of paying the Royal Mail up to £4,000 a
year for access to the postcode database and either running a much less
accurate and useful service or shutting PlanningAlerts down altogether.
If are concerned about this, please consider doing the following:

-- Write to your MP --

Tom Watson MP has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling on
the Royal Mail to allow non-profit organisations to use the postcode
database for free. Please write to your MP asking them to sign this
Early Day Motion (number EDM 2000) and protest at the actions of The
Royal Mail.

You can write to your MP here: http://marples.writetothem.com/

-- Sign the petition --

Nearly 1,200 people have so far signed a petition on the Prime
Minister's website, please add your name:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/nfppostcodes/

-- Blog / write to your local paper--

Please consider writing a blog post in support of PlanningAlerts or
writing to your local paper.

Yours,

The PlanningAlerts.com team

Apple Day In Butterfield Green Community Orchard

2009-09-30T11:12:00.006+01:00

Make a difference to your neighbourhood

Apple Press Apple Games Apple Cakes

Sunday 11th October 2-5pm

Butterfield Green Users' Group meeting minutes Sept 2009

2009-09-14T11:46:00.001+01:00

Please click here for the September 2009 minutes of the Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format--you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view it: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Hackney Parks Newsletter

2009-09-14T11:35:00.008+01:00

The Hackney Parks newsletter is a great source for news about all of the parks in Hackney, including Butterfield Green.

To subscribe, email Eleanor.Johnson@hackney.gov.uk.

Some tidbits from the last Hackney Parks newsletter are below to whet your appetite!

L♥VE PARKS WEEK 2010
Love Parks Week runs from the 24th July to 1st August next year. It is a campaign run by GreenSpace to get more people using and enjoying their local parks. We are keen to run a series of events in our parks during the week, and want you to come up with ideas. Previous events across the country have included dog shows, clean up days, fishing, teddy bears picnics, walks, volleyball tournaments, classical concerts, woodland crafts, art walks, fashion shows, mini beasting, kite making, a fish and chips cruise(!) and a groovy grasshoppers event(!) If you have an event suggestion, or want to offer to help run the week next year, please email Sam by the 7thOctober 2009. We are keen to get an outline programme together early to give us time to apply for funding/consult people and organise publicity in the new year. Click here to visit the Love Parks website.

BUTTERFIELD GREEN
Community gardening days take place in Butterfield Green Community Orchard and Park on the second Sunday of every month. All are welcome; tools and gloves are available to borrow and refreshments are provided. The next session is Sunday 13th September, 2-5pm. See the website for further information about the group.

There is lots more to read...contact Eleanor.Johnson@hackney.gov.uk to subscribe.

Gymnastics club at the former ZoomAround building

2009-09-14T11:26:00.003+01:00

For those of you who are interested in what is happening with the former ZoomAround building, please follow the news on www.nelgc.org

The gymnastics club that got the lease, and its volunteers, were ready to get everything ready for a September start as soon as they got the news about the permission to lease the building, back in July.

However, the club didn't get the Heads of Terms until August 21st, and the terms required that just one person (supported by 3 guarantors) signed, and that person would be limitlessly liable financially, and the 3 guarantors would also be limitlessly liable... which all seems a bit unreasonable.

Apparently the liability issue is to make sure the council has no loss of rent, and personally I can't understand why a lease can't be drawn up where for example the club would have to provide a deposit for rent for X months, and the guarantors could be liable for X months, thus protecting the council sufficiently, and putting a fixed cap on everyone's liability.

The gymclub is taking legal advice on the issue, but in the meanwhile, everything is standing still, taxmonies are being spent on electricity etc for the squatters, and the earliest start of the classes, if the club gets the building at all?!, will be January.

A great shame since everyone is raring to go, and the waiting lists are still growing by the day.

Although I'm not sure this is official, I've heard that the one other acceptable (by the council) contender for the building was a Soup Kitchen, and personally I would be worried that this might cause extra trouble in the area, whereas I think the gymnastics club, with all the exciting things they seem to offer, is a great idea.

Susanna
Local resident, and NELGC volunteer

Butterfield Green gardening day Sunday 13 Sept 2-5pm

2009-09-07T17:09:00.000+01:00

Have your say - plans for Palatine Road

2009-09-01T12:20:00.013+01:00

Please see the attached consultation documents which have gone out to local residents.

PJ39042_A3_Palatine_Map.pdf
PJ39042_Palatine_MainDoc_LR.pdf
PJ39042_Palatine_Quest_LR.pdf

Please take note of the deadline (Friday 25/09/2009) for the consultation period.

May I encourage people to respond to the consultation and to comment as much as possible.

That waythe council will get to know what people want etc.

Please email your comments to me info@shakespeareneighbourhood.org.uk or the council: info@hackney.gov.uk

Many thanks

August 2009 committee meeting minutes

2009-08-29T19:44:00.000+01:00

Please click here for the minutes of the August 2009 committee meeting of the Shakespeare Neighbourhood Residents' Association and Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format - you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view them.

Have your say - consultation about Milton Gardens youth centre, Wed 19 August

2009-08-17T15:18:00.008+01:00

From Youth Service, London Borough of Hackney:

Dear Resident

In September 2008 Hackney Council submitted a bid to the Myplace fund for a range of buildings from which to provide improved facilities for young people within the borough.

The proposals are being developed along the lines of a ‘hub and spoke’ model – with four neighbourhood facilities linked to a central ‘Hub’, an iconic new building at Forest Road, E8.

Milton Gardens has been nominated as the ‘Spoke' building for the Stoke Newington area.

The upgraded facilities will be designed to attract a broad range of young people, including those that currently do not access youth services.

To encourage this each of the buildings will be built to a high standard to ensure that it projects an exciting and appealing image.

Architects have now been commissioned to develop plans for the refurbishment of Milton Gardens in consultation with young people and local residents.

The aim is to refurbish the existing centre, creating an exciting and inspiring youth facility that young people in the area will be proud of, and from which a full programme of high quality, structured youth activities can be delivered.

The centre will also provide advice, information and guidance to young people on education, training and employment, health and relationship matters.

How to find out more

If you want to find out more about the plans for the Milton Gardens Spoke and have your questions answered, please come along to the consultation event on Wednesday 19th August from 6.15pm – 8.15pm at the Milton Gardens Centre, Shakespeare Walk, London, N16 8TS.

The architects and members of the Youth Service will also be on site from 5pm to answer any questions.

Yours faithfully,
LBH Youth Service

July 2009 committee meeting minutes

2009-07-26T20:25:00.013+01:00

Please click here for the minutes of the July 2009 committee meeting of the Shakespeare Neighbourhood Residents' Association and Butterfield Green Users' Group.

The minutes are in PDF file format--you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view it: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Annual General Meeting June 2009 minutes

2009-07-20T11:10:00.017+01:00

Please click here for the minutes of the 2009 Annual General Meeting of the Shakespeare Neighbourhood Residents' Association.

The minutes are in PDF file format--you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view it: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

May 2009 committee meeting minutes

2009-07-20T10:54:00.014+01:00

Please click here for the minutes of the May 2009 committee meeting of the Shakespeare Neighbourhood Residents' Association.

The minutes are in PDF file format--you may need to install the free Acrobat Reader to view it: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html