21 January 2012

Forest Hill Burns Night - Thursday 26th January

The Forest Hill Society is holding a Burns Night at the All Inn One, 53 Perry Vale, SE23 2NE, this Thursday.

The meal is from 7.30pm, and if you'd like to join us, please call the pub on 020 8699 3311 to book by Tuesday 24th (as they need to order the haggis). The cost is £16.95 pp for 3 courses and a wee dram.

There will be the traditional Address to the Haggis and this year a few people will read some poetry. Feel free to bring along something yourself and don't feel shy!

It would be lovely to have as many Forest Hillers (and Sydenhamites!) there as possible, so hope to see many of you, new & old to the area.

19 January 2012

Bryn Coedwig


Aber (or Bryn Coedwig, which is Forest Hill in Welsh) Outdoor Education Centre, a much loved centre that has been frequented by pupils and staff from Forest Hill School for over 40 years, is in desperate need of some attention.

Two ex Head Teachers are heading up the ‘Aber Action Team’ with local residents of Forest Hill and trying to get the community involved. The building is showing signs of fatigue and many, many years of wear and tear. Unless something is done now, the future of adventurous experiences for children at Aber will be under threat.

The Aber Action Team, which also includes several members of the Widehorizons Trustees, intends to spend a week at the centre from 27th February where they will be decorating and undertaking repairs. If you would like to help the team in any way, you can donate at AberActionTeam on Virgin Money Giving or contact the charity directly on (020) 8850 1581.

18 January 2012

Mayow Park Orchard

The Friends of Mayow Park are planning a new community orchard on the southern side of the park, very near the tennis courts. The proposal is for five apple varieties, three pears (including two varieties of perry pear) and two varieties of plum bordered by a hedgerow of mirabelles, gooseberries, raspberries, dog rose, redcurrants and blackcurrants.

They are looking for individuals or community groups to sponsor or care for the fruit trees. If you are interested in either possibility, please email them at friendsofmayowpark@ymail.com

Several of their members recently attended the Orchard Leaders Training day run by London Orchard Project where training included fruit tree planting and maintenance, community engagement and starting to write an orchard management plan in preparation for the new orchard.

London Orchard project will lead the community planting day on Saturday, 28 January from noon to 3pm, bringing trees, stakes, tree guards and tools. All that is needed is a few volunteers! Go along and get involved.

17 January 2012

January News Update

Burns Night
Thursday 26 January (a day late for purists – sorry)
 
Come along to the All Inn One for another great Forest Hill Society Burns Night. A traditional, and fun, evening of addressing the haggis, and then eating it with the usual tasty accompaniments.
“What a great night! The food was delicious and very reasonable. Great people and the entertainment a right hoot”  Burns Night 2011 attendee.
 
We’re also looking for people to get involved in poetry reading on the night (Scottish accents a plus), bagpipe playing and highland dancing.
 
For details on booking and to offer your artistic skills contact alisa@foresthillsociety.com
 
 
The Society’s Local History Evening
Thursday 23 February 
7.30pm – 9.30pm upstairs at The Hob
 
We’ve arranged for the fabulous Steve Grindlay to give a talk on an aspect of Forest Hill History. What Steve doesn’t know about Forest Hill isn’t worth knowing! Come and join us and learn more about this great place we live in.
 
Exact subject yet to be confirmed, but we’ll update you very soon. Open to all, no booking needed.
 
We need You
Membership to the Forest Hill Society is open to everyone and costs just £5 a year. Benefits include 12 newsletters, 12 local events - most free, assistance with planning proposals, making new friends in the local area and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to have a say about where you live.
 
We're a voluntary group and are always looking for people to help with what we do. We have great plans and we need people to help in a number of ways, most very simple and easy things -
 
  • Handing out membership leaflets in your street, or one close by
  • Distributing our newsletter four times a year, a chance to see different areas of Forest Hill, or maybe do your own road
  • Helping to write articles for the newsletter - either sending your own articles or helping with ones already written
  • Helping with leaflet design a few hours a few times a year.
  • Helping at events - not all, just one is a help - maybe baking a cake, helping on a stall or posting links on local forums
However you can help you'll find us friendly and supportive. if you want to find out more about volunteering with us contact richard@foresthillsociety.com
 
 
Freecycle Event
Saturday 25 February (11am - 3pm)
Holy Trinity Church Hall, Trinity Path, Sydenham
 
A Bring and Take event. Bring stuff you no longer want and, in return, take away stuff you do want. You really can get some amazing things - from CDs to clothes to toys to furniture. What’s not to like?
 
Trinity Path is between 35D and 37 Sydenham Park.

06 January 2012

Planning: 10a, 29, and 31 Dartmouth Road

The Forest Hill Society has objected to the plans for the change of use at 29 Dartmouth Road.
You can view the application here. And you can view the letter of objection here.

The unit now has the signage up for 'Cash City', although planning permission is required before the change of use is allowed.

The Forest Hill Society has objected to the plans for the change of use at 10a Dartmouth Road.
You can view the application here. And you can view the letter of objection here.

The Forest Hill Society has objected to the plans for an additional residential unit to the rear of 31 Dartmouth Road.
You can view the application here. And you can view the letter of objection here.

Christmas in Forest Hill

This year saw Forest Hill Society decorate the Christmas tree for the second year, adding baubles and tinsel to the tree. The weather outside was chilly but that did not prevent crowds gathering in the forecourt of Forest Hill Station on December 10th to see Cllr Philip Peake lead the countdown to switch on the Christmas lights.

A string trio led the lusty carol singing as pleasantly surprised crowds gathered to sample the mulled wine, pumpkin soup and hot sausages on sale from Mark and Helen's Smokehaus tent (smokehaus5@hotmail.com) and coffee and cakes from Ellie's On the Hoof corner coffee stall.

If you would like to help remove the baubles, please meet at the station on Monday next, 9th January, at 2.00pm.

Our thanks go to LOROL for permission to partially close the forecourt to parking on December 10th and to Skanksa and their man Pete for providing the lights and making them work on time.

Recycle your Christmas Tree

Lewisham will again be recycling Christmas Trees this year. Simply take your tree to one of 12 designated recycling points between now and Friday, 27 January 2012. The two nearest locations are ​Mayow Park (near the entrance on Mayow Road) and ​Sydenham Wells Park (near the entrance on Wells Park Road)