Thursday 13th November 2025 at 7.30pm
Meeting by Video Conference
Attendees
Alan Cooper (Chair), Dries Indesteege (Deputy Chair), Roger Jones, Ron Innell, Marion Innell, John Rands, Ian MacDonald, Su Leaver and Lyndsay Jones
Lucia Rios-Steele arrived late and was unable to access the meeting
There was no representative from City of London
Apologies
Nicky Brown, Eugene Czauderna, Pearl Saunders, Jules Maurice-Williams
Thanks to Charlotte Cook for hosting the zoom meeting
Introduction
Alan welcomed everyone to the meeting
Minutes of the last meeting
Minutes from the meeting on 18th September 2025 were agreed as a correct record
Treasurer’s Report
We have £2864.83 in hand, having received a donation of £500 from George Irwin (funfair) and donations via our GoFundMe page
The grant for the children’s book box has not yet been received
Report from Formal Parks Manager
Ricky was unable to attend the meeting
ParkFest 26
Ian reported that the date of the Forest Gate Festival has been changed to 11th July, the Saturday before ParkFest, and suggested that we change our date. It was felt that our arrangements were too far advanced, and that neither event was likely to affect turn out at the other. We have already met with Paul Maskell (CoLC) and agreed the loan of gazebos, PR equipment, chairs etc. We have also had a discussion with Brian, of the Dog-Jammers, about arrangements for the event, including finding a performer to fill in at the front of the Bandstand whilst groups set up
Mini Library
This is a great success! The box currently has room for more donations. Several people have books ready to donate. Dries checks it most days, and will remove any that linger for weeks.
The grant for a children’ box has been approved but not yet received, although a condition of approval is that the money must be spent by the end of this year. Alan has chased up the payment. Thatcha, of the Learning Team, has asked if the box could be officially opened on World Book Day, 5 March 2026. She also asked to see any book covers we may have with nature pictures. Please take to the office
Planting, fencing and Signing
Ricky was unable to attend the meeting, so this discussion was postponed
Ongoing Activities
Bat Walks
The September walk attracted 139 people, but unfortunately not many bats. There were many people attending their first walk with FWHP, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed the evening
Vegetable Garden
Eugene is currently in hospital. Everyone sent him our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Su reported that Ciaran has been approached by the Clean Air Initiative wanting to use the garden for workshop events. Su met with their representative, and did not feel that the group’s aims would work among our existing growing beds. She was also concerned that many of our garden volunteers see this as their safe space. We agreed to follow this up with Ciaran and Ricky, to see if we can find another suitable area for the Clean Air group
Bird Survey
The London Area Recorder finds our numbers are useful, even if the whole area is not surveyed. As Lyndsay no longer lives locally it is more difficult to arrange dates to train new volunteers
Volunteer Hours
Each group is to send their own numbers to Stella in the Park Office
Health Walk
There are usually around 12 people taking part. The Newham mental health support group have stopped attending, no explanation has been offered
Halloween Spooky Walk
Some FWHP members helped the Learning Team with this event, and received many thanks. Approximately 350 people took part, and the event was a great success and much enjoyed in spite of the rain
Upcoming Events
Leaf Pile –16th November
There are plenty of leaves fallen. Ron will lead on keeping people clear of the lifting tractor, and signalling the charge into the pile!
Food Bank collection – 29th November
On the Bandstand. 1-3pm
Park in the Dark – 5th December
Lucia was not able to access the meeting in person, but messaged to say that Park Primary’s choir are all set for the event.
Ron is trying to find a donor of mince pies and hot chocolate, as his contact at Morrisons has left the job
Refurbishing the Orchard Area
Ron explained the clearing work that had been undertaken recently. Some new planting was to be undertaken on Saturdays 6th &13th December. Volunteers to take part in these activities would be most welcome. The detailed arrangements for this and publicity arrangements needed to be decided by the park
Publicity and Media
Newham Voices
Lyndsay will write about the work going on to care for the orchard area, and signs of spring and the birdwatching event for January and February editions.
Dries will write about the Book Boxes for March.
It was suggested that we ask Pete Henson, (Head Gardener) to write an article (or two), as he is a mine of knowledge about the garden
Articles need to be with Nicky by 15th of the previous month
Our social media still receives a good amount of attention, and a regular newsletter was not felt necessary.
Nicky has had some blank greeting card printed with some of this year’s winning photos, and sales have raised £42 already
Links and Affiliations with other Environmental Groups
The Great Eastern Parks Route have asked for formal agreement to include West Ham Park in the publicity material and App for the route. This would be good publicity for the park. Roger will liaise with Ciaran to agree this
Newham Local Plan
CoLC have objected on several counts to Newham’s classification of the Nursery site as green space in the proposed Local Plan. The Plan is being reviewed by a Planning Inspector with hearings scheduled from December to February. We have been invited to attend the relevant hearings
CoLC Grant Funding Model
An online meeting is being arranged to fully explain this decision to us. (Post-meeting Note – now fixed for 26 November). Any member of the Group can attend but has to register. We are not sure what the arrangements for asking question will be, but agreed that we should appoint one or two of us to be the questioners
Grant Applications
Roger has applied to the Lyle Local Fund, asking for £2,000 for ParkFest. We should hear the result by the end of this year.
We cannot complete the requirements to close the CoLC grant for the mound planting until we are able to monitor pollinator activity in the spring. This means we cannot apply for a grant to redesign and plant South Meadow from the City of London. We might be eligible to apply to Veolia Recycling for a grant instead. The next round of grants open for applications from 8 January. This would require a detailed and costed proposal prepared by the park/City of London. Roger will look into this possibility and liaise with Ricky
Future Meeting Dates in 2025
The next meeting will be 15 January 2026, as the second Thursday is close to the holiday period. All other meetings will be on the second Thursday in every other month at 7.30pm. All meetings by Zoom, apart from the AGM in July.
Thursday 15th January
Thursday 12th March
Thursday 14th May
Thursday 9th July
AOB
The meeting closed at 21.00