In the past year we ...

Between the AGMs of 10 Feb 2011 and 3 March 2012, Millfields Users Group ...

Park design

turned a council proposal for a path straight through the middle of the orchard, into a winding path at the edge under the trees linking with the new footbridge
persuaded the council to do away with cyclist priority on the Black Path (after 3 years of asking)
involved users in a working group on the Casimir Road entrance area
involved users in a working group on play
negotiated improvement of the National Grid proposal for removing the lay-by
negotiated postponement of National Grid proposals for their gate area, pending a full review of the design by MUG

Safety & maintenance

got the council to update the obsolete emergency phone numbers displayed in the park
pressed for regular emptying of bins, (as usual)
pressed British Waterways to repair the broken rail facing the Black Path, and make the newly-installed bridge rail safe by plugging the end
got rid of the hazardous puddle / ice patch and misleading signage on the Black Path

Fun

Plants & wildlife

transplanted 4 fruit trees donated by Beecholme allotments into the park & arranged their aftercare
weeded & mulched the orchard and started winter pruning during which we
hosted a pruning course by Garden Organic
ran 2 pruning courses for park users funded from by a grant from Re:Leaf
co-organised a bat walk which led to the waste station changing its lighting regime to improve bat habitat
organised a community bulb planting day
supported a guerilla weeding and bulb planting on the riverside 'wildflower bed'
invited Young Hackney to build bird boxes for the park
contributed to the LBH Biodiversity Action Plan
agreed a biodiversity plan for the park with the council and worked on implementing it
worked with the council and EcoActive on a schools biodiversity programme, including meadow plantings in March 2012

Events policy

Developments affecting the park

opposed LBWF's approval of development on Essex Wharf
supported opposition to an Olympic take-over of Leyton Marsh this summer
commented on the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority's draft area proposals – its 10-year plan for the regional park which includes Millfields – and contributed to the Lea Valley Federation response

Community links

built up contact with Jack Watts TRA, Millfields Estate TRA, the Guinness Trust and Circle 33 and kept up contact with Beecholme Estate TRA and the Riverside Close residents' group
developed contacts with gardening, nature and cycling activities in local schools, and with Young Hackney
worked with the Tree Musketeers, Hackney Community Tree Nursery, Hackney Parks Forum, Thames21/Love the Lea, and Hackney Biodiversity Partnership
worked to keep and improve our liaison with local councillors
kept or developed contacts with cricketers, footballers and local school cycle trainers
explored contacts with the Dogs Trust

Parks department

pressed for the Parks Development team to do a better job of consulting and informing us
publicised the good work of the gardeners
resisted the destruction of the council Tree Gang

Running and developing the group

set up an interim web site and posted news, planning documents, minutes etc
ran several summertime stalls in the park
improved our presence on the park noticeboards (such as they are)
increased our membership/mailing list from 240 to 340
raised grants and donations to buy a mini-marquee for stalls and events, run the fun day, publish a news-sheet and run the orchard pruning courses
made some progress on a permanent website but haven't finished it
organised 4 group meetings
and had 12 committee meetings

... which leaves plenty to do in 2012-2013 ...

Millfields Users Group