See our Facebook feed: http://www.facebook.com/kelvingrovepark for all the latest news about Kelvingrove Park.


Please see this Glasgow City Council consultation on plans for Kelvingrove Park (closing date 18th December 2010), and other consultations for Glasgow Green, Kelvingrove Park, Bellahouston Park, Botanic Gardens, Hogganfield Park, Queen’s Park, Pollok Country Park at www.glasgowconsult.co.uk. The Kelvingrove Park 'Development Plan' can be downloaded here as a PDF. These consultations were issued on 5th November 2010 by Tommy McDonald, Assistant Director, Glasgow City Council Land and Environmental Services.


Conservation Day at Kelvingrove Park
Here is another opportunity to be involved with practical conservation work at Kelvingrove Park. On Wednesday 15th September come along to plant wildflowers in the park to help butterflies and bees. Tasks on the day will also include managing the butterfly garden. Please email or phone Cath Scott (Tel.0141 287 7026) if you are interested in attending, as booking is essential. This event is organised by RSPB, BTCV and Glasgow City Council.

In the press... one of Kelvingrove's squirrels has been photographed drinking Lucozade, and part of Ruchill Park may be taken for a 21,000sq ft charity music centre.


Charity Concert Emails
It has come to our attention that someone has been promoting a concert with the name 'Re-build the Band Stand', using one of our images without permission. While we welcome all supporters of the bandstand restoration, they are not affiliated with the Friends of Kelvingrove Park (a registered Scottish charity) or the ongoing project to restore the Kelvingrove Bandstand.

Evening Times on tree removal
The Evening Times covered the removal of trees in Kelvingrove Park. The article says "campaigners are furious" but the Friends are simply asking whether it is wise to chop down all the trees at the same time. GCC Land Services have had to make some difficult decisions but park users have asked us whether all the trees really have a 'killer fungus', or is it for budgetary reasons that old trees are being felled all together.

Conservation Day
RSPB and Glasgow City Council Biodiversity are holding a Conservation Day at Kelvingrove Park on 18th August. Come along and help make Kelvingrove Park better for wildlife. Tasks will include wildflower planting at the pond and in the meadows, as well as some weeding of the butterfly garden. If you want to find out more contact Cath Scott, Biodiversity Officer, LES-GCC on 0141 287 7026. To book a place email Tormod.MacLean@rspb.org.uk

Fountain Repair
Glasgow City Council have informed us that Fountains Direct began repair works on the Stewart Memorial Fountain on Monday 16 August 2010. Work should be completed by Friday 27 August 2010.


Litter
Members of the public have recently contacted us with their concerns regarding City Council litter collection in the park - in general a perceived reduction in quality since park staff were moved out to Victoria Park, and specifically a large amount of litter around the picnic tables which went uncollected for five days.
N.B. We should mention that this area has since been cleaned-up and a similar area of litter was cleaned within 24hrs the following week.

Hiroshima Day Commemoration
Glasgow West CND and Footprints for Peace will be holding a Hiroshima Day Commemoration at the Peace tree in Kelvingrove Park at 7pm on Friday 6th August. The event will close with a walk to the banks of the Kelvin where flowers and paper cranes will be floated down the river.


The council have issued a PDF plan for tree removal in Kelvingrove and a corresponding PDF plan for replanting with less trees. Tommy Donald, Assistant Director of Land and Environmental Services writes: "Following a survey, 85 trees in Kelvingrove Park have been identified with decay fungi, including fungal species that causes rot in the stem, butt and roots, leading to instability, failure and ultimately death of the tree. For this reason it is necessary to have the affected trees removed. The location of these are shown on the attached tree removal plan either as individual trees or groupings of trees and consist of:- 35 individual Whitebeams;30 Whitebeams, in groups; and 20 trees of mixed species - Ash, Cherry, Willow, Beech, Sycamore and Elm."


In Kelvingrove Park this Sunday 20th June 2010 the Glasgow Mela celebrates its 20th birthday.

More than 30,000 people are expected to descend on Kelvingrove Park for the eight-hour event which will host three stages of entertainment ranging from live Malaysian music to traditional Asian cuisine.

The free event kicks off at 12pm with street theatre, arts, funfair rides and cultural exhibits also making the line-up. Attractions include Punjabi and Bhangra music stars Jaz Dhami and JK as well Bollywood's Desi Bravehearts, circus acts and Japanese drummers.


On Sunday 13th June 2010 the West End Festival parade will begin in Kelvingrove at 3pm with entertainment running from 12:30.

The famous Mardi Gras parade will feature samba bands from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cumbria and London, 500 dancers and costume acts.

The stages in Kelvingrove Park will include acts such as Brass Monkeys, The Amphetameanies, Destino, Brooksy & the Sound Collectors and Clanadonia.

You can download a Festival Sunday Map and Information sheet (PDF) which lists all the bands and stages (PDF courtesy of the West End Festival website).

Remember to visit the craft and information stalls which will be situated in Kelvin Way.




On Sunday 13th June Kelvingrove Park will again be the venue for the main celebrations of the West End Festival

The 2009 festival, the first year where Kelvingrove played host to the Mardi Gras parade, was judged a great success and attracted large crowds.

You can see more photos of the festival on flickr and information via the WEF Wikipedia entry.

Blaes Pitches

The photo above-left is of the north pitches, site of a proposed 3 metre high fence. Members of the public have contacted us regarding the recent resurfacing work, about sightlines and spoiling of view from/to Park Circus and officials suggesting that the pitches would no longer be available to the public for kickabouts etc. if they were fenced off.

Concerns should be addressed to Planning.Representations@drs.glasgow.gov.uk with City Council Planning Ref#: 10/00764/DC




Recently we have been contacted by several park users who have reported their concerns to us on the following issues:

1. proposal to erect a 3 metre high fence limiting access to red blaes pitches and spoiling sightlines to Park Circus
2. removal of flowers and shrubs as a cost-cutting measure
3. continued neglect of the bandstand and excessive time taken to progress its restoration plan (despite overwhelming public support)
4. the "superschool" involving a greater incursion into the park and more tree-cutting than suggested in the plans (see Google Maps)

On the issue of the red blaes pitch on the north side of the park - the proposal to enclose this pitch with a a 3metre high close mesh fence would prejudice the Council's own Recreational Greenspace Standards by removing a football pitch, currently freely available to the public, from unrestricted public use. The site is currently well used for a very wide range of sporting activities not restricted to football (i.e. cricket, lacrosse, frisbee, jogging and other exercises etc.). The erection of a high fence would also spoil important sightlines to the heritage area of Park Circus (as shown in accompanying photograph). Concerns should be addressed to Planning.Representations@drs.glasgow.gov.uk with City Council Planning Ref#: 10/00764/DC


Conservation Day at Kelvingrove Park - Wed 12th May
A chance to get help create and manage wildlife habitats in Kelvingrove Park. Activities on the day include wildflower planting and some weeding of the butterfly garden. Come along and help make your local park better for wildlife. This activity is being organised by RSPB and Glasgow City Council.
If you want to book a place or get more details please contact: Alistair Allan, RSPB Information Officer on 07796 310 547 or email alistair.allan@rspb.org.uk


UNISON Rally to defend public services - Saturday 10th April. Assembles from 9.30am in Kelvin Way and march up Gibson St, Woodlands Road, Great Western Road, Byres Road and back to Kelvingrove Park via University Avenue for an 11am rally. Rally plus fun stuff for kids will be held on grassy slope below Park Circus - more details and an event map can be seen on the UNISON Blog.


The 'Wagner Garden Carpet', a rare 17th century Persian carpet, will be on display at the Burrell Collection over Easter.
Penelope Hobhouse, gardener and garden historian is giving a lecture on Iranian gardening and gardeners on Saturday 27th March in a symposium with the Iranian-Scottish Association. See the Burrell website or phone 0141 287 2563 for more information.


Some park wildlife and conservation events taking place in February and March 2010.

17th Feb - Creation of a new wildflower meadow
Meet at riverside entrance to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum at 11am.

10th March - RSPB Conservation Days
Join the RSPB for a day of practical work managing wildlife habitats in the park. There will be a Conservation Day once a month and work will vary depending on the season. Tasks will include managing the butterfly garden and helping to create a new meadow. Numbers are limited. Please email Alistair Allan Alistair.Allan@rspb.org.uk , to request a place. For general information about work involved on the day call Cath Scott, Glasgow City Council on 0141 287 7026.

21st March - Spring into Life
Meadow creation public event 11.00-15.00 Riverside entrance to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum