Friends of Park Hill Park
The Friends of Park Hill Park & Recreation Ground was founded in 2014 by local Croydon residents who were concerned about the future of this historic park, formed of the remnants of both the Archbishop of Canterbury’s deer park and the former family home of the Horniman family; founders of the world-renowned Horniman Museum.
Since 2014, the Friends group has grown to include local cultural communities, residents and youth groups and arts organisations from across Croydon. Each year volunteers have created some amazing projects and brought new visitors to this wonderful hidden gem; Croydon’s central park.
We always welcome new members who wish to become involved in their local community and you can join via this website.
Volunteers are working on lots of projects. Here are some, but not all, of the amazing activities and events created by the Friends volunteers:
© Artwork by Lis Watkins, Line and Wash
2014 & Beyond
Beyond The Walled Garden
In 2014, the Friends volunteers started their activities by creating a community garden and renovating the Flower Fairies Garden, both located in the historic Walled Garden. The Walled Garden project has continued for the last 5 years and as of 2019, the Friends volunteers care for the whole of this historic space with weekly community garden sessions open to all members of the community.
The Pavilion Mural
Working with local artists, local children, The Good Gym and volunteers from the Body Shop and Croydon Council, the Friends volunteers have muralised the historic pavilion with visions of animals, birds and flowers making this former dark damp shelter into a bright welcome space for children. The murals have also cut Anti Social Behaviour In the future, the Friends hope to renovate the pavilion into an enclosed community space.
2015
The Flower Fairy Festival
The Friends created this 4-day festival with the support of both the Croydon Heritage Festival and Penguin Books. It showcased performers & artists and launched the renovated Flower Fairy Garden in celebration of the 120th Birthday of their creator, world re-known illustrator Cicely Mary Barker.
2016
Family Festival & The Big Dance
The Friends group co-hosted a London wide dance festival funded by Mayor of London in partnership with People Dancing and Big Dance. With over 200 dancers in the park and over 6,000 visitors from across Croydon’s amazing communities. Dancers from the Friends represented Croydon at Trafalgar Square in July 2016 when over 1,000 dancers performed.
2017
Wild in Park
The Friends worked with the team at Wild in the City CIC to create a wonderful family day with an array of nature-based learning & arts, plants and food growing. There were over 500 visitors during this 1-day event.
2018 & Beyond
Peace & Wellbeing Festival
The Friends created a showcase of over 200 performers of dance, music, poetry and spoken word. The day included the Croydon Peace Festival, the Peace Dance and a performance by the London Mozart Players of the Anthem for Peace. There were over 8,000 attendees during this 1-day event at Trafalgar Square.
The Peace Garden Project
The Friends created a new garden within the historic Walled garden dedicated to peace. We are working with diverse local community groups and national organisations to create this project. For more information on this project and who how to join in, please see the Transform The Walled Garden section of this website.
2019
Croydon Council’s Masterplan for Parks
Park Hill Park and Recreation Ground is one of the 6 key parks highlighted in the Croydon Council Masterplan for Parks. Our objective is to start the process of bringing to life some of these ideas that we helped to develop, one of which is to transform the rangers station into a community based centre: the Wellbeing Hub.
Volunteer with us
Volunteering helps people connect with each other, with the wider community and perhaps most importantly the work of volunteers helps make our parks and open spaces even better.
As a volunteer, you have the chance to get involved with your local community, meet new people, develop your skills and learn more about Park Hill Park; Croydon ‘hidden gem’.
Volunteers support the park in many ways, from managing & designing the walled garden, creating murals, producing community-based festivals to working with Croydon Council to formalise the future of the park and the Croydon Park’s Master Plan.
The Friends volunteers welcome students who wish to use the park toward their Duke of Edinburgh Awards, National Citizen Service (NCS) or other such programmes and we are happy to work with them to create a suitable project.
Children and those with extra needs are very welcome to volunteer but must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.
All our volunteers are valued and we have safeguarding policy which we can send you on request.
Get involved
We would love to welcome you to volunteer with us. There are various opportunities available when you sign up as a Friend of Park Hill Park. Get in touch now.
Policies
Friends of Park Hill Park and Recreation Ground Environment and Sustainability Policy 2019
Friends of Park Hill Park and Recreation Ground Ethical Policy 2019
