Friends of Brook Green

Bugle Says

**Next Event** BROOK GREEN DAY on the 10th September, 12-6pm. Bigger, better and bolder than even last year's triumph, this is one local day you cannot miss. So put it in your diary right now. Binky and her harvest festival down in Dorset will just have to wait...

** Now available! ** Friends of Brook Green tee-shirts, as modelled by Young Master Bugle, left - but in adult sizes too. Children from babes through to teenagers - and grownups of all sizes - can now visibly demonstrate their support for Brook Green as the green and leafy heart of our community. Just email editor@brookgreenbugle.com and state what age or size you would like - or drop in to Bliss Fields , where they are selling the children's line only at the moment. All proceeds go to Friends of Brook Green, to be spent only on matters pertaining to the improvement of the Green.

** Date for Diary ** Summer Fun Day on Brook Green - Saturday 17th September, 2-6pm, details TBC

With £75,000 of council funding for the Green in the balance, the Friends of Brook Green have been formed from a variety of local interests to ensure that this money stays committed and to preserve, protect and enhance Brook Green for the enjoyment of the whole community. 

Join now to be kept informed and influence what happens to this lovely strip of green at the heart of our shared community.

Then you can air your own views, both on playground matters and the more comprehensive "Vision" for the Green that the Brook Green Vision Working Party (which includes a few from the FBG) is working on to achieve consensus. You can also hear about community events and activities on the Green (though you'll find those here first, of course!) and have that warm fuzzy group-hug feeling of being truly involved with the community.

Whether you want better play features in the playground, more green areas, sacrosanct quiet spaces, better loos (who doesn't?!), more trees, more or less benches or something else - the Fifth Plinth, anyone? - this is the forum for you. Click on the weblink (left) to join for free - or just to find out more.

Originally, the Friends of Brook Green was formed in March 2010 as both a last-minute pressure group to avert the wasteful scheme planned for the playground and as a general forum of debate for Brook Greeners. Run by the energetic and imaginative Young Mister Gillon Campbell, the Friends hit the ground running: with a website, a clear vision and even a celebrity supporter in the form of comedian Bill Bailey...

Within four days of formation, they had persuaded the council to hold off with the bulldozers for at least a couple of weeks - what a result!

At the same time, it turned out that another vocal minority within the community had ALSO formed themselves into another Friends of Brook Green. What could have been a storm in a teacup turned out to be a force for good: both Friends made friends to form the Friends that we have today: coalitions are all the rage...

You Say

"Tell all your friends to book ahead and save the weekend of the second Brook Green Fun Day on 10th September - goodies and prizes a-plenty!"

"It's impressive that these young parents of small babies have not only formed themselves into an instant lobby group capable of heading off the council at a moment's notice but that they have the community spirit, imagination and spark to form a long-term residents' body - and the open-mindedness to team up with some of the more senior residents. Good on them!"