FoLaR is a local volunteer community group, established to make the Latchmere Recreation Ground a place where there is something for everyone. We aim to increase biodiversity and improve opportunities for play, sport and relaxation, creating a space where the wonderful North Kingston community spirit can flourish.
FREE Family Fun & Games
This is a new programme on the Rec running every Saturday afternoon from 2-4pm from 14 June to 30 August – everyone is welcome.
With great support from the Council, this will be organised by volunteers from our community. We’ve had a fantastic response so far and many hands make light work so any others who would like to help, please do contact hello.folar@gmail.com. Anyone 15+ can be a helper – free training in first aid, safeguarding and running activities including a DBS check is a boon for those doing of DoE at school, looks great on a CV and is good fun for adults happy to help make a difference in the community.
KEY DATES
Join a Zoom call on Monday 19 May at 8pm to give you more information on the programme. Should only take 15-20 minutes so please do log in if you can spare the time.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84693318890?pwd=uYnpgjdFJ45pcVEspFMaBktNaFHxz6.1
A taster session at half term is on Wednesday 29 May from 2-4pm on the Rec on the field in front of the café – bring your children and come and experience it live if you can.
A training day is scheduled on Saturday 31 May from 10-12 noon on the Rec on the field in front of the café, come and join us if you can.
The fun starts for real on Saturday 14 June from 2-4pm on the Rec on the field in front of the café – if you’ve missed the training and keen to help, don’t worry, just turn up and we can provide an induction on the day.
Fr
MUSIC on the Rec- your opportunity to perform!
New for this year – two evenings of music on the Rec. This will be a free event running from 5-8pm on 5th and 12th of July 2025 in the fenced off grass area in the children’s playground. We are delighted to have the support of local bands as well as community choirs and school groups.
We are looking for local talent who would like to play on either evening (any age). There will be a stage along with a drum kit, speakers and mics available. Please contact hello.folar@gmail.com if you would like to join in.
Latest News
Half term idea
We are looking for posters to go on our rubbish bins requesting people take their rubbish homes so the bins don’t get overfull and rubbish spread over the Rec by foxes. If any children or students have time over the holidays, we’d love to see your creations. Please hand them into Tandems Café on the Rec as soon as you can.
Art Competition
Very soon you’ll see our magic door back in its proper place beside the café. Here’s a sneak preview. Very soon, the details regarding our new Art Competition will be appear behind the door – keep your eyes on the look-out!
Success with Council funding applications
Many of you will remember completing a survey asking whether you and our followers on Social Media wanted Table Tennis, Adult Gym Equipment, and a Pétanque pitch on the Rec. 93% supporting Table Tennis, 91% wanting Gym Equipment and 75% wanting Pétanque. We are very pleased to report that the Council is prepared to support all of these activities please click here to see our suggested sitings.
A list of maintenance issues that we are currently in communication with the Council can be seen by clicking here. If you see anything yourself that needs attention, please contact them directly at
greenspacesteam@kingston.gov.uk
FoLar UPDATE on council discussions here.
Miyawaki Forest has been installed!!
To remind anyone new to this plan -
Moving the gate at the Northern end of the Latchmere Lane, while good for avoiding puddles, has meant that there is an unattractive, dead area between the pond and the Latchmere Lane fence. We approached Elliot Newton, the Council’s Bio-Diversity Officer for advice and he made a bid for and achieved, funding for a very special planting scheme – a Miyawaki wood.
Miyawaki Woodland Scheme
The Miyawaki method was developed by the Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki and has been used in thousands of woods and forests around the world. The idea is to plant native trees at very high densities (3-5 plants per m 2) which has been found to create a healthy micro-climate with higher levels of bio-diversity and five times more fungi than in other woods.
The method accelerates the development of a layered woodland, with a mature canopy developing in 20 - 30 years, instead of the usual 200+. Woods of this type are good for bio-diversity and have already proved to be resilient to the climate challenges (floods, droughts and high winds).
In our corner of the Rec, they will plant 22 species, from low growing plants to dog roses and hazels: silver birches will be the largest.
The implementation process was started on 16th October 2024 and completed on 8th November 2024. Having this area next to the pond will be mutually beneficial and will add substantially to the wildlife area at the north end of the Rec. We look forward to seeing this plantation grow in the coming years.
Queries to greenspacesteam@kingston.gov.uk
Join FoLaR for FREE
Send your email to hello.folar@gmail.com - all members receive our newsletter (via email) keeping you up to date on activities on the Rec, proposals for the future and ways to volunteer.
Become a volunteer
Let us know if you would be interested in helping in any of the following ways by emailing us at hello.folar@gmail.com:
- Gardening
- Pond maintenance
- Cake baking
- Helping with family event days
- Litter picking
For more information, see our dedicated page to volunteering here
Ways to support FoLaR
Volunteering - click here for details
Furniture - please click here to see ways that you can contribute financially to benches, picnic tables and umbrellas for the Rec
Donations - these help towards maintenance of the flower beds and pond as well as contributing to family events that don't always raise money.
For personal donations - please click here
For the Kingston Community Lottery - see poster below
Support Us by Donating (button below) or play the Kingston Community Lottery at £1.00 per week with a chance to win £20,000! That's twenty thousand pounds!
50% of ticket price goes goes directly to FoLaR! kingstonlottery.co.uk.
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Email us your full name at hello.folar@gmail.com