Come and enjoy a picnic in Forest Drive Park on Saturday 10th August, 12 noon until 2pm – bring your own food and drink.
If you can, please do not bring any unnecessary plastics and only use re-usable cups. If you wish to take some seating, picnic rugs and outdoor games along feel free.
This is not an organised event, but some of the Friends of Forest Drive Park (FOFDP) members will be going and will be available to chat if anyone would like to find out more about the group and what we have been getting up to over the past year.
Working to improve their park
The Friends have had a busy first year and have been working hard on various projects including new funding opportunities.
Since their initial meeting in April 2023 they went on to form the Friends of Forest Drive Park community group, gathered memberships and elected a committee of 12 members including office bearers.
In the last year they have held six regular committee meetings and formalised a constitution, completed feedback analysis from questionnaires, compiled their group aims and objectives, opened their own bank account, created a 1:1 Map of Forest Drive Park showing their ‘wish list’ of improvements and future projects.
They identified national and local groups / organisations friends groups can join to help their cause, created 8 policy documents including – Health & Safety, Financial, Park Management & Maintenance, Environmental, Child Protection, Vulnerable Persons, Equality & Diversity and a Risk Assessment. The committee maintains a managed list of funding opportunities and have ear-marked suitable projects against these. Their website was built and they applied for funding to cover all costs for the next few years (which was successful – thanks to Kincardine & Mearns Area Committee) so this should be live soon.
The group have planted new wild flower plugs, 11k bulbs (with help from a pool of volunteers) and new trees in conjunction with Stonehaven Horizon Group. They were formally recognised by Aberdeenshire Council as an umbrella community group for Forest Drive Park and now aim to seek a form of security of tenure.
Plastic Free Pledge – and working to improve drainage
FOFDP recently signed up to the Plastic Free Pledge and are happy to contribute where they can to eradicate all single use plastics.
Entrance Notice Boards have been designed and built by Stonehaven Men’s Shed (thanks to the Mens Shed Team), improved anti dog fouling signs made and awaiting installation. They have applied for funding for tools and equipment (which was successful – thanks to Aberdeen Airport Propeller Fund) and also for funding towards additional benches and a new picnic table (big thanks to KDP team and Hillhead of Auquhirie Wind Farm Fund) which was also successful.
More recently the group have been carrying out investigations into the drainage issues at key areas in the park, how they can improve and mitigate these. This will be ongoing while they work on how best to improve the paths so more accessible for all users in all weathers.
In short it has been a busy 14 months and the group would like to thank all friends who have been involved so far, those who have contributed with time and equipment; those from other local groups who have helped with several projects and finally to all of their dedicated committee members.
If you would like to join and help in any way, please contact fofdp23@gmail.com and they can send out an application form for completion.