The Friends work closely with park manager, Derrick Spurr, and the Royal Parks over park developments and priorities.
The Friends organise social and other events related to the park and the local area to raise funds to support the park, to add to public knowledge and interest in the park, to create publicity for the Friends - and to add to the pleasures of membership of a group of likeminded people.
Royal Parks and Greenwich Park management also organise events including walks and demonstrations which are publicised in the Friends Newsletter and web site (www.friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk) as well as on the park notice boards and the Royal Parks web site (www.royalparks.gov.uk).
Volunteers are in regular demand to give practical help to Park management as well as to the Friends. Training is provided by Royal Parks specialists where necessary. Volunteering opportunities include
| The ‘Living History’ project for local primary schools. The Friends act as hosts, giving the children information about the Park, organising dressing up clothes and supporting accompanying teaching staff. | |
| Regular opening of the Secret Garden Wildlife Centre and Nature Trail and help with wildlife special events such as the spring Annual Open Day. | |
| Stewarding and helping at Friends events such as the Annual Lecture, wildlife talks and Midsummer Jazz in the Observatory Gardens. | |
| Publicity for fund raising and social events. | |
| Distributing the three times a year Friends Newsletter. | |
| Membership of the Friends Committee, particularly if you have a special interested in events organising, fund raising and membership campaigns. |
Contact the Friends’ Volunteers Coordinator Jenni Newnham Tel: 020 8692 4028 or email: info@friendsofgreenwichpark.org.uk or download and return the Volunteers' form.
The Friends Wildlife Group meets regularly to discuss wildlife issues with Park management and the Royal Parks community ecologist, Dr Nigel Reeve, to organise and support baseline surveys of flora and fauna in the park and to publicise their findings. They also encourage park management to take biodiversity into account wherever possible.
The Friends strongly supported the creation of the Secret Garden Wildlife Centre and are involved as volunteers for open days and for 'Wildlife for All', the joint Royal Parks/RSPB project to increase interest in wildlife in the Royal Parks.
The chairmen of all the Royal Parks Friends groups meet regularly to discuss common issues and make their views known to the chief executive of the Royal Parks, the Royal Parks Advisory Group and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
The Friends actively cooperate with other local amenity groups, the National Maritime Museum and the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site over issues that affect the park and its surrounding area.
The Friends publish a newsletter three times a year to inform members of developments in Greenwich Park and the Royal Parks, to put forward views and to publicise Friends and Royal Parks events in or linked to Greenwich Park.
Click here for the front page of the latest Friends newsletter.