Activities
Albion Millennium Green is an “Open Space” meant for informal recreation. But we also organise or host activities and events.
If you would like to enquire about using the Green for a special event or activity, please contact us on friendsalbiongreen@gmail.com
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
From Saturday 6 July 2024, Forest School Activities will be available for children from 3 to 12 years old. Details below.
PREVIOUSLY …
Between June 2022 and March of 2023 the Catford-based Mud Club held wonderful weekly events for children on the Green.
Ellie Weidman, one of the Mud Club leaders said this about the Mud Club activities on the Green: “We would love families, parents, grandparents and carers to join us and have a little peace and calm in nature whilst we cook together, make delicious herbal teas (and good strong coffee) and have a good chat! The small people can explore, feel freedom and, if they want, get involved in some forest arts and crafts. We want to create a space where the forest energy can be soaked up by all!
A feeling of community, of warmth and nurture! One parent described a session as ‘MAGICAL’ and that is really what we want to get across. There is nothing more cosy than sharing homemade food cooked on the fire together!”
ARTS AND CULTURE
Over the years, the Green has hosted arts events and a festival. Our biggest arts event to date was LEAF (Little Ecological Arts Festival) which took place on 1-4 May 2013. It included commissioned art installations, informal art projects, a theatrical production, and more. Plans for LEAF 2 (2020) were interrupted by Covid-19.
The Green is also a lovely spot in which to read, write, draw or take photographs.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
We aim to run at least one Community Party a year, in the Summer. These are informal family friendly events, featuring art activities, nature walks, games, and refreshments.
Local schools also make use of the Green for nature study trips.
LABYRINTH WALKING
Albion Millennium Green has its own seven-circuit Classical labyrinth. It was constructed in 2013 by local artist during the LEAF festival mentioned above. Please visit the section of this website dedicated to the Labyrinth for more information.
VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS
The Green is entirely run and managed by volunteers. Volunteer workdays are organised by the Friends of Albion Millennium Green and take place EVERY SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH from 10.30 to 2.30.
Our focus is on plant-management and on the overall maintenance of the site. Our aim is to strike a balance between encouraging natural growth and biodiversity and creating an environment that is safe for all.
You are welcome to join us for some or all of that time. Bring gardening gloves and wear sturdy footwear. Tools are provided. We assemble near the Albion Villas Road entrance. Please note that there are no WC or hand washing facilities, and no facilities for refreshments; do bring your own if required.
ACTIVITIES BLOG POSTS
- Forest Arts and Crafts on the Green – and a new Forest School
On Sunday 9th June, we teamed up with the Forest Hill Society and Evelyn from Exploring Nature Ltd to host forest arts and crafts activities on the Green. The event was part of the Forest Hill Society’s ‘Forest Hill Walking Festival’ and was created especially for children and families. Featured activities included decorating pebbles, embellishing glass jars, and creating art inspired by Hapa Zome, which means “leaf dye” in Japanese. It is a printmaking technique that uses the natural pigments… - Forest Hill Walking Festival Family Events on the Green
Albion Millennium Green is participating in the Forest Hill Society’s Walking Festival this Sunday. There will be activities for children and adults to enjoy. Visit the Forest Hill Society’s Facebook page here for more details. The walk starts at 11am at Forest Hill Station. It is an easy circular 30 minute walk over 1 mile which ends back at the station. The walk is on the GoJauntly App illustrated with photos. Visit GoJauanty here for details. Do come and join… - Teatro Vivo’s “COMMON” ends with a party on the Green
Between 7-12 May, the wonderful TEATRO VIVO have been using Albion Millennium Green to culminate their multi-site production, COMMON. It is about the 400 year history of what was once Sydenham (or Westwood) Common. You can find out more about that history here. Starting in Wells Park, the performance stopped off at locations along Wells Park Road, in Baxter Field, and off Round Hill (by local landmark, St Antholin’s Spire, now in the middle of a 1960’s housing estate). These… - Daffodils … a lot of mud … and a plea to our visitors
The snowdrops we planted last year made a showing a few weeks back. This was lovely to see. Daffodils are currently in bloom and there are many other early signs of spring. Sadly though much of the Green is muddy and in places water logged. Over the last year, areas that were grassy – notably our designated area of meadowland and our central seating area – have become progressively depleted of grass and are now in poor condition. The Friends… - Thank you, Amber Tree Care!
This Autumn the Friends and Trustees of Albion Millennium Green commissioned local tree surgeons Amber Tree Care to carry out a survey (a health check) of the trees on the Green. This is something that we will continue to do every couple of years. The survey indicated that one dead elm tree, three dead silver birch trees and one snapped silver birch tree would need to be felled to a short, safe height above ground level. Dead and dangerous branches…