Who are the Friends of Fortune Green (FoFG)? 

The Friends of Fortune Green (FoFG), in conjunction with Camden Parks and Open  Spaces, was set up to improve our local open space, Fortune Green.

"The aim of the Group shall be to preserve, protect, and improve Fortune Green, and the adjacent streetscape for the local residents, local businesses and visitors".

At the 2007 Jester Festival, a group of concerned local residents got together and set up the Friends of Fortune Green (FoFG). The spur was the loss of the Planning Appeal and consequent construction of Alfred Court on the Green's edge.  Ironically, one reason given for the planning approval was the "neglected state of the Green"!

The new Friends swiftly organised workshops to find out what local people liked, and didn't like, about the Green.  Armed with an array of collected and collated information, the Friends applied for funding to improve the Green.  No easy task, but it was successful!

In recognition of the improvement works the Friends have achieved and in celebration of HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012, Fortune Green is now safeguarded as a public recreational space in perpetuity through the charity, Fields in Trust.
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FoFG run regular sessions to maintain the planting, and a programme of varied events. To keep informed of what's going on, see the noticeboards on the Green or under Future Events on this website.  You can also follow us on Twitter @NW6FOFG.  

​If you would like to help improve and maintain the Green, please do join us.   All welcome.  We can never have too many helpers!  The more FoFG can do, the  more everyone benefits.  Like to do more?  Please contact us on fortunegreen@gmail.com or via our Contact page.

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021
Wednesday 11 May 2022

Members / visitors to our AGM:
FoFG has no chairman and the duties are shared between the committee members.
Our aim is to preserve, protect and improve the Fortune Green open space and the adjacent streetscape for local residents, businesses and visitors by (primarily): 
Involving local people and businesses (LOGS) 
Working with Camden Parks Department to consider and implement improvements 
Organising community events (outdoor film evenings, birds of prey displays, solar walks)

A few general points
The relationship with the Parks department at Camden remains at a much lower level than previously.  We had a couple of walkabouts with our main contact in the Parks Maintenance Department to identify issues on the green. They haven’t resulted in any remedial action.
Fortune Green appears to remain in a holding pattern with very little intervention. 
Holes in the ground in the open areas have been left unfilled.  Many are deep and a safety risk.  We have notified Camden Parks numerous times of this. 
Despite regular reminders the gate leading to the driveway behind the children’s playground has remained unusable for another year.  
The fence/trip hazard around the garden beds has fallen into further disrepair.
Camden Parks are aware of these issues and they are highlighted during every walkabout.
Many fitness trainers and clients use the Green.  We have asked Camden over several years to supply a higher bar in order to facilitate exercise and reduce any tree abuse.
A Sainsbury’s delivery truck became stuck on the green during the winter causing deep ruts in the green near the playground.  After pressure from FoFG, Camden Council (via Ward Councillors) and local residents they agreed to pay for the repair and also donated £90 to FoFG.
The green is again suffering from the really dry April (3rd in a row) and grass is pretty sparse in places.  Camden Parks did get Id Verde to aerate, top dress and reseed a large section of the north west quadrant to no effect.

Membership
Membership is stable but obviously we’d like new / more members. With the Jester Festival cancelled again we weren’t able to use this to accept subs and highlight the work we do to attract new members.

Events:
Love Our Green Sundays (LOGS) 
Once again thanks to Scavolini for sponsoring LOGS.  We will welcome Ben and Dan Domestic Cleaning Ltd as new sponsors in 2022. POD Garden Design has continued to be involved with managing/maintaining the planted borders with the participation of Antonia in most of the Sunday gardening sessions. 
The 8 LOGS sessions this year had an attendance that ranged from 4 – 18 people per session. This averaged out at almost 10 per time. We contributed about 150 hours of volunteer gardening maintenance to Camden Council. 

The Jester Festival
This was cancelled in 2021 but is planned to be held (1 day only) in 2022.

Outdoor film screenings 
No outdoor film evenings were held.  We had hoped to arrange them as usual but Camden were still imposing COVID restrictions (masks and social distancing) and we didn’t feel we are able to ‘police’ the adherence to these.  We are planning a film on 13th August this year.

Birds of Bray 
Birds of Bray returned in October and held another successful static birds of prey display with good attendance from all ages.
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The Christmas tree on the Green and the official lighting ceremony 
It was decided not to do this for 2021.  The reasons were:

• Cost at nearly £3,000
• Mill Lane Garden Centre suggested that it does not materially affect their sales
• Mixed response from community survey

​Solar Walks during the British Science Week 
The walks planned for March 2021 didn’t take place however a set of walks are scheduled later this month (May 2022).

Things we’d like to do
Promote installation of a higher exercise bar. Camden has been open to this. It is a way to save the trees whose boughs are used despite signage that forbids it.
Hold more events –practical support is welcome for ideas the community would support. 
Realistically this year our aim is to keep on top of the weeding and the general spread of large plants. Without this effort the plantings are subsumed by the rapidly spreading and dominant plants within 3 – 4 years. 
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Summary / Actions / appeal to members
We would like to make an ideal for additional committee members. We thank Eugene for his help and support over many years as he steps down from the committee.
Keep up the pressure on Camden Parks Department to improve the appearance and facilities on the green.
Continue to run the successful LOGS programme; encourage more participation.
Please pay your subs, ask your friends and neighbours to join FoFG and help us to keep our precious open space in good shape for everyone.

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Treasurer’s report and accounts for Dec 31 2021

Overall our income during the year was lower than in 2020, largely due to a drop off in membership subscriptions and a reduced number of events and therefore donations. 


Although new members are paying £10 per household per year, many long-standing members continue to pay the old rate of £5 per household per year.  Two local businesses also support us by paying £25 membership per year, clearly it would help if we could get more businesses on board.


As we were able to hold more LOGS sessions last year, thanks to the relaxation of Covid rules, we were grateful to Scavolini for allowing us to carry their 2020 donation forward to support the 2021 sessions. We are most grateful for their sponsorship over the past five years and thank them for their generosity.


We welcome our new LOGS sponsors, Ben and Dan Domestic Cleaning, and look forward to a busy year of gardening sessions with, hopefully, many more volunteers!


Although we did not have a Christmas tree on the Green in December 2021, in February 2021 we paid £1,024 towards the Christmas tree and lighting from December 2020, sharing the cost with Unity Works (Mill Lane Garden Centre), which is why it appears in these accounts.


With £3,400  in the bank, we are in a reasonable financial position but depend very heavily on membership subscriptions as sponsorship is so hard to come by. 


So in conclusion please pay your subs - £10 per household per year – and encourage friends, neighbours and local businesses to join us so that we can continue our activities in our beloved open space, Fortune Green.


Jackie Spreckley

​Minutes of FoFG AGM, 7pm May 11 2022
The Alliance, Mill Lane

Attendees: Gerald Oppenheim, Mike Jennings, Judy Emms, Josh Lawrence, Jackie Spreckley, Ann Eardley, Clare Sunderland, Diane Fortenberry, Mark Jacobs, Rachel Duerk, Simon Inglis, Joe Friedman, Virginia Berridge, Geoff Berridge, Eugene Regis

1. Welcome given by Gerald Oppenheim.

2. Apologies: Flick Rea, Lois George, Sharon Hardwick, Linda McDowell, Peter Lane, Anne Harmston, Lorna Greenwood 

3. Minutes of the 2021 AGM held on April 21 2021 approved

4. Treasurer’s report and summary accounts by Jackie Spreckley – see attached.

Income was lower in 2021 vs 2020, due to reduced membership and lower donations. We have two business memberships at £25 per year.

LOGS sessions resumed after Covid rules relaxed. Scavolini allowed 2020 sponsorship carried into 2021.  We are grateful for their past support. 

We are pleased to welcome Ben & Dan Cleaning as our new LOGS sponsor.

£3,400 in the bank.  Very dependent on memberships, subscriptions.  We encourage all members to pay dues via direct debit since this reduces the chasing of members.

5. Chair’s report by Mike Jennings – see appendix

In addition to the report, Mike noted that FofG is working with Camden to close access behind the children’s playground.  There is anti-social behaviour and suspected drug dealing.  

One participant asked about why the plan to aerate and re-seed part of the Green did not work.  Mike explained that the work was done poorly, without proper care, which is the most likely reason it did not work. Discussion about potential sources of regeneration funding from Veolia, Camden Giving.
There was additional discussion about the PACE staff driving on the road.  Mike agreed to raise the issue with Camden/Peter Freeman since it is a matter of public safety.

Proposal on how we solicit further committee members to help drive more activity.

There was discussion about the large dust bowl on the Green, and what would be required to help grass grow again.  How much would it cost? Mike to directly ask Peter Freeman.

Discussion about a high bar for exercise (rather than using trees).  Judy explained the complexity of getting a high bar approved and installed by Camden.  

The telephone booths will be repainted following work by Mike.
6.  Re-election of the committee.  The committee was re-elected. Diane Fortenberry was formally voted in as a new committee member.  Eugene Regis resigned, as planned. The committee thanked Eugene for his services.  

7. AOB.  A member thanked everyone for making the Green such a great place to be during the pandemic, when everybody desperately needed some beautiful, local spaces.  The planting and care has really made the Green a special place.

A member thanked FoFG for circulating publicity about activities run by the Community Association for West Hampstead.

The meeting ended at 19:53.