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 2022
Tuesday 18 May 2023

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)

The relationship with the Parks department at Camden remains at a much lower level than previously, i.e. no change from last year’s report. We had a couple of walkabouts with our main contact in the Parks Maintenance Department to identify issues on the green. They have resulted in some remedial action:

1. The northwest quadrant grass was reseeded (again) and at the intervention of FoFG was fenced off to prevent the public immediately destroying it. Little was done to aerate the soil, unfortunately.
2. The trip wire fence around the beds has been replaced with new posts and heavier gauge wire but is once again damaged (it has been repaired twice).
3. The gate on the roadway to the play centre has been replaced.
4. Holes in the ground in the open areas have been filled. 
5. 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. This has not yet happened.

Fortune Green appears to remain in a holding pattern with very little intervention. Camden Parks are aware of these issues and they are highlighted during every walkabout. 


MEMBERSHIP
Membership is stable but obviously we’d like new / more members.

EVENTS
Love Our Green Sundays (LOGS) 
Thanks to Ben and Dan Domestic Cleaning Ltd for sponsoring LOGS in 2022.  We welcome Oakhill Residential and Busy Bees Nursery as new sponsors in 2023. POD Garden Design has continued to be involved with managing/maintaining the planted borders, with the participation of Antonia in a number of the Sunday gardening sessions. 
The 8 LOGS sessions in 2022 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. 
In 2023 the LOGS sessions have been moved to the first Sunday afternoon of the month, between March and October.

Jester Festival
This was held on 2nd July 2022 and will be held this year on 1st July in 2023.
Outdoor film screenings 
There was one very successful film screening on 13th August 2022. The 2023 film screening will be held on 19th August.

Birds of Bray 
Birds of Bray will return on 14th September 2023. This is now a biennial event.
Solar Walks during British Science Week 
FoFG supported the walks that were undertaken in May 2022 (not British Science Week as usual). We hope to support the walks again in 2024 – the committee previously agreed that will be a biennial event.
Christmas tree on the Green and the official lighting ceremony 
This is no longer on our calendar due to the high costs involved.

​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. 
This year our aim is to keep on top of the weeding and the general spread of large plants at LOGS sessions. Without this effort the plantings are subsumed by the rapidly spreading and dominant plants within 3–4 years. 


SUMMARY / ACTIONS / APPEAL TO MEMBERS
We would like to make a plea for additional committee members. We thank Eugene for his help and support over many years, as he stepped down from the committee in 2022.
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 2022

Our income over the year has been steady, gaining a few new members but still with only two local businesses members, each paying £25 per year. 


Although new individual members are paying £10 per household per year, many long-standing members continue to pay the old rate of £5 per household per year, despite reminders!


Thanks to Ben and Dan Domestic Cleaning for their support for LOGS over the past year. We welcome our new sponsors, Oakhill Residential and Busy Bees Nursery, and look forward to a busy year of gardening sessions ahead with, hopefully, many more volunteers.


We were delighted to be able to hold a film night again last summer after the Covid restrictions, thanks in part to sponsorship from Abacus Estates and generous donations from our audience. 
With £3,500  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 April 18 2023
Community Centre, Dornfell Street

Attendees: Gerald Oppenheim, Mike Jennings, Judy Emms, Josh Lawrence, Peter Lane, Jackie Spreckley, Diane Fortenberry, Simon Inglis, Reena O’Neill, Cassandra Baratto, Peggy Jennings, Claire Sunderland.

1. Welcome given by Gerald Oppenheim.

2. Apologies: Virginia Berridge, Enyd Norman, Anne Harmston, Flick Rea.

3. Minutes of the last AGM, held on May 11 2022, to be approved by email by attendees of this meeting.

4. Treasurer’s report and summary accounts by Jackie Spreckley, approved.

Income has been steady over the past year, gaining a few new members but still with only two business members. Many long standing members are still paying £5 per year instead of £10, despite several reminders. 
Ben & Dan were thanked for their support for LOGS last year, we welcome our new sponsors Oakhill Residential and Busy Bees Nursery. Last summer’s film night was a successful event with thanks to sponsors, Abacus Estates, and generous donations from the audience.
With £3,500 in the bank we are in a reasonable financial position but depend heavily on membership subs so a plea was made for members to pay up and to encourage friends, neighbours and local businesses to join. GoCardless is our preferred payment method as it is very straightforward to scan our QR code and set up an annual direct debit.

5. Chair’s report presented by Mike Jennings (see appendix), approved.
Mike added that Mill Lane Garden Centre has a new manager who is interested in setting up a weekday session for their trainees to do some weeding on Fortune Green, an idea welcomed by the committee.
Discussion as to how to widen communications to the local community to encourage membership of FoFG and attendance at our events. Reena O’Neill, a governor at West Hampstead Primary School, offered to post on the school’s social media networks, including year group WhatsApp messages. Josh Lawrence pointed out that social media seems to be more effective than printed material. It was agreed that we would contact other neighbourhood WA groups, such as in Achilles Road, to ask for our news and information to be circulated.
Discussion about encouraging more volunteers at LOGS. Cassandra Baratto offered to try to bring friends to the next session. Bulk Source Foods are very supportive in trying to encourage younger volunteers.

6 The committee was re-elected except for Judy Emms who is stepping down due to moving from the neighbourhood. She was warmly thanked for all her work for FoFG over the past 10 years, particularly with running LOGS and baking delicious cakes for the sessions. 

7 Questions/AOB Gerald Oppenheim referred to a recent survey circulated by Camden Council asking residents to comment on the state of the borough’s green spaces, particularly on the performance of Id Verde, the contractor responsible for green space maintenance. Individual members of the public are encouraged to respond. Discussion as to whether LOGS teams should wear tabards to identify ourselves when we’re gardening, no conclusive decision.
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The meeting concluded at 8pm.