HPF

A big event is happening in Highbury Park this weekend: hundreds - possibly thousands - of people will park their cars on the playing fields in order to attend the gardening festival at Kings Heath Park. As someone living within walking distance of both, and never having passed through Highbury Park during previous year's events, I was curious to see what had happened to the playing fields and new tallgrass meadow. As usual, I took the camera. The walk through the park is punctuated by various observations, some of which need action, while others are just records of the moment.

Late summer is treating the greenery nicely. The Uffculme slope is looking lush. There weren't a lot of people about, but I did see five pairs or groups of people sitting on the grass, picnic style.

This pine tree is a favourite spot for an assortment of young people and local characters. They've been creative recently, and a bit playful. Someone has made a rope swing. It's a lovely bit of improvisation, and it would be nice to see something a bit sturdier.

Around the other side, though, the graffitists have returned. This had someone else's moniker on it a few weeks ago, which was removed in advance of the Britain in Bloom judging tour. Having had one course of cleaning, it's necessary to ask for another, or to ask for something to be planted against that wall. There's also the matter of getting the wall repaired.

In the same vein, the pointed capstone from the old obelisk was pushed (I doubt it fell of its own accord) and now lies alongside the wall next to the dent it made in the earth.

From there, things looked up, as this long view across the central meadow shows. These long views are what makes the park special for me, though they are not easy to compose photographically. It probably calls for a wider angle photo.

Here's the real story of the day. How many cars is that? 200? 500? And none of us thought to set up a table or display nearby. next year I can see someone offering to describe Highbury Park to the thousands of people who come here, perhaps for the one day, and probably without exploring the park. A missed opportunity, methinks.

Likewise, our Shutlock Lane noticeboard is looking a bit shabby. Dressing the boards should be a higher priority in the coming months.

Around the corner on Dad's Lane, a free shuttle bus waits for riders. Again, a missed opportunity to hand out flyers.

Here's a matter for further attention. The footpath is a bit too overgrown in places, especially where there are nettles coming halfway across the pavement.

Considering the number of people walking this stretch, the overgrowth should have had a trim beforehand. I noticed a dozen people clambering up the informal footpaths, laden with all sorts of containers. Perhaps this means those slopes deserve a bit of timber stepwork.

And here's the entrance from Avenue Road

Can't resist this. We do love York Road, and I hope the poster prompted visitors to explore a bit.