May 2019 Newsletter

A hive of activity on your doorstep

Thank you to the customers that have expressed their views about Hardie Park on TripAdvisor recently. Every positive experience counts and helps us to spread the word to others in the area who have not yet found us. We are proud of our five stars and strive to maintain the cafe and park for everyone's enjoyment. Community stewardship at it's best! You may have received a flyer about what Hardie Park can offer the community, if not pick one up in the cafe. If you are able to deliver some to your own neighbours that would be amazing. There's a supply in the cafe and a map to log areas we have covered so far. Any help would be much appreciated!

Friends of Thurrock Parks meet

Hardie Park was recognised and acknowledged by Nesta as a park model that could be replicated in other areas. Since the start of the Performing Parks programme last September, Rob Groves has been mentoring 5 separate groups of volunteers across the borough to create something similar to Hardie. From meeting and discussing options and scope it became apparent that further areas in Thurrock also wanted advice on how to maintain and save their local green spaces for the benefit of the community. Friends of Thurrock Parks has been created to embrace all those interested in doing the same. A park think tank that can work together to achieve more, work with the council and communities to develop stewardship models for the benefit of local people. Performing Parks is part of Nesta's Rethinking Parks programme, funded by The Big Lottery Fund and The Heritage Lottery Fund over a two year period. Come on board, get involved. If you know a park or space you would like to protect or improve for your community please contact Rob Groves on 07803 295374.

Our events programme is hotting up!

We are on the cusp of a few big events at the park and we hope you are able to join us for one or all of them. We post details on our FB page and update the website in line with our programme.

Half-term activities are already in full swing!

We've got three great themes for the biggies!

• Doggies
• Sport
• Music

Entrance to our events are FREE, we have a cafe and refreshments on site with toilet facilities. Join us for a great family day out in the park.

Fancy a walk? Join the SS17 Walkers

The SS17 Walkers formed in February 2014 when a resident posted on the Stanford le Hope page that she wanted to join a walking group. Three other people responded and met up for a walk. From there on in there was no stopping them. They meet each Wednesday at 8pm to go for a brisk one hour walk then in March 2019 introduced a weekly morning walk on a Tuesday at 10am. Events are posted to their SS17 Walkers Facebook page each week to signpost the community to the next arranged walk. Tuesday 4th June at 10am the walkers will be leaving from the decking at Hardie Park! Why not make it a date. It's a casual, friendly meet and a great way to spend an hour on a Tuesday :0) . -  Facebook: @SS17Walkers

Gain experience for your CV

Know someone Year 10 or older that may want to gain valuable work experience and a reference for future employment? 😍 Maybe ask them to join us this summer....register interest here >> https://www.friendsofhardiepark.co.uk/volunteer/ 
Maybe a car park attendant - event runner - ice cream server - donation bucket shaker - so many roles!

Superslide progress with community support

Loyalty pays

We have gone techno with our loyalty system. Make sure you sign up at the till next time you make a purchase in the cafe. Your loyalty 'cards' are still valid until full.  Don't miss out on your rewards, you need to be in it to win it!

Thank you to those who attended our recent EGM

Our EGM was held earlier in the month and many came to hear about the parks successes, how the park is run, managed, manned and is developing. If anybody in the community has questions regarding the management of Friends of Hardie Park you are very welcome to make an appointment to discuss with our trustees or CEO Rob Groves. The staff team and volunteers work tirelessly to make the park the best it can be for the community. We hope that you embrace the ethos of what we are doing too.

Bananas galore...

As you know we receive regular food donations from supermarkets and we are pleased to say that our network of people who need it most is growing. We do receive lots of bread products and hoards of bananas. If you are a baker you might like to pop in and take some of the surplus too. Banana cake, smoothies. We would rather the food used in the community than have too much to distribute. 

If you know somebody in need who would benefit from the  surplus food scheme please ask them to get in touch. If details are on file they can be called as soon as we receive deliveries.  Call 07803 295374

We're a dog friendly cafe

If your dog is friendly and well behaved they are very welcome in the cafe. We have lots of regulars in all shapes and sizes that visit with their owners. We provide water outside on the decking and poo bags for our four legged friends. 

Our latest TripAdvisor reviews

If you've had a good time at the park we would really appreciate you sharing your experience on TripAdvisor. 

Here's the link to our page