FORK pitching for a new year

The Annual General Meeting of FORK (Friends of the River Kelvin) will be held on Saturday 1 December in their headquarters at Ha’penny Bridge House in the Botanic Gardens at 12.30. This will follow the regular Saturday clean-up of the riverside.

Nominations are invited from members for Convener, Treasurer and Secretary. Currently the position of Secretary is vacant. The present Convener, Sally Johnston and Treasurer, Allan Twigg are both willing to stand again.

FORK fun doesn’t stop when it rains.

Rain didn’t stop play at the FORK Gala day on Saturday 9 June 2012.  A line up of more than 11 groups performed despite heavy rain between the  sunny spells at the annual event run by Friends of the River Kelvin. While the music flowed from noon till 7pm, stalls provided information and things to buy as well as ‘handknitted hamburgers’ . Children had an arts programme painting a collage of the natural environment around the River Kelvin, and an amazing puppet show. Professionally guided canoe trips were ‘just amazing,’ said one happy voyager. All of the activities were centred on FORK headquarters – the Ha’penny Bridge House in the Botanic Gardens at the junction of the tracks leading to Wyndford and Kirklee.

Said new FORK Convener, Sally Johnston: ‘This has been another exceptionally good and very enjoyable event, despite the rain. We thank everyone who helped and who took part. We plan to hold social evenings in Ha’penny Bridge House in the autumn for members. Before then, we hope to launch, officially, the very colourful boards painted by local school children, which protect the windows of Ha’penny Bridge House.’  For more information on Friends Of the River Kelvin, including their next Saturday morning litter pick-up on 7 July, see their website: www.fork.org.uk

Cleaning up the River Kelvin is great way to socialise

The River Kelvin Angling Association (RKAA) are planning  a clean-up on Saturday 2 June alongside FORK – Friends of the River Kelvin – who are preparing for their Big Gala on Saturday 9 June at their headquarters – Ha’penny Bridge House in Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens.

Volunteers to help with both groups’ cleaning up activities are invited to be at Ha’Penny Bridge House (HBH) at 10.30. Pickers-up and gloves are provided. Said Allan Twigg, FORK treasurer who organises the regular FORK clean-ups: ‘We’ll be preparing HBH for the Gala and also want to clear part of the foundations of the Flint Mill which has become overgrown. Should anyone have loppers they can bring, they would be useful to cut back rhododendrons too, though we hope to borrow some from the Botanic Gardens.’

The FORK GALA on Saturday 9 June is a highlight of the West End Festival. Last year the event, planned to finish at 4pm – was still going strong at 6pm because so many musicians were happy to play, the weather was warm and people were having a great time browsing and buying at the stalls and listening to the music.

Said Allan: ‘On the day of the Gala, we need all the help we can get from early in the morning as we start setting up around 8 am, throughout the day to help with the Gala and late in the afternoon to clear up.’

FORK is an organisation of people who are keen to keep the integrity and the beauty of nature around the River Kelvin in the city and are committed to its care and maintenance on a volunteer basis. Founded 20 years ago by Mark Eden-Bushell who is now Ambassador for the work, FORK has been a social and an environmental success story which continues today under a new Convenor – Sally Johnston – and an enthusiastic team.

The annual gala includes a chance to try canoeing, find out about local campaigns and charities and volunteer activities and buy things like books and crafted goods. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Glasgow Conjurers are just two of the many organisations who take part and help to make the event a great success.

 

Orchid Fair blooming this weekend

Glasgow’s annual Orchid Fair takes place on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 April, 2012 in the Kibble Palace at Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens. In its 15th year, it is eagerly-awaited by followers.

Entry is free and open from 10am until 6pm on Saturday and 10am until 5pm on Sunday.

Specialist orchid nurseries from all over the UK will tempt visitors with their exquisite flowers and plants and offer advice on how to keep them. In addition, there will be displays by the Scottish Orchid Society, the British Cactus and Succulent Society and the Glasgow and District Beekeepers Association.

The main range of glasshouses will be open, as usual, for visitors to enjoy the extensive tropical plant displays including the orchid collection. At the same time, there will be a book fair in the nearby Hopkirk Building.

Brian Devlin, executive director for Land and Environmental Services, said: ‘The Orchid Fair is certainly one of our most popular horticultural events of the year, bringing thousands of people to the Botanic Gardens. It is a great opportunity to view a wide range of exotic plants not so easily found anywhere else in Scotland. Whether you want to buy, ask advice or simply just look and learn, the event guarantees an enjoyable day out.’

Book Fairs blooming

Book Fair

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March.

10.00am to 4.30pm.

 We hope to see you there.

There will be two Book Fairs in April. The first over the Easter weekend from Friday 6th to Monday 9th, and the following weekend Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th to coincide with the Orchid Fair.

BOOK FAIR BOOKED THIS WEEKEND

Musical FORKS charm the crowds

 

Everyone enjoyed a wonderful day at the FORK Gala on 4 June in the Botanic Gardens at Ha’penny Bridge House. Formally opened by MSP Sandra White, many hundreds of people sat in the sun to be entertained by the musicians – who were still playing at 6pm when the Gala, technically, finished at 4pm. Then there were the stalls to browse, the dog show to challenge, useful things to buy, interesting things to learn and plenty of fun, food and cool drinks too. Canoe rides gave experience on the water.

The whole event is a great West End gathering where people mix and chat, meet and eat, sing and sort out the rest of the world. FORKS are Friends of the River Kelvin and the gala is a showcase for their work and philosophy – to care for the environment around the River Kelvin and to carry that care into other aspects of living.

Welcomed by the Big Fork himself, founder Mark Eden-Bushell, the day was well organised by the FORK Gala committee with FORK Secretary Charles Thompson busy in the background making sure everything fell into place.

Volunteers are welcome to join the FORK’s next river clean-up on Saturday 2 July at 10.30pm at Ha’penny Bridge House which is the organisation’s headquarters.

FORK GALA FUN IN THE SUN

There is no doubt it will be a good day on Saturday 4 June because that is FORK Gala day and traditionally it has been favoured with the warmth and brightness of the sun.

From 11am till 4pm, centred  in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow near Ha’Penny Bridge House, Friends of the River Kelvin (FORKs) will offer food and entertainment, stalls and canoe rides, friendship and environment awareness strategies.

Throughout the day, live music is played by many wandering minstrels. People meet and chat, children have fun and entertainment. Books and tee shirts and other items can be bought. The beekeepers have honey in stock and welcome interest in their important, voluntary, work.

Don’t miss it!

Books and blooms at the Botanics

The Botanic Gardens are blooming this month. Not only are the spring flowers coming through and the trees and bushes budding green, the activities within the boundaries have a lot to offer anyone with time to enjoy them. There is the regular Book Fair – Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 April in the Hopkirk Building.  There you can browse the fascinating and wide selection of rare and second-hand books and memorabilia. And you can negotiate with the experienced book sellers should you have a volume to sell or want them to search for an elusive title for you. That same weekend is the Orchid Fair in the Kibble Palace. And, as always, there is the delightful Children’s Orchard where youngsters can learn the joy of growing things.

Big weekend at the Botanics for book buffs

Glasgow Botanic Gardens in the West End is the venue for a Christmas book fair on Saturday, 19 December and Sunday, 20 December.

The free event, organised by Books at the Botanics (BATB), offers rare and second-hand books. Valuations can also be given, BATB say.

The sale takes place at the Hopkirk Building, 730 Great Western Road, from 10am to 4.30pm on both days.

The group’s website can be found at www.booksatthebotanics.co.uk.