Ignoring the light drizzle at mid-day, the Friends of Hillside Gardens trusted the weather forecast and went ahead with a picnic in the park on Sunday [16 June].

Almost on the stroke of 2 p.m. their optimism was rewarded: the clouds rolled back, and picnickers started to arrive and spread rugs on the grass.

Friends of the park, which in April won the prestigious Green Flag for a well-kept park for the third year running, organized cake and flower stalls, face painting and a raffle, which together raised £256 towards community activities in the park and the park upkeep.

Local shops and small businesses generously contributed to the success of the day by donating everything from a bottle of wine, soft drinks and a box of chocolates to bedding plants and a free haircut, to the stalls and as raffle prizes (although one national supermarket disappointingly said it couldn't contribute without consulting head office!).

Music was provided by a jazz band led by local resident Margaret Stephens, and the Friends of Hillside took the opportunity to conduct a survey inviting suggestions for even more improvements to the park.

Shops that donated included:

All About Hair Best-One (Amesbury Avnue)
Bocye de Roca (coffee shop)
The Brothers (Hair Dressers)
Earl Grey and Rose Fish Tale Streatham Gardens Nursery (Knollys Rd)
Nando's Railway Inn (Tulse Hill)
Thompsons Deli
Veolia.

Tony Emerson, Chair of Friends of Hillside Gardens, said: "Two different Irish relatives of mine have remarked how friendly a place Streatham is.

"An afternoon like this helps us understand why, and why we are happy to live in Streatham and the surrounding area.

"But it is only possible when lots of local people come together to organise it.

"We are fortunate in this area that we have lots of people with lots of skills who are willing to give their time to community activities", he said, thanking June Hyde and her organising team.

Based on information supplied by Martin Wright.