Our Park is a hidden gem in the heart of Tunbridge Wells. The town's oldest public park, it was originally designed by renowned Victorian landscape architect Robert Marnock in 1889. Since then, it has grown, developed and flourished to become a great place to relax, play and enjoy nature.

FoGH was set up in 2011. Our key focus is to enhance the quality of life for our community; raise awareness of ecology; and encourage the local community to take an interest in the conservation of the Park. Our work takes many forms, from family events, talks, walks and gardening, to ecological projects, such as rewilding the orchard.

Our Park has several access points. Use the postcode TN1 2HU to get to the entrance in Auckland Road. For the Hilbert Road entrance, near the Oast House, use TN2 3SF. All parking for the Park is on residential streets, there is no car park.

Click here to collapse the report.

Talking of drought, our basket watering volunteers have had no let-up in keeping the baskets by the Children's Playground and Bowls Green well hydrated. We have a rota system, with each volunteer taking it in turns to water the baskets for a week. As a result, the baskets have thrived and we have had some fantastic displays this year. However, with climate change in mind, and water becoming a precious commodity, maybe we should think about the plants we use in the baskets. In future we will look at using those that are more tolerant of dry conditions and require less watering. It's something we will be investigating for the baskets next year.

I hope that you have now had the chance to see the new graphics in the Children's Playground. It was commissioned and funded by FoGH, inspired because for some 80 years there was an open-air swimming pool in the Park. Opened in 1869, it had a colourful history, with many local children learning to swim in it over the years. It sat right beneath where the playground now is and once extended past the hard ball court right up to Marnock Lake. After the Second World War it fell into disrepair and was finally filled in around 1954. You can learn more from the Discovery Trail on the FoGH website. The new playground graphics are a nod to this bit of lost history, and we are currently finalising an interpretation board about the swimming pool to go near the Hub.

As you can see from the events list, we have a busy schedule of events lined up to the end of the year. We try to put on a good range of activities that appeal to a wide range of people but if you have anything that you think we could put on, please let us know by emailing editors @ fogh.org.uk I can't make any promises, but we are always willing to look at any suggestions and take it from there.

To report an incident in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park to Kent Police:

• Emergency: dial 999
• Non-emergency: dial 101

Other contacts

• Council Parks Department: 01892 554031

To hire The Hub please contact the council to check for availability and instructions by sending an email to parksteam [at] tunbridgewells.gov.uk or by phoning 01892 554031

• Friends of Grosvenor & Hilbert Park: chair [at] fogh.org.uk

Please note there is a defibrillator at the Hub, if needed phone 999 to get the access code and assistance when using it.

The are two ways you can get involved with the park.

Join the Friends

We are a volunteer-run group that relies on donations from events and membership fees. By signing up and joining the Friends you will help fund our work and put on community events in the park.

Follow the link and sign-up on line.

Volunteer

Alternatively or additionally you might like to volunteer to undertake tasks around the park. We regularly hold weeding and planting event and there's always litter picking.

Simply sign up to our volunteer newsletter and we will tell you when something suitable is planned.