The Friends of Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill have a full programme organised for the summer. Many of the events are free and, while some (such as the guided walks) have limited capacity and are restricted to members, most are open to everyone.
The season kicks off with a series of walks, guided by specialists. Come along to learn about bees, the park’s birds and more.
From 18 June through to 18 September the Summer Bandstand programme begins. On Sundays at “picnic time” from 12.30-14.30 and in the afternoons from 15.30-17.30 there are performances at the main bandstand. On Saturday afternoons at the Broadwalk, jazz musicians will be playing from 14.00-16.00.
Mark Elliott, Chair of the Friends says: “We have made our open-air concerts one of the best programmes in the London parks. In our 46 free concerts there is something for everyone – brass bands, concert bands and jazz bands big and small”
Elliott, who is a musician himself and a friend of the Royal Academy of Music explains that the Broadwalk jazz gives music graduates, who must stay in London awaiting their graduation, the perfect opportunity to showcase their talents.
The events programme includes some hard to access tours of local institutions, from the Royal Academy of Music to London Zoo, and a series of online lectures is scheduled for October.
Watching a play in the beautiful John’s Lodge Garden is an unmissable experience and this year, Shakespeare’s As You Like It will be performed on Saturday 13 August.
For the community-minded, there are volunteering activities. Participants report that being a volunteer is great fun as they can forge friendships and enjoy nature, at the same time as helping out by planting bulbs, or keeping the park tidy.
Becoming a member of Friends of Regents Park & Primrose Hill costs £20.00 a year. Members receive a regular newsletter and twice-monthly e-mails, keeping them up to date with what’s happening in the parks. Other benefits include access to member’s only events, discounts at the Park’s cafes, the Open-Air Theatre, tennis, and boats on the lake.
