On Saturday 24th January, Friends started the new year with a litter pick around the park and local streets. The weather on the day was dry but cold and cloudy so expectations were not great. We were amazed to have a wonderful turn out of 14 volunteers. As well as our regular bunch, we had 3x young lads from Hydeland secondary school doing their DofE, a father and son from Newton Mearns, and a new volunteer from Broomhill; we hope this new volunteer will continue to come along.
We split into 4 groups, 2x of whom went to the Victorian Gate and then split west and east, clearing litter both inside and outside the fence line where much litter tends to gather and not be collected by the council. Another group headed south to the fence line and underpass and then west to Westland Drive. The last group headed to the Fossil Grove. We didn't count the number of bags of rubbish but there must have been at least 14, one for each volunteer. We all retired proud of a job well done and hoping our example will have rubbed off on passers by. It's also great to meet others who reguklarly do the same; somehow, as a society, we have to keep on top of the litter. Thanks to all, both on Saturday and every other day.

Are you up for a challenge in 2026? Then take part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk, on 25 and 26 April and make Victoria Park Community Trust your chosen charity. Not only will this be an incredible personal achievement, but you’ll also be helping us to revitalise one of Glasgow’s best loved parks.
Choose your distance

1. The Mighty Stride: up to 23 miles
2. The Big Stroll: up to 15 miles
3. The Wee Wander: up to 4 miles

Sign up today at https://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/glasgow as the event sells out fast. 
 
Even better, ask your friends to join too and be part of our Victoria Park Team. 

Friends have been very lucky and received from a local resident the set of old photographs of Victoria Park which have been restored and colourised. As you can see the pictures look as though the had been just taken although everyone is in Victorian period clothing. They do look wonderful. In particular the photos of the now vanished pavilion, the huge yachts and the tram on Victoria Park Drive South. Most are from the Virtual Mitchell or the Old Scotstoun and Whiteinch book by Sandra Malcolm.

On 19th December, Friends, in association with Victoria Park Trust, planted 3 new trees, an oak and 2x apple trees which were planted in the orchard. A 4th tree, a cherry, was delivered in time.
This event was the final stage of a tree awareness campaign between Friends and the school children. In fact the trees were chosen by the children in the Autumn, when the children had an previous trip into the park as a tree, educational event.

Friends, in association with Victoria Park Community Trust, celebrated the 850th year of Glasgow City. Funding was given by the Council which enabled VPCT to hire a great ceilidh band and soup was provided by the Heart of Scotstoun to provide some warm sustenance for the dancers. The day was clear blue sky with bright sunshine. It was cold unless standing directly in the sunshine but the avenue of trees threw long cold shadows across the dancers making the ceilidh but warm and cold. There were easily 150 folk of all ages an abilities having a wonderful celebration ceilidh. We even had a good 40 couple Strip the Willow which took some 15 minutes for all the couples to be spun off their feet. Brilliant.

"Losses in Glasgow were estimated at 13740 from World War 2 with 200 000 having joined up. This shows the sheer scale of losses shown in memorials in churches schools and workplaces. "
From the service in Victoria Park at the war memorial on Sunday with thanks to the Commonwealth War Grave Commission who provided information.
Thanks to Friends of Victoria Park for organising and to speakers Gillian Maudsley local historian, Yevgen Gorash from the Ukranian society of Great Britain , Ben Shepherd Friends of Victoria Park and Ruby who played the last post from Jordanhill Secondary

​Thanks to our love volunteers who came out this morning and got stuck in clearing the unwanted growth before winter arrives. We had about 12 folk out which allowed us to make a big impact. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the pics and the short video.
Cheers. FoVP.

Tonight, Wednesday, Friends held our bat walk and we had a great turn ; we had going on for 30 folk, some from the Southside of Glasgow and dozens of bats. Our detectors worked well and we believe we were watching certainly of the 2x types of pipistrelle and the daubenton. There was great excitement as the bats swooped over our heads and around us; the bats are simply feeding on insects not interested in people.
We can’t repeat this year but please watch out for a repeat possibly in Spring.
Apologies for cancelling last week event due to very wet weather.
Thanks.