Friends of the parks and open spaces
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Dunorlan Park
The Friends of Dunorlan Park work to promote and improve Dunorlan Park for the benefit of the residents and visitors to the borough.
If you are interested in finding out more and joining the friends scheme, please download their newsletter or visit the Friends of Dunorlan Park website.
The Grove
Friends of The Grove are a group of local residents who take an active role in promoting and improving the park.
Friends are involved in the management decisions for the park and organise regular events, including spring and autumn gardening sessions, and fundraising quizzes.
To join the group or to find out more about their work, please message them via The Grove Facebook page.
Calverley Grounds
If you would like to find out about becoming a friend of Calverley Grounds please contact the friends by email: friendsofcalverleygrounds@yahoo.co.uk.
Alternatively you can join the Friends of Calverley Grounds on Facebook.
Grosvenor and Hilbert Park
The Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park (FoGH) was launched in 2011 to support the council bid for Heritage Lottery Funding.
Since this time the friends have gone from strength to strength promoting the use of the park and organising events. There's lots going on, so please visit the Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park website to find out more.
St John's Park
Although the Friends of St John’s Park group is relatively new (formed in 2016) they have taken an active role in the management decisions for the park.
The aim of Friends of St John’s Park and the Meadows is to support the continued use of St John’s Recreation Ground and the linked Meadows as valued recreational facilities which enhance the local community; and to support the wider enhancement of the local community in similar ways.
If you are interested in finding out more and joining the friends please contact them via the St John's Park Facebook page.
Woodbury Park Cemetery
The Friends of Woodbury Park Cemetery are volunteers who are clearing away brambles and saplings, finding out more about the local people buried there, and rolling out a conservation plan for its magnificent trees, wildflowers and wild life.
You can find out more about the friends on the Friends of Woodbury Park Cemetery website.
Tunbridge Wells Cemetery
The Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery actively encourage visiting the cemetery to enjoy its beautiful gardens and walks. A friends notice board can be found adjacent to the Victorian chapel.
The crematorium office also holds current newsletters and application forms for the friends group.
The group was set up in 2014 with these aims:
- to further the protection, conservation, and sympathetic enhancement of the Tunbridge Wells Cemetery for public benefit and enjoyment
- to record and foster its heritage of monuments and its ecological importance
- to foster its appropriate use as an educational resource for the community
We have the following projects in hand, with more to follow:
- researching and recording the lives of the people buried in the cemetery
- recording the plant and wild life
- clearing up around the graves
- identifying the graves in need of restoration
You can find out more about the friends on the Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery website.
Trinity Churchyard
Friends of Trinity Churchyard formed recently to conserve, enhance, and promote the churchyard of the former Holy Trinity Church in Royal Tunbridge Wells. This is now the Trinity Arts Theatre which is an important cultural part of the town.
You can find out more about the friends on the Friends of Trinity Churchyard website.
Hawkenbury Recreation Ground
The Friends of Hawkenbury Recreation Ground, launched in September 2020, aim to preserve the integrity of the green and peaceful grounds for residents and visitors. Should you be interested in joining the newly formed group please contact them on info@fohrec.org or visit the Friends of Hawkenbury Recreation Ground website. You can also find the group on Facebook.
Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons
While the formal landowner of the Commons is the Manor of Rusthall, they are managed by Conservators who include Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and who act as Trustees.
The Friends of the Commons is a charity set up in 1991, following the Great Storm of 1987. They help to look after the Commons for the benefit of the community and wildlife, funding projects and organising regular volunteer events. To find out more, go to the Friends of the Commons website.