Licensing, Local Government Merton Council has approved a permanent premises licence for Morden Park aiming to streamline the process for hosting safe While events will still require council permission and meet strict conditions the new licence will simplify applications and allow greater focus on safety and planning The application drew objections from local residents and campaigners Cornerstone Barristers’ Richard Hanstock acted successfully for the London Borough of Merton The case has been reported by ITV News, a recording is available here. Further media coverage of the case is available here Richard is highly regarded in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for his licensing expertise Learn more about his practice here. Get alerts about our latest news & upcoming events Subscribe Cornerstone Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Website by Square Eye Ltd It was a cloudy but dry morning at my local park where I’ve been walking and running for several years but this was my first organised parkrun anywhere I’ve been trying to get back to running after an injury so this time I didn’t do the course but volunteered as a marshal I suppose I was looking for inspiration and First-timers received a warm welcome from Lidia and a briefing on the course which is 3 laps of a roughly “figure of 8” making up a 5k course The route is well sign-posted and marshalled so even first-timers don’t have to think about the turns here are volunteer park-walkers who can accompany anyone who might need encouragement to get around the course at a comfortable pace The tight course has a feeling of a truly group run and the wide paths mean you may not even notice that you’re being lapped by the course leaders Several young runners made it look effortless and everyone finished the course and a few parents with babies and toddlers serving as a type of organic running weight - ingenious We even had one or two very well-behaved dogs on leads who obviously knew the course better than I did Out of 174 runners 40% were female and 66 were first timers at Morden parkrun All age groups were represented from 10 year olds to 70+ The cool weather was perfect for many runners as demonstrated by the 45 PBs there were locals and many who travelled from a further away including After the run there’s Morden Leisure Centre cafe for refreshments I learned some new things from the parkrunners which I did “couch to 5k” several years ago (when the gentle slopes of the park felt like mountains) and I was “Jeffing” when I I'd never heard of Jeff Galloway (US Olympian and author) and was just trying to get to 5k on my brand new fitbit Back then I was already well into the “V” age groups so it’s never too late © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) has announced a competition to ‘refresh and brighten’ public spaces in Morden town centre designers and artists are invited to draw up site-specific concepts for new ‘creative and engaging interventions’ which could boost the quality of public life in the south London town centre which hosts the southern terminus of London Underground’s Northern Line The ‘Morden Moments’ competition – backed by the London Borough of Merton – aims to ‘activate and enrich’ local public spaces while also reflecting the area’s distinctive character and enhancing community identity The open call features two sites – Station Yard with a £60,000+VAT budget and Abbotsbury Road and Abbotsbury Circus with a £83,000+VAT budget – and responds to this year’s LFA theme of ‘Voices’ – encouraging creative responses that reflect diverse perspectives will be installed in time for next year’s LFA and the centenary of Morden station opening and will remain on site for around five years ahead of long-term improvements to the area LFA director said: ‘Public spaces play a vital role in shaping how we experience the city and “Morden Moments” offers a fantastic platform for designers to explore how small interventions can make a big impact ‘We are excited to see proposals that celebrate the voices of Morden’s community while embracing the potential of design to create meaningful connections in the urban environment.’ Merton Council councillor and deputy leader and cabinet member for civic pride and climate change said: ‘Morden is the thriving civic heart of our borough and home to a vibrant and diverse community ‘There is already so much to be proud of in Morden I'm looking forward to seeing how the proposals will amplify enhance and celebrate more of what the area has to offer for the benefit of local people.’ Morden is a major suburban town centre that witnessed rapid growth following the opening of southern extension of the Northern Line in 1926 The town centre hosts Merton Council’s civic centre along with Morden Hall Park and the Wandle Trail The latest contest comes just four months after Merton Council named Charles Holland Architects the winner of its competition for a ‘bold and striking’ new £90,000 temporary bandstand in nearby Mitcham The ‘Morden Moments’ contest seeks proposals to upgrade local public spaces and deliver ‘moments of pause and reflection for residents and visitors.’ Proposals must incorporate durable materials and provide long-term usability while also support the council’s aim of making Morden a more ‘welcoming is a large disused public space located behind the underground station and close to a car park offers an opportunity for streetscape improvements and a new civic gateway Round one applications will be evaluated 60 per cent on team profile and 40 per cent on initial vision examples of previous work and a short response outlining reasons for applying response to the brief and approach to community engagement Six shortlisted teams will each receive a £1,000+VAT honorarium to draw up design proposals during the contest’s second round The winning team or teams will receive either £60,000+VAT for Station Yard and/or £83,000+VAT for Abbotsbury Road and Abbotsbury Circus to develop and deliver their concept in time for next summer architect and urban designer at the London Borough of Merton Why are you holding a competition to rethink public spaces in Morden As a direct response to the engagement undertaken over the last year to develop the Meanwhile Action Plan we’ve launched the Morden Moments competition inviting submissions for meaningful interventions to brighten and enliven three underutilised sites within the town centre We are looking for design responses that transform spaces into inviting places for residents The competition will work in tandem with Merton Council which will be delivering wider community-led placemaking improvements such as culture and art trails and a programme of events to activate spaces We’re delighted as the competition provides an opportunity to champion and celebrate new voices and act as a launchpad for a second phase of delivery What is your vision for how this important town centre could be transformed Morden has all the necessary components of a successful town centre - with a rich heritage and history a diverse retail offer and an emerging art and cultural scene Our vision reinforces these strengths whilst nurturing connections across multiple scales and stakeholders – from celebrating the start of the Northern line and bordering a National Trust Park to nurturing civic pride and new community partnerships We recognise the huge potential in Morden to create a more modern and vibrant area with the public realm being the perfect opportunity to deliver meaningful changes and improve the way the town centre is used inclusive and accessible town centre that delivers for the needs of the community now and for generations to come What sort of teams would you like to see step forward for this unique opportunity We’re looking for innovative and creative design solutions from emerging architects and designers with ideas that reinforce the community placemaking principles established in our Meanwhile Action Plan Engagement is a key pillar in our wider council plan and has been critical in embedding local knowledge in shaping the competition strategy and developing proposals Proposals which take a socially engaged approach to deliver positive outcomes for residents and local communities Teams should highlight their ambition for co-design with the most successful submissions fostering participation and a collaborative approach with key stakeholders in our community We are particularly looking for teams with ties and connection to Morden and the borough or those working in partnership with community groups based in Morden Tagscompetition LFA London Merton Morden Public realm Hutchison Ports is recruiting a design team for its new £9 million… An open international contest is being held for a major €27.5 million… An international design and build contest is being held for 25 new… The UK Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) has… For the last 30 years residents have seen thousands of people pass through to catch some of the capital's most impressive light displays residents have been able to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the local hospice Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Learn more and apply now. It started when Steve Peters and his son noticed something unusual while driving near the Morden dam — a beaver stuck in the Morden Dam at Lake Minnewasta cut off from the main waterway and showing no signs of finding its way out Michelle Budz, longtime animal advocate and co-owner of Town & Country Grooming in Morden saw the post and immediately wanted to help She’s no stranger to animal rescues and quickly connected with Peters But they weren’t the only ones stepping in Rhonda Friesen and her daughter got involved too — bringing various methods to try to access the tricky channel near the dam Peters had already brought a live trap to encourage the beaver out That’s when Garett Suderman carefully climbed down with a tarp and rope gently herding the exhausted animal toward safety Budz says everyone had one goal — to protect both the beaver and the people helping the beaver was finally guided towards the creek where it slowly climbed out onto the rocks Residents are opposing a proposal to grant a year-round alcohol and events licence, which they say could further damage a beloved park the licence would allow alcohol to be served in Morden Park from 9am until 11pm Monday through Saturday and until 10.30pm Sunday and late-night activities without the need to consult residents on a case-by-case basis Merton council has insisted that events will not happen ‘automatically’ and believes the year-round licence will lessen the ‘time-consuming’ bureaucracy for them and event organisers Kristyna Skriczka is among those voicing strong objections to the council’s application. She argues that removing public consultation undermines parents’ ability to protect children, particularly from the noise and disruption caused by large events residents are also concerned about the potential loss of access to Morden Park during peak months fearing large-scale events could restrict access for those who rely on it for their wellbeing Ms Skriczka also highlighted safety concerns particularly with events involving alcohol She pointed to past incidents of violence and antisocial behaviour including four stabbings during the Eastern Electrics event held in 2019 The environmental impact is another major issue for residents The park is home to hundreds of at-risk species of flora and fauna and is a site of importance for nature conservation Since the council’s proposal in early March 390 people have signed an online petition raising concerns Merton council has insisted the application will not limit residents’ input on the state of their local park A council spokesman said: “A permanent licence does not mean events can automatically take place All events must still apply to the council and gain its permission “A permanent premises licence would streamline the event approval process allowing more focus on key areas like safety Large and sensitive events will still be reviewed by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which includes council members and emergency services the decision to approve events will remain with the council after consulting the SAG It also noted that revenue from external events helps fund the maintenance of Morden Park and other green spaces Pictured top: Residents campaign against Eastern Electrics festival outside Merton Civic Centre (Picture: Pippa Maslin) Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" I’ve completed 431 parkruns at 224 different locations including some parkruns outside of the UK I was initially going to visit Reading parkrun today to get an event number for my Wilson Index but it was cancelled on Friday due to the after effects of storm Bert I picked Morden as although I have completed an event #21 it is an event that I needed for my LonDONE challenge but I will wait until the attendance numbers have calmed down a bit so as not to add to the pressure on a new core team I had a good journey via London Victoria and Stockwell tube stations arriving at Morden underground station at 7.45am I did think that I could’ve had a 30-minute lie in and get a later train but you never know if there are going to be delays and it is nice when you arrive at a new parkrun to have time to use the facilities and be in plenty of time for the run briefings it was dry although I wore an older pair of road shoes as I was anticipating some mud The pre-event set up was mostly complete upon my arrival We initially met on a trip to Austria/ Germany in 2023 to take advantage of the additional event for Unity Day The first timers briefing was given by Brian Robinson and the main briefing by Eoin O’Connell The course was a 3-lap undulating course on a mixture of grass and tarmac The long uphill section was on tarmac which was a relief although I felt it in my quads each time I reached the top of the hill I took care on the corners of the grass sections as it could’ve been easy to slip with friendly and encouraging marshals to motivate us around We had 24 wonderful volunteers today who gave up their time at Morden parkrun Did you know you can have the best of both worlds and be able to run AND volunteer at a parkrun they can help with barcode scanning after their run Roles available can be found on each parkrun event website or on the 5k app Simply email the event you wish to volunteer at with your barcode number and you’ll be welcomed with open arms finish tokens and barcode scanning are great for when you fancy giving your legs a rest Don’t forget junior parkruns on Sundays; they also welcome volunteers too For those of you who enjoy the challenges on the 5k app Volunteer Ratio and Volunteer Tourist challenges There was a great mix of people running and walking at Morden parkrun today; approximately 35:65 female:male Runners and walkers ranged from Aishaa Lucas Sophie Emma Arde and Francesca Jenkins in the JW11-14 and Lucas Kingsley in the JM10 categories to Ange Norris Felicidade Gunn and Carol Ferrari in the VW60-64 and Neil Crocker Alan Wood and John Eyles in the VM70-74 category proving that parkrun really is for everyone There were 191 runners and walkers finishing at Morden parkrun today It is well worth downloading the 5k app to your phone There were 4 people showing up in the results as “unknown” You can access your barcode using this app ensuring you get a credit for each parkrun/walk you complete plus there are some great challenges for running/walking and volunteering to keep you motivated I also find it really useful for when I am doing tourism to find new parkruns and information such as parking/facilities that they offer I’d recommend also taking a screenshot of the barcode on your phone in case the App has a rare technical issue The first finisher was Rod Jenkins on his 13th visit to Morden parkrun with a time of 19:10 First female finisher was Samantha Munday from Exeter University AC on her 1st visit to Morden parkrun with a time of 21:32 The highest age grading was 80.40% achieved by Ange Norris from Dulwich Runners AC The highest male age grading was first finisher Rod Jenkins with 75.74% Lizzy Adam and Felicidade Gunn achieved new PBs Greer Smith and Jason Clements joined us for their first parkrun today Saturday mornings will never be the same again! I hope you continue this journey and one day earn those lovely red 50 We had a huge 73 tourists visiting Morden parkrun for the first time Perhaps the high number of tourists is due to people filling in the gaps in their Wilson index or perhaps because 21 is a mathematical number that were not supposed to talk about anymore – IYKYK I have started to include the “volunteeriest volunteer” in my run reports as an alternative to “runniest runner” A high number of runs is impressive; however it would not be possible without our volunteers who ensure week in week out Our most volunteeriest volunteer today was Morden parkrun regular Christine has volunteered at 5 different locations; Nonsuch Most weekends Christine volunteers at both parkrun and junior parkrun She began her volunteer journey at Nonsuch as a marshal on the 11th July 2015 Christine has fulfilled 15 distinct volunteering roles including Barcode scanning Christine has completed 84 parkruns at 11 locations Penryn Campus in Cornwall and Amsterdamse Bos in the Netherlands She began parkrunning at Nonsuch on the 7th March 2015 Christine for ensuring we can enjoy our parkruns Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 4th December 2024 by ianVisits in London Art News A street at the bottom of the Northern line is famous for its Christmas lights and this year’s displays are already glowing down the lane Some are restrained and very upmarket in appearance and others are wonderful in their garish over the toppyness but there’s enough along here to easily justify a wander along to see them Unlike big corporate lighting set-ups in town centres this is just the local folk putting on a show on an otherwise unremarkable suburban street for nothing more than to bring pleasure to people created Lower Morden Lane Lights more than 25 years ago to raise funds for the hospice but the street and the fundraising live on If you think the lights are pretty, remember to donate to the charity The lights will be lit throughout Christmas until 2nd January 2025 They can be found along the western half of Lower Morden Lane which is about a 20-30 minute walk from either Morden tube station or Raynes Park (SWR) stations you can catch the 293 or 163 bus to Lower Morden Lane although I would recommend walking via Hillcross Avenue if possible Some of the houses there are also very nicely decorated the 163 bus takes you to Lower Morden Lane This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here A wonderful place in dire need of proper funding The lights are put up far too early especially for those of us who celebrate Advent My lights go up after 3rd week of Advent at the earliest and are come down on Epiphany Its about time people realised that Christmas doesn’t start until Christmas Eve A lot of the houses that have lights outside are far too OTT and full of ghastly figures I don’t mind donating to the hospice but not to fund other people’s lights It’s also time for people to be less preachy about other people and more tollerant of differences especially when those differences give so much pleasure to so many people It is the time for you to put some Christmas spirit in your soul and appreciate all the beautiful effort those people are making for us to be joyful and website in this browser for the next time I comment and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits She tells John Byrne about the best part of her job and offers some advice to dram students and graduates It’s all I’ve ever known and loved – I first said I wanted to be an actor aged three I’ve been on a huge journey over the years of untangling my self-worth from the industry while I wanted to help fellow actors handle the reality of the parts of this career that aren’t usually spotlighted It’s good to be aspirational and dream big joy and excitement on every step of our actor journey Unlearn the concept of “making it” and any idea you have about how to “make it” want it the most but still nothing is guaranteed Find your own personal version of “making it” and find joy in the process and the journey I’d love to demolish the hierarchy of power that exists and actors should feel empowered at every point in their career… whether they’re on the red carpet or filming a self-tape at 10pm after a shift pulling pints Being able to reinvigorate actors by boosting their confidence in an industry that often makes them question it I especially love working on screen-acting technique and auditioning with actors – there’s so much more fun to be had with scene work and auditions when you get out of your own head actingwithalexa.com Invest in The Stage today with a subscription starting at just £7.99 © Copyright The Stage Media Company Limited 2025 and thank you for joining us for Morden parkrun event #31—your Run Director The weather finally decided to be on our side this week Saturday morning arrived warm and dry— the best weather we’ve had in weeks that didn’t mean our course had miraculously dried out overnight Morden’s signature mud was still very much part of the experience giving everyone a little extra test of balance along the way 104 brilliant parkrunners took on the course with four of them completing their first-ever parkrun You chose Morden for your debut and we truly hope the slightly ‘textured’ conditions didn’t scare you off this might just be the start of a fantastic Saturday morning tradition A huge congratulations to Evie Humphrey-Jones for reaching her 25 parkruns milestone— Keep going didn’t just smash his run but also volunteered as a barcode scanner straight after We were also joined by two parkrun legends—Stephen Cooney who has completed an astonishing 708 parkruns That’s a lot of Saturday mornings well spent none of this would be possible without our wonderful team of 23 hi-vis heroes We are beyond grateful for each and every one of you It’s a fantastic way to see parkrun from a different perspective and maybe even stay a bit cleaner than the runners We also received some lovely feedback from parkrunners who told us they really enjoyed the event and would love to come back— especially when it’s drier and warmer Thank you all for another brilliant morning was the second time that I have had the pleasure of running Morden parkrun as a tourist I must confess that I was originally drawn to Morden by the event numbers for my Wilson Index I have found the event to be a hidden treasure The opportunity for a shower and change of clothes at the leisure centre after the run for £2.75 as well as excellent coffee and cake at the cafe is an added bonus Congratulations to Simon Jones making his RD debut today you would not have known it was his first time as RD Morden can certainly be a challenge to run Leesa Caton and Wiley Caton on starting your parkrun journeys today at Morden A wapping 53 runners were running for the first time at Morden today and I know another member of my running club (Saints and Sinners Crawley) was also there as a tourist Many thanks to the 26 Hi-Viz heroes for ensuring that today’s run could go ahead. I look forward to running at Morden again (maybe in the summer next time with less mud though?) After last week's cancellation due to the excessive muddy conditions in the park we were back at it this Saturday at Morden parkrun with 128 participants braving the course – well done all of you there were still 4 personal bests (PBs) recorded A special welcome to the 63 tourists who joined us today from other parkruns – we hope the mud did not put you off and you will visit us again soon A massive congratulations to the following official and unofficial milestones: It was also fantastic to see 4 first timers to parkrun; we hope you enjoyed your experience and will be back again soon a huge thank you to our 22 hi-vis heroes who braved the temperatures and the mud who made the event possible Morden welcomed 188 participants who walked or ran our undulating and this week thankfully Among them were 9 first-time park runners — welcome to the parkrun family A special mention to 14-year-old Logan Hatchwell-Wray who was on site early today to assist with volunteering duties with event setup laced up his spikes and was the first runner to finish He then put back on his hi-vis and volunteered on token support The first female finisher was Abigail Bulbulian in just over 20 mins well done to Lucy Woolhouse who achieved the highest age grading of the day with +90% A huge thank you to our 26 hi-vis heroes for supporting today’s event your dedicated support makes parkrun possible I am the Run Director of event #24 and proud to be part of an amazing core team and I was amazed to discover that the events were organised entirely by volunteers I grew to love parkrun even more and gained valuable experience as a volunteer my best friend Cassie (who later became my girlfriend) joined me for her first parkrun at my 50th milestone When I heard about plans to develop a parkrun in Morden in the summer of 2023 Cassie and I decided to join the team without hesitation The journey since then has been an exciting one and both Cassie and I have since become Run Directors The 3-lap trail course is lovely to run during the summer but it tends to become muddy after October While it remains appealing for those training for cross-country this is not the case for most parkrunners or parkwalkers and the improved course conditions allowed us to welcome 157 participants who walked or ran this undulating route—a 52% increase compared to last week Among them were four first-time parkrunners: Sarah French What a fantastic way to try something new and end the year Welcome to the big family of over 10 million people It wasn’t the easiest course to start with but I hope you enjoyed it and will come back soon We also had four new volunteers: Mick Bradshaw it’s also worth mentioning our most experienced participants This week marked Robert Spencer’s 681st parkrun Robert is a dedicated parkrun tourist who has attended more than 200 different events he was one of the parkwalkers—thank you for your help The most experienced volunteer at event #24 was no surprise—one of our event directors When Cassie and I first heard about plans to develop Morden parkrun Louise was the first core team member we met Louise patiently explained everything about the plan to us which motivated us to get involved in everything that followed We had four milestones celebrated this week Congratulations to Cliff Rhind and Gillian Hatchwell on reaching your 25th parkrun milestone Edward Drew on completing your 50th parkrun and Mirella Genziani on your fantastic 250th milestone achievement was especially happy to celebrate her achievement with her daughter and grandson “It shows you’re never too old to join in parkruns is also a dedicated tourist who visited Morden for the first time Thank you for choosing Morden for your final parkrun of 2023 and for helping with the post-event close-down." Hosting an event during the festive season is never easy but we are incredibly grateful for this week’s volunteers: Claire Adams It has been a fantastic year We started a new parkrun and successfully hosted 24 events—3,359 participants have completed 5,440 parkruns and 290 individuals have volunteered 756 times and we look forward to seeing you at Morden Park in 2025 The information on this page is intended for journalists If you click NO you will come back to Mynewsdesk.com We could unfortunately not find the site you were looking for Possible reason include following an out-of-date link or using an old bookmark Media enquiries only - newsdesk@met.police.uk For all other contact with the Metropolitan Police please visit www.met.police.uk call 101 or in an emergency always call 999 When you choose to create a user account and follow a newsroom your personal data will be used by us and the owner of the newsroom for you to receive news and updates according to your subscription settings To learn more about this, please read our Privacy Policy, which applies to our use of your personal data, and our Privacy Policy for Contacts which applies to the use of your personal data by the owner of the newsroom you follow Please note that our Terms of Use apply to all use of our services You can withdraw your consent at any time by unsubscribing or deleting your account Motspur Park FC has been summoned to an urgent meeting with the local council after reportedly felling trees without permission News | London A South London football club is to be summoned to an urgent meeting with the local council after reportedly felling trees without permission Residents visiting Morden Park were horrified to discover a large pile of felled trees next to the area where Motspur Park FC trains and plays its matches earlier this week Merton Council owns the park but has an agreement with the club over its use which includes some degree of management of the area where they play the council says while it was aware of a plan to install a changing block in the park it did not authorise the removal of trees and said it will call an urgent meeting with the club and discuss ‘appropriate mediation’ The park is home to hundreds of at-risk species of flora and fauna as a site of importance for nature conservation told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) of their ‘shock’ at discovering the felled trees They said they had not been consulted about the tree felling as was the standard practice when any changes to the park were concerned Local nature enthusiast and Morden Park regular Simon Wicks also told the LDRS: “You just can’t go cutting down trees Access to green space is becoming important and we are increasingly aware of the benefits to mental and physical health they have We are also aware of the extent to which nature is being depleted all over England and the importance of having these green oases among our living areas “Morden Park is astonishingly rich naturally and I don’t think people realise how rich it is half of the UK’s butterfly species have been identified within the park It is choc-a-block with butterflies and insects “So any damage to habitat is going to have a consequence Even though you may say ‘it’s just a few trees’ if the potential damage hasn’t been properly assessed or official permission is not given then we could be looking at something that will be damaging to the local nature.” Lib Dem councillor and Friends of Morden Park committee member Jenifer Gould contacted the Director of Environment and Green Spaces team in Merton Council but claims they failed to respond Gould raised the issue and wider concerns about Merton’s protection for biodiversity during a council meeting on Wednesday night (November 20) She asked the council to create a ‘biodiversity bank’ in an attempt to protect nature against overdevelopment in the borough the Labour-led council rejected this motion insisting their protections were already strong enough Road safety alert: most dangerous junctions in London for cyclists revealed Decomposing bodies of mother and daughter found after police warnings ignored 'Council just want us to pack up and go but we'll fight to save our school' From snacking to scrolling: bad sleep habits keeping you awake She told the chamber: “Nature in Merton is under threat Morden Park lost trees and habitat in a green corridor without consultation.” But the council has insisted it gave no such permission for the club to fell any trees A spokesperson said: “Merton Council did not give permission to Motspur Park FC to fell trees in Morden Park The council granted Motspur Park FC permission to clear rubbish and scrub from a small area of land and arranged the provision of skips to make sure waste was properly disposed “The removal of trees formed no part of that agreement The council is now seeking an urgent meeting with Motspur Park FC management to understand how this happened “The trees that were removed were self-sown but the council fully appreciates that they still offered a wider ecological value to the site and that’s why the council will be seeking appropriate remediation from Motspur Park FC And we would always seek to engage local communities and the park’s Friends groups before undertaking any major works or changes to our green spaces.” When the LDRS approached Motspur Park FC Secretary Gary Hammocks for comment on the tree felling incident he responded by suggesting we contact the council When we put it to him that the club had reportedly felled the trees themselves without permission VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade David Beckham extends olive branch to son Brooklyn amid 'family feud' Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from her hospital bed after surgery Pregnant Jesy Nelson reveals plans for future in message from hospital The heavy rain of the previous few days held off overnight and the course was drier than expected The sun even made a brief appearance before the start and with hardly any wind The day’s course check showed the course had dried out a lot and the going was firm with just some slippery bits especially at the lower end near the start of the tarmac path The event today was so skilfully managed by RD Christopher Hawton that you would never know it was his first time in the role There were 111 tourists from several places Most could be found before the start posing in front of the event’s sign for those vital evidential photos to be taken There were a total of 236 finishers and 9 dogs at today’s event A special thank you must go out to all the lovely volunteers who keep everything running for us and give of their time make it all possible: Anvar AHMED If you feel you would like to volunteer at a future event talk to one of the volunteers or email in to morden@parkrun.com It is really fun and full training will be given… Tourist run report by Les Cave (Home run - Horsham) Event #8 Gareth's run report (thank you Gareth!) and some photos from a wet event Thank you to our fabulous volunteers who were amazing in difficult conditions "I decided I wanted to run Morden this weekend as it is a welcome addition to the 'Londone' parkrun rosta; which i have completed 33 of the 63 My goal is to try and cycle to all of them as it is a more sustainable way to travel; but the weather on Saturday put paid to that   Plenty of parking available at the College (not so...please check our web pages for information about parking) and only £1 on the Ringo App Over 175 people participated at Morden last Saturday,which was their 8th event which was made possible by 25 amazing volunteers Especially the lady at the first corner on every lap who was so vocal in her encouragement; it was a joy to pass her 3 times Most of the participants were visitors like myself as my home run is  Richmond Park; The Run Director is very keen to try and encourage more local people to participate at the event and gave a worthy shout out to those who lived within a mile of the parkrun My personal preference for a parkrun is a one lap course but this 3 lap course is interesting enough as it is a figure of 8 and it is surprisingly undulating; which makes it a bit more challenging that other 3 lap courses i have completed Their were 7 participants who have achieved over 500 parkruns at the event on Saturday and 39 who have achieved over 250 Only 1 person was completely new to parkrun yesterday but maybe the poor weather might have impacted how many new participants the event might have had   Morden parkrun Saturday 17th August Event#7‘Morden’. I Ever Dreamt Possible…250th Milestone Run on Bionic Left Hip the invisible gravitational pull of a newly established venue is hard to resist Today also happened to be the first date that ‘The Speedy Boys’ could attend Morden altogether Arriving in plenty of time I sought out Brian and introduced myself; then we had our official photograph taken with the venue pop up sign Five 250 milestone green t- shirts in a row is quite a sight As always occurs parkrunners steadily appear from all directions The First Timers briefing was heavily attended further evidence that the majority here today were tourists The main briefing shone spotlights on Suzanne Belcher undertaking her 100th volunteer;  Peter Dunn a former run director at Paradise Park parkrun in Australia; … and myself… my left hip replacement Each of us received a hearty round of applause Lastly Brian lead us all to acknowledge all the volunteers with another round of appreciative applause A short walk around the hedge to the starting area and Brian initiated a ten second count down that everyone joined in with….and then we were off and running A gradually warming sunny morning and a course run predominantly on grass is  a great combination for me the front runners powering away into the distance the mid-pack gradually shuffling into a long strung out line; and the park walkers bringing  up the rear of the field My heart and breathing rates steadily increased as I tried to find a rhythm and pace that I could settle into Tim was in front of me and seemingly very relaxed and  looking  good as he continues his recovery journey from Sciatica The soft surface of the short cut grass is my preferred terrain as it lessens the impact on my replacement hip joints and as there were a few further undulating  inclines that need to be be revisited over three laps I needed to build carefully into the run Preceding 2018 I had been progressively struggling with my  left hip It was uncomfortable to fully weight bear on as each day  played out sleep was disturbed due to discomfort and I was walking around increasingly lopsided A visit to an orthopaedic consultant revealed worn out cartilage and rubbing bones  that could only be resolved with a total hip replacement (also called hip arthroplasty) where the femoral head (the ball that sits at the top end of the thigh bone) articulates with the acetabulum (the socket formed by the bones in the pelvis) Total hip replacement surgery  involves removing the damaged bone and cartilage and replacing them with prosthetic components however its impact on the body can be significant my head leans down to look at the ground immediately in front of me It’s probably less than a hundred metres to the plateau but in the moment it can seem like an eternity lengthens his stride; and as a result the gap between us increases with his every step At the summit the course levels or even slightly starts to descend My body recalibrates as it perceptibly recuperates as I’m almost able to free wheel along the next section I shout a ‘Thanks’ to the marshal stationed there The path ascends another long incline and the hard surface has the sensation of acting like a brake I switch onto the grass verge wherever I perceive the ground does not have any hidden divets Head down again and plough on upwards to the top like a tortoise How would a hip replacement affect me and my running going forward My consultant was highly reassuring and told me that he would be  fitting a hip joint that would enable me to continue an active lifestyle So in January 2018 I went under the knife… I chose not to be awake for the op even though that was possible… my consultant advising a ‘back blocker’ anaesthetic to all intense and purposes I’m asleep ( but not a general anaesthetic) …..too much sawing hammering and apparently the smell is not great either Another plateau is gratefully welcomed by my body; another slight descent to allow some recovery and one or two moving strongly ahead as they pass by me Within a minute the course turns right again although by now I’m more or less staying on the grass verge Ahead I can see another right turn and runners crossing the field perpendicular to my position I thank the marshal at the turn and begin traversing the grass field It’s a good few hundred metres and yet again if anything slightly rising I feel relatively comfortable and moving at a pace I am happy with As I round the trees to head left I am confronted with the faster runners heading towards me on their second lap A marshal is stationed ahead with a ghetto blaster booming out music As I near him he tells me ‘You’re amazing’,and it goes straight to my head I head straight on; before I hear further shouts of ‘You’re going the wrong way’ … I double back to rejoin the course and the start of the second lap During the operation the damaged femoral head is removed and replaced with a metal stem that is placed into the hollow center of the femur the prosthesis is secured to healthy bone using acrylic cement; or uncemented/ ‘press fit’ into the bone….due to my youthful age I had the ‘press fit’ version the surfaces of the prosthesis are often treated and roughened to encourage your bone to grow onto it and keep it in place A metal or ceramic ball is placed on the upper part of the stem This ball replaces the damaged femoral head that is removed The damaged cartilage surface of the socket (acetabulum) is removed and replaced with a metal socket Screws or cement are sometimes used to hold the socket in place or metal spacer (also called a liner) is inserted between the new ball and the socket to allow for a smooth gliding surface  The individual components of a total hip replacement (left) The components merged into an implant (centre) The implant as it fits into the hip (right) As I look ahead I’m suddenly aware of Tim a short distance in front of me although he had obviously backed off his first lap pace By now I’ve worked out that the course is shaped something like a pinched figure ‘8’ it doesn’t make them any easier… at times I feel as though I might be just as quick walking them Tim pulls out a five metre between us; however I close it back up on the gradual descent it’s so spacious and has a wonderful ambience of serenity and picturesque views If I was just walking I would appreciate its beauty even more the geography of its terrain is causing me bouts of tough discomfort that has the effect of focussing my mind on my physical being Whilst I battle up the incline of the tarmac path the video link below graphically models my hip operation https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/contentassets/06749e3ab7434cc380f6c5e581e987a2/total-hip-replacement-animation.mp4 I catch and pass Tim… I cannot believe how well and how far he has run today… and hope he hasn’t overdone it and has to pay for it latter today It can be so difficult gauging what you can and cannot manage Some runs feel like all ‘flow’ and others a constant battle of ‘plodding on.’ It’s definitely the latter today Everyone else has the appearance of seeming  to be just comfortably ‘flowing’ along Logic tells they are all fighting their own battles … I wish I could sometimes read them in a speech bubble above their heads… it would be really interesting and a distraction from the physical discomfort I’m experiencing Onto the grass again and towards the ‘belt’ of the figure of ‘8’ In the next twenty four hours I’m shown how to use crutches and have to walk up and down the hospital corridor; and how to manage a staircase up and down The first few weeks are a struggle (especially sitting on the toilet!) as I slowly re-learn with the aid of the crutches how to walk comfortably again Putting your own socks and shoes on is only something that can be managed with the assistance of a third party As soon as the thigh entry point wound is healed (around 6 weeks) I’m back in the swimming pool and in water feeling completely normal Around eight weeks I’m more or less ditching the remaining crutch It was  around five months I took my first tentative running steps at parkrun ; and after ten months I managed my first post op sub 30 minute parkrun I don’t miss the turn to the start of the third and final lap; and a get a ‘high five’ from Simon the volunteer marshal I try hard to focus my mind on what I am achieving…..there are always plenty of runners behind me; it’s just I am less aware of them in the moment I tell myself the discomfort is only temporary… as I chug up this grass incline for the last time A brief few walking steps at the crown of the ‘hillock’ to reset physically and mentally Using two further ‘walk breaks’ to assist me through the inclined tarmac sections and I glance at my Garmin… 25:42 ….there must be less than a kilometre to go now…all on grass The lifespan of a hip replacement is difficult to quantify every hip replacement carried out in the UK is registered on a database called the National Joint registry (NJR) replacement hips are designed to last for at least 15 years an artificial hip may wear and need replacing sooner In November 2019 I had my right hip replaced….now I am officially a bionic man I have a PDHRPB ( post double hip replacement personal best) of 26:59 run at Barking parkrun  (I don’t really count my 26:32 at Victoria Dock as we all felt the course was short) and I am running comfortably In fact I sometimes wonder whether I actually just dreamt I had two hip replacement operations I feel very fortunate and owe a great deal to my marvellous consultant surgeon Around the trees again at the ‘belt’ and the final stretch is laid out before me As I crest the top of the last incline I can see the finish Where the inner strength comes from for the final run into the finish line I’ll never know My Garmin tells me I’m touch and go for a sub 30 minute run….I think it’s going to be close  I’m accelerating and my stride has lengthened considerably This is the perfect moment to capture me on camera For the last 50 metres I’m like Georgia Bell in the final of the Paris Olympics 1500m It’s as close to a sprint as I’ll ever manage; the two Simon’s from ‘The Speedy Boys’ having finished a good few minutes ago are cheering me home; two others runners are rapidly closing in behind me however I hang on to my position into the finish funnel It’s done…all I need to do is stagger the length of the funnel to collect my finish position token and present this and my personal barcode to a ‘Scanner marshal’ to have my position and time officially recorded if we started exactly at 9:00am I think I’ve  missed out by around 10 seconds Recovery to the point of feeling like a human that’s going to survive takes a few minutes; however the discomfort passes and I’m able to hold a conversation with Julie Papworth It turned out that David recognised Julie’s husband as a colleague from work Having touched base with the two Simons’ and seen both Tim and David through the finish funnel I go back out onto the course to find my partner Trish who was walking and pushing our 14 year old miniature poodle (Ruby) around in a dog buggy At the ‘belt’ point turn I locate  Ruby in her buggy Trish had decided to park Ruby with George and tackle half of the last lap unfettered by the buggy and its additional resistance I had a good few minutes chatting to George who told me it was his first time volunteering and that he was really enjoying seeing and meeting everyone who passed by him Trish then appeared and I pushed Ruby alongside her over the last stretch the marshal enthusiastically encouraged Trish onto the finish Volunteers are the life blood of parkrun and these two are so typical of the positive effects they can have on participants with their unending eagerness to spur you on Jogging the last fifty metres Trish crosses the finish line in one piece After a delay the run results appear later on Saturday afternoon I could see Simon ran a marvellous 23:45; Simon M a 26:05 matching exactly the same time as his run at Jersey Farm last week Tim finished only ten seconds adrift of me; my time being 30:41 Although the official results recorded David as finishing in 44:29 and Trish as 38 minutes on the nose; David actually finished before Trish and his Garmin time was around 38 minutes Today’s first male finisher was Daniel Wolff in 17:07 ; and first female finisher was Evie Elliott in 22:23 The highest age grading percentage of 75.81% was attained by Peter Johnson Congratulations to Soo Yau who ran her 400th parkrun today; Neil May who ran his 300th; Malcolm Medley who ran his 200th and Feria Eyuboglu on his official 50th milestone parkrun A big warm welcome to the parkrun family to the 19 people who took part in their very first parkrun today Indeed well done to all 276 finishers today you are all heroes and heroines in my eyes The social aspect of parkrun is a beautiful thing in its own right Trish enjoyed a prolonged chat to Austrian runner Rudi and his wife  David also happened to cross the finish line alongside Rudi The two Simons’ also spied a fellow ex-Riddlesdown runner I enjoyed a conversation and photo with Carole Cooper-Marbiah who walked her very first parkrun today Carole works for the borough of Merton and is tasked with raising sport participation in youngsters in the borough and was here to see how Morden parkrun may support this I hope you enjoyed today and that you are successful in your quest As a retired teacher I would strongly suggest that promoting parkrun in schools I may not have managed a sub 30 minute run today however my left hip now needs its own 250 milestone badge pin; I have also amassed a total of 550 parkruns; regained my ‘LonDone’ status; and written another run report in my quest to do this for every Saturday…..at every venue I visit…..for the whole of 2024… Thank you for hosting ‘The Speedy Boys’ plus my partner Trish and Ruby today; it was a memorable morning……..and with Tim’s Sutton thumping 5-0 win A massive shout out and thanks to Brian and the twenty-seven volunteers who enabled today’s event to run so smoothly and safely ……only another 77 parkruns until my right hip reaches its 250 parkrun milestone Next Saturday we will be at Dover parkrun and hopefully a much flatter course……I wonder how many people have swum the English Channel Thank you to Cass Castleton for today's run report following another successful Morden parkrun it’s Friday and plans in place for my round trip of 90 miles to Morden  parkrun my 563rd parkrun and 303rd different locations Must remember the cakes for the volunteers; have to say thank you because without them we can’t parkrun must not forget to pick up the other tourist on route Marco and that is what I would like to make this run report about but without the great volunteers we don’t have a parkrun helping the parkrun community with all their questions they are thinking got to get my risk assessment completed have I got all the announcements down for today must not forget the health and safety part of the greeting just in case any of the volunteers need them but always being aware of what is happening around the course posting on media sites during the week for volunteers and that’s all before Saturday being told another is sick and can’t make it then having to try and fill the roles before the start yet they still shout encouragement to all who pass you can do it!" "Looking good!" and many more statements Not forgetting the Tail Walker who gives up their own parkrun time to help all others yet still remembering they have a key role should there be an incident - they are the first on the scene (normally) Then there is that thing we take for granted Parkrun being set up and put away at the end but let’s remember the Pre-event and Post event set up and take down volunteers and still there when most are back home - these volunteers Event Day Course Check - this is a mandatory role which must be done each week The parkrun cannot go ahead if this role is not completed Event Day Course Check volunteer we “need you” Parkwalker - this is a fairly new role and allows parkrunners to volunteer and walk with the other walkers in front of the Tailwalker telling them all about parkrun and giving encouragement around the course parkwalker we “chat to you” has to have rules which states if key roles are not filled you are eligible to claim your volunteer t-shirt I also completed my 250-volunteer role and my 200th time of volunteering Kirstie Nicholls and Wendy Stewart 150 Hans‑Joachim Sonntag and Jaroslava Collyer 200 - well done but without you lovely volunteers I/we could not have had our weekly parkrun fix Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Morden parkrun page https://www.parkrun.org.uk/morden/results/latestresults/ We had visitors from the B2R (Beginners to runners) doing a bit of touring and Marco achieving his cow We also had tourists from the parkrun world tourist group (some missing from the picture) walked or volunteered at a parkrun in four countries I must congratulate the core team who designed the course the way you organised and put the hills in the exact place lots of parkrunners chose to walk I would like to finish off by thanking you all for making my visit so welcoming and the words of encouragement around the course and finally to anyone who is reading this who is not a Morden parkrunner Detectives investigating a sexual assault in Merton have released an E-fit of a male they need to identify and speak with Police were called at around 2.20pm on Sunday by a woman who had been assaulted in Morden Recreation Park when she was approached by the suspect who is described as in his late teens He spoke briefly to her before assaulting her The suspect was around 6ft tall and of skinny build wearing a burgundy hoodie with white writing on it blue tracksuit trousers and black trainers He ran away in the direction of Canterbury Road said: “We know this assault will cause a lot of worry in the local community especially as this woman was playing with her children at the time “I would ask you to take a close look at the E-fit Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 reference CAD 3851/20Oct To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Pictured top: E-Fit of the individual police are trying to trace (Picture: the Met) My name is James and I’ve written the guest run report this week a member of UK parkrun tourists and North West UK parkrun tourists having done 216 parkruns @ 120 locations with my home event being Congleton in Cheshire jogged and walked this lovely course held at Morden Park of these (and it’s understandable with it still being a relative new location this was only event 11) a whopping 179 were 1st timers to this event with 15 of these being completely new to parkrun.There were a very impressive 73 new PBs recorded for previous runners of the course and there were representatives of an amazing 61 clubs (including Sutton Runners who I was informed were doing a Time Trial) who took part together with 36 volunteers This was my 11th parkrun in the Greater London Region and I was staying over for the weekend in Teddington (yes There’s so much to do in London so during this visit to London we travelled up Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station and explored Harrods as Michelle had never been before Then on Sunday I completed a 5 mile run around Bushy Park before in the afternoon venturing into Kingston to the cinema where we watched Twisters followed by Afternoon Tea at Browns Returning to the morning though - it was glorious weather the sun was out in all its glory as we were set on our way moderately hilly with the majority of the run on grass with a short uphill tarmac path section There’s plenty of room as you run round and it really is a beautiful park for your Saturday morning fix I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of this parkrun and if you are ever in the area would highly recommend it There were no official Milestones this week however David C Wood completed his 300th and Simon Le Good completing his 350th parkrun - congratulations to you both There was a plethora of 500 Club members running at Morden and a special mention must go to Darren Wood who was completing parkrun 911 - surely you must win a Porsche for that one! To the 179 1st timers at Morden it was great to see you all both tourists and locals and I hope you all enjoyed your parkrun To the 15 runners completely new to parkrun Myles Killingley Sean Fox (it was great to chat with you after the run and good luck in the race that you’ve entered) Alys Kemmitt and Daisy Kennedy - hopefully you’ve caught the bug and will join us again whether that be at Woodgate Valley Country Park or another event As always it is a huge thank you to the Volunteers below who gave up their time to make parkrun happen Your dedication does not go unnoticed and without you it wouldn’t be possible This week’s Volunteers consisted of 2 Run Directors Eoin O’Connell and Chaoran Sun and their team of Anvar Ahmed Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Morden earlier this month Specialist officers from the Met have been supporting the man’s family and are now seeking the public’s help as part of enquiries Police were called at around 6.50pm on Monday to reports of a road traffic collision between a car and a pedestrian in Green Lane Despite the efforts of the London Ambulance Service and police He has been formally identified as Sinnathamby Karunakaran said: “Our thoughts remain with Sinnathamby’s family at this tragic time “We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Green Lane between 6.35pm and 6.50pm – were you commuting home from work or within the area at this time and saw something that might be helpful to us please check any dashcam or doorbell camera footage to see if you may have captured what happened “We believe that there may be witnesses who have yet to come forward anyone with any information is urged to contact us immediately.” Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with footage of this incident to contact police on 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC quoting CAD 6080/3MAR25 The investigation continues and no arrests have been made at this time You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org Pictured top: Sinnathamby Karunakaran (Picture: The Met) Oasis are in the news having announced a reunion tour after 15 years as they elected to release their tour dates at the precise time parkrun starts I wasn’t going to miss parkrun for anything Wonderwall was a top hit for Oasis: a wonderwall is a reason for your happiness and could be something you’re thinking about constantly; parkrun certainly fits that description for me where I look forward to my Saturday mornings and like to visit different events My parkrun journey started in 2008 where I ran at Bushy twice before emigrating I resumed parkrun in 2019 on my return to the UK I met a friend sporting a “cow cowl” and she explained the requirements to get one that is attending 20 different parkrun events I bought into the challenge and ran my next parkrun at Banstead Woods So began a touring adventure that would take me to a variety of wonderful events One challenge that tourists like to complete is “Londone” which means attending all 63 events in the Greater London area This presented the perfect opportunity for me as I knew I could time my 200th parkrun to coincide with getting Londone and at the same time being not so far from where I live so that I could invite friends to celebrate too as my next NENDY is over an hour away and would warrant an earlier alarm clock The venue for Morden parkrun is familiar to me having ran there in the Surrey cross-country league so I had a vague idea of what might be in store The cross-country route has a fair few up-and-downs and extends around the nearby golf course with 300 foot of elevation in a 7.5km route clocking in at 160 foot and on the day the climbs didn’t feel as tough as the cross-country Surrey is blessed with many magnificent running clubs and I belong to Tadworth Athletic Club (TAC) are the friendliest run club in the region At Morden I was joined by some club members to enjoy the event and celebrate my milestone I arrived at 0830 with fellow Taddies Alan and Hazel Imeson and made our way to the start area Alan and I often travel to parkruns and he is closing in on the magical 500 milestone At the start area I introduced myself to the volunteer team and I was delighted to see that run director Eoin O’Connell was aware of my milestone No doubt this had come from my friend and Morden volunteer Louise McAllister who I meet from time-to-time volunteering at Nonsuch junior parkrun Eoin and the team made me feel very welcome I brought some cupcakes to mark the milestone and told Eoin they were for anyone who wanted one One friend who deserves special mention is Charlie Peill a runner from Stonehenge Striders who travelled from Salisbury to join the celebrations; he’s a brilliant person who rescued my run weekend one time when the Stonehenge Stomp was cancelled at short notice whereupon he offered to guide me on the route It was part of my Brighton marathon training plan so his help kept me on track and I got to enjoy the route as I had hoped for as well as his great company Hazel and I did a warm-up to scope out the course and the venue looked brilliant with grass cut mark out the route through undulating hills punctuated by magnificent trees Hazel and I returned in time to hear the first timers briefing When asked if there were further questions someone asked the possibility of getting Oasis tickets at 0900 which raised a few laughs Eoin then carried out the run briefing and he kindly gave me a shout-out and I was touched to get some generous applause He also showed some of the cupcakes to everyone which hopefully incentivised people to get to the finish The shout-out encouraged people to say 'hello' Andrew was doing his 200th different event this day and clearly kept it quiet Well done to Andrew on this remarkable achievement and commitment to touring We made the short walk to the start and Eoin got us underway Andy Ward (another TAC runner) flew off at a blistering pace navigating the hills with ease to romp home in first place in a splendid time of 17:38 with the best age-grade for a male runner (84.97%) The highest female age-grade was achieved by Jane Rowden earning the best age-grade of the day at 85.73% with Andy in second place and my friend Hazel in third with a highly respectable 80.83% volunteers and other runners were generous in their congratulations as I rolled with it around the course This would be my last effort run before the Great North Run so I gave it a good go and enjoyed the run immensely At one point Eoin shouted out that the cupcakes were good The volunteers were fantastic and encouraged all participants I got over the line in 33rd place and first finisher Andy was on hand to take a snap as I crossed the line The atmosphere was buzzing and people finished the parkrun in high spirits Many remarked how much they loved the cupcakes and I joked that I made them myself before confessing that I had them made to order As a parkrun tourist you do bump into familiar faces and I was delighted to see Michael Dodd after the run a flat venue that has mileage for jokes about getting a “runner’s high” Michael is about halfway through his Londone journey and has recently completed his 250th parkrun Seven participants attended with over 500 parkruns to their name the most exhibited by Colin Harris with an outstanding 813 parkruns after Morden The most by a female attending was Glenna Greenslade with 562 parkruns to her name In total there were 232 parkrunners of which 148 were new to Morden Nine participants did their first time at parkrun and congratulations to them on starting their parkrun adventure A wopping 43 people achieved new PBs at Morden Morden had 30 hi-vis heroes and I’m sure everyone will join me in offering a huge thank you to all of these legends: Lucy BATTAGELLO From a personal perspective you made my day extra special and I am truly grateful Next week the Great North Run is in store and I’ll be parkwalking at Redcar parkrun to keep my legs fresh Enjoy whichever parkrun you decide to do or volunteer at “It has made it through the difficult teenage years and is now heading off to university.” Andy led a team of volunteer high-viz heroes allowing the event to go ahead safely There were lots of tourists attending today (74 runners attending Morden for the first time) and I spotted quite a few in the milling crowd thanks to the yellow including Chris Wells and Jonathan Rourke from Bushy and David and Karen Wheatley from Mole Valley The first timer's welcome was given by Brian and he mentioned the words “hill” and “slippy” far too often for my liking There were 6 first ever park-runners at the event: Clementine Nannan Olly Norton and Victor Le Jariel Des Chatelets Your Saturday mornings will never be the same again The event also hosted Jade who was there to share information on “GoodGym” – a group of local residents who run or cycle to help out with community projects and supporting older people in Merton Hopefully the overlaps in both “community” and “run/walk” between parkrun and GoodGym will see lots of cross-pollination between the groups benefiting the people of the area (See https://www.goodgym.org/v3/areas/merton if you are interested in getting involved there.) The run briefing area is one of the best I’ve seen at any parkrun with its own “stage” and great acoustics introduced Run Director Andy (a brand new recruit to the Morden core team) explaining that he was a seasoned RD at Nonsuch Junior parkrun where he is also the ED and had been heavily involved in training up the relatively new Morden volunteer team I swear I could see him blush as she described him as “a great kind man” Andy then gave a very polished and clear run briefing even sparking a mini “war of the roses” when asking if there were any visitors from outside the south-east getting responses from both Yorkshire (Helen and Andy Rutter) and Lancashire (Phil Holifield) We also celebrated two parkrun milestones: Gary Ireland (50th run) and Francesca Jenkins (10th run) Onto the run/walk itself - 194 completed the event on a cold I had worn trail shoes after reading the website's course description and that recommendation was repeated in the welcome due to some muddy patches but I didn’t spot any of those and the ground was fairly dry and firm I tried to call out thanks to all the marshals around the course but special mention goes to Simon who had a sound system playing music it was Queen “Don’t stop me now” and as I passed him it was the lyric “gonna make a supersonic man out of you” – loved that! – (although it didn’t actually spur me on to great speed) I’m always in awe of such gazelles – but I also appreciate the same distance is covered by everyone that takes part – so a shout out to today’s best age grade finisher Tidy times awards go to “palindrome” James Merry (24:42) and “pleasingly round” Adam Drewett (23:00) The most “runniest” runner was Tunde Adeyemo (25:38) who has now clocked up an impressive 556 runs and tail walker Christian Johansen (55:51) ensured that no-one got left behind spotted me in the finish funnel and suggested I advertise Morden as a “PB chaser” – I’m hoping he was joking as those hills took minutes off my normal run time 47 people did clock Morden PBs today so well done all of them Kieran Neylon (A6870645) – normally at Hazelwood parkrun (if you are ever in the area on a Saturday morning) Another round of tree planting took place at Morden Park at the weekend – helping to create more habitats and greenery for future years at the much-loved open space Saturday’s blitz was the fourth such event in the park since Merton Friends of the Earth started the project of boosting the park’s biodiversity in 2020 during the Covid pandemic The trees are supplied for free to community groups like Merton Friends of the Earth by the Woodland Trust the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity The saplings are selected with the aim of promoting woodland wildlife by providing food sources and habitats for a range of birds The group were joined on the day by Mary-Jane Jeanes co-ordinator of Merton Tree Wardens and Paul Kohler Mr Kohler said: “Many thanks to Merton Friends of the Earth for all your hard work planting and maintaining saplings in Morden Park and for inviting me along today.” joint co-ordinator of Merton Friends of the Earth said: “We are grateful to the dozens of volunteers of all ages who have now planted over 1,600 trees in Morden Park in four years We couldn’t have achieved this without the generous support of the Woodland Trust “We also appreciate the help of Merton council and their green spaces contractors whose staff prepare the ground and provide mulch before each planting.” who joined Merton Friends of the Earth volunteers at the tree planting for the first time said: “I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.” Pictured top: Doing their bit were Callum Flannery holding up saplings (Picture: Auriel Glanville)