The Friends Of Withdean Park would like to thank the Brighton Lions once again this year for supporting our Lilac Lark Fair in Withdean Park.

It takes place on Sunday, May 8 from 12.30pm until 5pm.

We also thank Alan Spink of Allsorts Dog Rescue for running a dog show for us that is likely to be bigger and better.

Without the Brighton Lions and Alan Spink we would not be able to put on a show as we always lack enough volunteers. Although we have about 80 members, only the committee and a few others turn up for a work morning on the first Sunday of every month. They carry out gardening and weeding work in the pond garden or in the woods.

Our lilacs, which used to be of world renown, have not been maintained over the past 20 years to keep the National status, which was lost in 2009.

The park is no longer a green flag park, so it doesn’t merit a gardener now. We used to have two gardeners back in the 1980s but now we tend to the lilac beds ourselves.

We still have a wonderful display of about 500 lilacs every May and June, so do come and see them during our Lilac Lark.

We have an AGM on Tuesday, April 5 at 7.30pm at St Thomas More church hall at the bottom of Braybon Avenue in Patcham. Anyone with an interest in Withdean Park is welcome.

To volunteer and help out, please phone Phillipa Shaw on 01273 563059 or 07766 057478 or alternatively email phillipashaw23@aol.com.