FROGS: Frome Recreation and Open Ground Supporters

Welcome

FROGS is a community group of volunteers encouraging the use protection and enjoyment of outdoor spaces in and around Frome.

We want to make sure that the green spaces are safe and inviting for people of all ages to enjoy.

We welcome anyone who is interested in the outdoors and making sure that we enjoy it and look after it.

FROGS have organised several bat- and bird-box building days. Events are also organised along the Welshmill Greenway and in Victoria Park.

Latest News

Huge Wildlife Event to be held at Welshmill Park, 19th May
F.R.O.G.S. are organising a massive Wildlife Event at Welshmill Park, beside the river in Frome, on Sunday 19 May from 12 noon to 4pm. We have lined up a whole host of local experts and enthusiasts keen to share their knowledge with you about bats, bees, birds, otters, plants, skulls and bones, a barn owl, medicinal herbs, geology and fossils. There will be activities for adults and children, including willow-weaving, a mini-beast hunt, and edible planting; and a Question and Answer session on the lines of Springwatch Unsprung. Friends of the River Frome will bring a display about their Strategic Report on the river; Missing Link will be able to tell people about the latest progress on extending the cycle-path; there will be information on Community Gardens, Natural World events, gardening for wildlife, and the Millenium Green. We will be welcoming several wildlife celebrities to the event. These include Toby Nowlan, who was brought up in Frome, but now travels the world as a Researcher for the BBC Natural History Unit. He has recently returned from a wildlife trip to Hawaii, and last year worked on the BBC programme Wild Arabia. There will also be Dave Hamilton, a freelance writer, food forager, gardening tutor, and garden design consultant, who lives in Frome and occasionally appears on television and radio, and writes for the Guardian, Grow Your Own, and BBC Gardener’s World magazine. At the Wildlife Event he will be advising visitors on gardening for wildlife, and we hope he will also lead a foraging walk. Eve Tigwell is Chair of the Somerset Wildlife Trust and is well-known to local naturalists as she gives talks and leads bird and flower identification walks in the East Mendip area. Mick Ridgard, Chairman of the East Mendip Group of the Somerset Wildlife Trust, and of Frome Area Wildlife Group, is a keen ornithologist, and can tell us all about wild flowers and butterflies. Steve Mynard, a well-known local teacher, will be bringing his expertise on invertebrates from both the river and the woodland floor. Visitors can study the mini-beasts closely under his microscopes. Put the date in your diary, bring a picnic, and have a great afternoon come rain or shine. (15/04/13)
Programme about the River
Dorothy-Anne Bryant from FromeFM, who will be recording memories of Welshmill during the Story Telling day on 21st September says - "FromeFM have a programme in which Dr Mark Vose and I walk along the river and discuss the plans for opening up Sustrans path to Low Water and beyond. It is fascinating to hear what is planned. It is available now on the internet by going to www.fromefm.co.uk and clicking on "programmes" then "talk" on the buttons at the top followed by "meandering" on the list at the side." Listen to her programme to get a flavour of things to come ! (20/03/13)
Victoria Park Survey
Let the council know your view on Victoria Park ! The link for the survey is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FTCVICTORIA the survey window closes on 2nd April and it is also on the FTC website and Facebook page (19/03/13)
Victoria Park Consultation
FTC are having a very informal consultation alongside some activities and (most importantly) FREE CAKE in Victoria Park Saturday, 16th March, 11am- 3pm. The session aims to gather opinions about how people use Victoria Park and what sorts of things they would like to have in the park in the future. (13/03/13)
First Aid Course organised for volunteers
Friends of the River Frome are organising a First Aid Course with St John's Ambulance for volunteers at a cost of approx. £30. If you are interested, please contact Clive Crews via email crewsrc@hotmail.com. (06/03/13)
More details about activities in the Park
Visit the 'Joining In' page to see the diary of events for the rest of the year. With the £3,500 from the Big Lottery we have mapped out sessions from April till September. Come and enjoy yourselves in and around Welshmill Park. (11/02/13)
Grant for Activities along the Welshmill Greenway
An application to the Big Lottery has resulted in £3,500 to spend on family sessions of Forest School, a Wildlife Roadshow, a Story Telling Day, a Bike and Health Day, tools to maintain the track, and a first birthday celebration. More details to follow ! (09/11/12)
The celebration picnic - a successful day !
Well over 500 people came to Welshmill on 29th September to celebrate the completion of the first phase of refurbishment. The tower and sand pit were a hit ! The pump track was buzzing with music and demo rides. Top bikers, who ride at national and international level were present - it was a really great day, and many people provided feedback and suggestions for what to do in the next phase. And the weather, for once, was kind ! Thank you to all the volunteers who made the day a success - not forgetting the cake ladies who helped to raise money to keep FROGS swimming. (29/09/12)
Picnic Celebration on Saturday 29th September
Come and join us from 11 am onwards to celebrate the launch of the improvements to Welshmill Park which were completed in time for the school holidays ! There will be children's activities such as making clay faces and a climbing wall, the official opening at 12 noon and a biking demonstration at 1 pm. Come and join us ! (24/09/12)
Park OPEN - July 24th
The safety Inspector checked out the park on Monday - there is still work to do, but we can now enjoy the refurbished area ! Dress safely for the track, including a helmet. (24/07/12)
Planting in the Park on 14th July at 2pm
Please help with the work at Welshmill Park - mainly planting (please bring a spade if you have one). There may be other general tidying up or woodwork or painting to do. We are nearly ready to open ! (10/07/12)
More Volunteer help needed at Welshmill
The work at Welshmill Park is underway and there will soon be opportunities for volunteers to help with planting. Help may also be needed to paint the swings that have been taken down ready to re-site them in the playarea. (25/06/12)
Welshmill Celebration Day on 21st July POSTPONED to 29th Sep
The rain ! The rain ! The rain! The track and play area will be finished for the August school holidays, but the grass and turf and seeds are still too fragile for a mass picnic !
So celebrate the re-furbishment of the Welshmill Park in September !
Picnic at 11 am, then learn how to ride the new track in the afternoon. (22/06/12)
Welshmill Update
The bike contractor has been chosen and work has started ! Volunteers needed to help with planting over the next few weeks. Look at our diary for the dates. (24/05/12)
Lottery Project in Welshmill will start in Spring 2012
We have been awarded a lottery grant for nearly 50000 to put in action our plan for Welshmill. (15/03/12)