Burgess Dust Bowl! - Burgess parkrun #623 - 22/08/26

Obstacle on the course. Photo credit S Wickstead

Completing today’s course check, Sue’s picture of the only obstacle on the course captures some of the wetland vegetation surrounding the lake, part of the 2015 park redesign (Southwark Modern Gov). The lake's border includes moisture-loving willow (Salix species), tall common reed (Phragmites australis), Bulrush with its cigar-shaped seed heads, Great willowherb, yellow flag iris and water mint. This isn’t simply ornamental planting but part of the lake’s ecological infrastructure, planted specifically to increase biodiversity and to provide a habitat for wildlife.

The use of the park for the Festival Series (burgessparkevents@columbostar.com), a scorching summer and lack of rain meant the main lawns are more like a dust bowl than a park. However, the obstacle in the picture was not considered too much of an infringement. Although there’s no grass, the paths are in great condition for a predominantly tarmac route, and Maria, today’s Run Director, approved today’s event to go ahead.

The lawns have seen better days.

This was a huge relief to all the 133 first-timers, some travelling from near for the first time ever, others from far, doing some parkrun tourism, along with 490 regulars who made up today’s 622 field of parkrunners and parkalkers. 

In today’s field were Jane and Annette, happy that Burgess is back on following the event's closure for the Festival Series.

Everyone was happy the event is back on.

There were no official milestones this week; however, Sean, one of our Run Directors, completed his 150th parkrun without anyone seeing him! Well done Sean. 

Even the team handing out tokens couldn't remember seeing him! Photo credit Sean O'Sullivan.

The first female was Jessica Cunliffe. 

The first male was Sebastian Lawrence, equaling his personal best. He then joined the 32-person volunteering team scanning fellow participants in. 

Amongst today’s tourists were Lisa and Warren Jackson, whom I first met whilst touring at Thurrock parkrun in February 2024.

Warren and Lisa have completed a lot of parkruns!

Having completed parkruns in 12 different countries, collecting 18 flags on their travels, Lisa and Warren, are parkrun tourist supremos. Rarely seen on Facebook without a pint, their write-ups are always brilliant and inspiring in equal measure.

Emma Johnson was today’s Tail Walker, ensuring everyone who set out came back safely. Once the Tail Walker finishes, volunteers close down the event, packing away all equipment, clearing any mess, and collecting any items left behind, which I’m reliably informed has included hoodies, sometimes a bag, keys, and headphones.

Closing down the event is a volunteer role you can do after running.

If you’d like to run and also volunteer, there are lots of ways to get involved; send an email to the team or have a look at the roster at https://www.parkrun.org.uk/burgess/futureroster/

Next week I’ll be back at Burgess doing one of my favourite volunteer roles, ‘the new runners welcome’. It will grant me entry to the volunteer 250 club, and I’ll be bringing bananas to celebrate 🙂 Looking forward to seeing lots of you there. 

Happy running, walking, or volunteering.

www.nuhorizons.uk

How parkrun began

You can read about how parkrun was created by the founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a care leaver, in his book ‘One Small Step’, The Definitive Account of how a run became a Global Movement by clicking here.

Friends of Burgess Park

You can find out about volunteering opportunities in Burgess Park, such as the wildlife and woodland project, by clicking here.