The Friends of Portswood Rec (FoPR) is a group of local people who enjoy visiting this green space. Working with both Southampton City Council (SCC) and other groups, we're aiming to improve facilities and increase biodiversity in the Rec, so that it's truly a place for everyone. We're doing this, as volunteers, through initiatives such as the weekly gardening group, and ongoing fundraising for new play equipment.

The Rec is a hidden gem, as you can see from our new video - "Portswood Rec - a Place for Everyone". Shot over different times of year, it showcases how much enjoyment this green space can bring to both adults and children across our wide-ranging community. Find out how to find us.

Our 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Wednesday 19 March, 19.45. After the official business, we enjoyed a informative and energising talk from this year's guest speaker, Danni Grant, Community Lead at Oasis Southampton City Farm. Minutes will be published online soon.

Welcome to Tony Ridley, who was elected to the Committee at the AGM. A familiar face in the gardening group, Tony will be organising kids' events later this year.

Please see the News and Events page for future dates of public meetings.

And book up now for our next fun, fundraising quiz - Tuesday 1 April (April Fools' Day), this year at Trago Lounge. Full details are again on our News and Events page. Although our recommended team size is between 4 and 6, we're happy to help bring smaller groups or single contenstants together to make a full team - just let us know.

We've had a wonderful crop of purple crocuses, as this stunning picture from May, our membership secretary, shows.

As in previous years, the crocus bulbs were generously donated by Southampton Solent Rotary to highlight the efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. They were planted last autumn by members of the 29th Portswood Immaculata Scout Group and SUSU Hub.

Question: what is the world's most popular board game?Answer: chess! A classic strategy game, it's estimated that up to 6 million people of all ages in the UK alone have played chess.

Now the sun has finally appeared, bring your own pieces and make use of our outdoor chess table, by the tennis courts. With seats on 3 sides, the fourth is open allowing easy wheelchair access. You can buy an inexpensive set of chess pieces at Argos in Portswood, and find hints and tips online.

Chess is also back on the telly with the new BBC2 series Chess Masters: the Endgame, hosted by Sue Perkins. Our thanks to SCC who had successfully applied for funding.

The gardening group are restarting regular Saturday and Sunday sessions, starting on Sunday 23rd March, 10:30-12:30. Thanks to previous years' carefully planning and preparation, the gardens continued to look magnificent over winter, As well as visual enjoyment, we continue to commit to providing an attractive haven for pollinators, and wildlife more generally. If you genuinely enjoy the outdoors and would like to help develop and maintain one of Southampton's great variety of parks and open spaces, do get in touch.

Urban Wild is a city-wide, week-long festival celebrating "all things green, blue and wild in Southampton". As part of this, we'll be hosting a morning of family events at the Rec on Tuesday 28 May, as well as a table on the final day on the Common on Sunday 1 June. More details to follow.

We're delighted that Portswood Rec has retained the prestigious Green Flag award for another two years, thanks to the combined work of the Friends and SCC. We're also proud to be part of the city-wide initiative of developing and promoting more welcoming green spaces.

To find out about becoming a Friend, please follow this link. And if you're hungry for more about pollinators, check out this recent BBC Radio 4 programme.

Our new video gives an overview of Portswood Rec and our group:

We're also on social media:

Friends of Portswood Rec, Southampton, UK