Ric Glenn, Head Gardener in Dulwich Park has set up his own band called Park Department with the aim of raising money for tree charity Trees for Cities. The band was formed in 2009 to celebrate the retirement (from Quadron, not from the band!) of one of its members, Pete Richardson. Other band members include a tree officer from Westminster Council and several other Quadron employees who work on the London Borough of Southwark's grounds maintenance contract.
The band has recently started to record its own songs, with 8 originals already recorded to demo stage. The single Space Babe is being sold for the charity Trees for Cities, whose aim, "to tackle global warming, create social cohesion and beautify our cities through tree planting, community education and training initiatives in urban areas" ties in closely with Quadron's own aspirations as a company.
Space Babe can be downloaded from the Trees for Cities website (see link on right) where you can also make a donation to the cause, and get a bonus track - Safetypin - for free. The band consider Safetypin to be their best recording yet, featuring their new lead vocalist, Nursery Manager Charli.
Park Department is being sponsored by Quadron, and supported by the busy Pavillion Cafe in Dulwich Park as well as by various music professionals who are interested in the bands original themes and environmental causes. And as the single Space Babe says, "Any profit that we take from the CDs we might make go straight to a Saving Tree Fund"
Park Department are:
Ric Glenn - Head Gardener - acoustic rhythm guitar
Rosie Dobson - Tree Officer (Westminster Council) - backing vocals
Alan Duff - Tractor Driver - bass guitar
Eric Arthur - Groundsman - percussion
Jim Hicks - Horticultural Supervisor - axe guitar
Pete Richardson - Retired Teamleader Gardener - electric guitar
Eric Arthur - Grounds maintenance operative Ghanaian Bongos.
Charli - Nursery Manager - lead vocals, Safetypin
The pictures show Ric and some of the band playing at Quadron's Christmas Party in Southwark 2009.
Quadron wishes Park Department every success with its future - to quote again from the single Space Babe, "From tiny seeds Forests are grown" - but we hope they do not become so successful that we lose their undeniable talents as gardeners!
More information on the band can be found at
http://www.myspace.com/parkdepartment
