There are more than 7,000 trees in Alexandra Park and our resident expert, Stephen Middleton from The Friends of Alexandra Park, is introducing us to them one by one!

Cherry plum blossom in an old tin jug —
Oh, it is lovely, beautiful and fair,
With sun on it and little shadows mixed
All in among the fragrant wonder there.
Cherry plum blossom on the workroom bench
Where we can see it all our working hours.
In all my garden days of ladyhood,
I never met girls who so loved sweet flowers.

“Cherry plum blossom in an old tin jug” a poem by Australian poet Lesbia Harford (1891-1927).

This month’s tree is sometimes deliberately planted, but also freely self-seeds in the park and the wider countryside. Our Tree of the Month is the Myrobalan Plum or Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera).

This is the wild version of last February’s Tree of the Month. It has green rather than purple leaves, but the same white cherry-like flowers. 

Our particular tree is located behind the “Gas Hut” – the small building on the left as you enter the park from the Bedford Road entrance. The tree stays quite quiet for most of the year before it shouts out its presence in late winter with bright white flowers standing out from the vegetation and building.

Myrobalan plums can stay as a shrub or grow as a small tree up to 8m to 10m high. The flowers come out just before the leaves. It blooms a little while before the related blackthorn and it can also have sharp spines. 

The bark of this tree has some horizontal bands of lenticels (lighter spots which are the tree’s breathing holes), but they are not so pronounced as on a true cherry.

The name myrobalan comes from two Greek words. Myron means plant juice and balanos means nut.

Take the time to inspect the flowers. There are five petals and in the middle of the flower a green patch with just one single stigma – the female part protruding. All around are many of the similar looking male stamens. Behind the petals there are five green sepals – smaller and less flamboyant versions of the petals. In this tree they are reflexed – bent back on themselves which distinguishes the tree from the blackthorn. 

The cherry plum is naturalised in the UK after being cultivated from the 1500s. It is not officially native (as it was not present before the land bridge to Europe was flooded about 9,000 years ago).

The cherry plum produces more fruit in its native lands than in this country. In Georgia it is a key ingredient in chakapuli stew and in Romania the fruit is used for giving soups a sour flavour.

If you are near the BBC Tower you can spot another example of this tree in flower on the edge of the car park.

If you are interested in finding out more about the wildlife in the Park check out the wildlife walks (fungi, wildflowers, trees etc.) on the Friends of Alexandra Park website.

On 20 February 2024, Masego took to our stage as part of his 25-date Where We Goin? UK and European tour.

There, the singer and world-renowned saxophonist cemented his status as a trailblazer in contemporary music, showcasing his magnetic stage presence and unique blend of jazz, hip hop and R&B.

Jump back into Masego’s signature melting pot of musical innovation with our pictures, the setlist and audience reactions:

“Against the backdrop of Alexandra Palace’s grandeur, the live Masego experience was elevated to new heights, creating an atmosphere of opulence and sophistication.” Schön! Magazine

All photos © Sophie Harbinson for Alexandra Palace

 

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Róisín Murphy delivered an unforgettable performance at Alexandra Palace on 17 February 2024.

Her biggest show to date was characterized by its avant-garde energy and a multitude of costume changes, showcasing Murphy’s electrifying stage presence and musical prowess. Drawing from her eclectic discography, the setlist seamlessly blended fan favourites, as well as tracks from her most recent album Hit Parade and Moloko oldies, captivating the audience with a visually immersive experience.

Come with us as we recap the gig with photos, audience reactions and setlist:

All photos © Sophie Harbinson for Alexandra Palace

 

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We are very excited to today launch London’s newest literary festival, North London Book Fest (21 – 24 March 2024)!

The festival will connect readers with established, up-and-coming and much-loved authors, creating a feast of readings, panel discussions, Q&As, workshops and book-signings for readers of all genres and ages.

Featuring deep dives for crime and thriller fans, talks by children’s authors, discussions on modern parenting, the environment, sexism, food culture and being Muslim in Britain, the four-day event will present a rich tapestry of the UK’s thriving literary scene.

All the events will be taking place in our award-winning Theatre, Creativity Pavilion and Transmitter Hall.

Check out the line-up and book your tickets here

Erin Kelly, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Skeleton Key and He Said She Said: “I’m thrilled to be part of this new festival set in, and celebrating North London, where I live as well as write. In the name of research I’ve walked Highgate Woods, Alexandra Park, Hampstead Heath and the towpaths of the Grand Union Canal and my latest, The House of Mirrors, takes in Camden Passage and Holloway Road. I can’t wait to connect with readers in what, let’s face it, is the very best corner of the capital.”

Joint-Festival Director and Head of Creative Learning at Alexandra Palace, Mark Civil: “We’ve had a long-held ambition to bring a literary festival to the Palace, building on sold out events hosted here in recent years by the likes of Philip Pullman, Miriam Margolyes, Lucy Worsley, Bob Odenkirk, Quentin Tarantino and Jacqueline Wilson. We’ve also taken inspiration from the success of our Children’s Book Award to broaden our reach, welcoming authors and activities that will delight book lovers of all ages.”

Kate Ereira, Joint-Festival Director: “It’s a really stimulating and diverse programme, with so much on offer. We’ll be asking questions about AI and creativity, about parenting and about identity. We’re launching much-anticipated new titles from bestselling novelists and showcasing some of the year’s most exciting debuts, such as Leo Vardiashvili who is in conversation with Cecile Pin. We’ve got some of the very best children’s writers giving workshops and we’ve got fiction set right in our own neighbourhood. We’re so excited for people to come and enjoy it.”

Emma Dagnes, Alexandra Palace CEO: “As a charity our learning activities are at the heart of our cultural programme, working alongside our renowned events to provide people access to the arts. The opportunity to invite people to the Palace to share a love for the world of literature and the topics these amazing books and authors explore, is so exciting. We can’t wait to welcome everyone here in March.”

North London Book Fest is supported by Waterstones, who will be running the festival bookshop, with funding provided by Tottenham Grammar School Foundation and Haringey Council. Renaissance One and ckbk also support individual events. The festival coincides with the finale of Biblio-buzz, the annual Alexandra Palace Children’s Book Award, which will see 800 young people attend a ceremony in the Theatre on Friday 22 March. In addition to the packed festival line-up there’s a range of performances in the festival village from emerging musicians, spoken word artists, stand-ups, plus learning and engagement activities for children and families.

We are delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for Atri Banerjee’s acclaimed reimagining of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, which comes to our Theatre 22 May – 1 June.

The run is a Rose Theatre, Alexandra Palace Theatre and Belgrade Theatre production, in association with the Royal Exchange Theatre.

The cast includes BAFTA nominee Geraldine Somerville (Cracker, Gosford Park, and the Harry Potter film series) reprising her acclaimed portrayal of Amanda Wingfield, who is joined by new cast members Kasper Hilton-Hille (Tom Wingfield), Zacchaeus Kayode (Jim O’Connor), and Natalie Kimmerling (Laura Wingfield).

The creative team includes Atri Banerjee (Director), Rosanna Vize (Designer), Lee Curran (Lighting Designer), Giles Thomas (Composer and Sound Designer), Anthony Missen (Movement Director), Helena Palmer CDG (Casting Director), Darren Sinnott (Associate Director), Alys Whitehead (Associate Designer) and Robbie Butler (Associate Lighting Designer).

Tom, the play’s narrator, escapes a suffocating home life through cigarettes and long visits to the movies while his sister, Laura, withdraws into her records and collection of glass animals. But their mother, Amanda, harbours dreams for them far beyond their shabby apartment. When Tom brings home a potential suitor for Laura, Amanda seizes the opportunity to try and change their fortunes forever.

Banerjee’s acclaimed production reimagines Williams’ semi-autobiographical masterpiece, exploring the intimacy and intensity of the complex web of love and loyalty that binds families together.

Director Atri Banerjee said, “Theatre provides opportunities to explore time and memory in exciting and challenging ways. It’s a gift to revisit Williams’ classic and discover the new things it says about a world that’s dramatically changed in just the 18 months since we first opened in Manchester. I’m delighted to be reunited with Geraldine and to work with our new cast members to bring this story to life.”

Emma Dagnes, Alexandra Palace Chief Executive: “We are delighted to be working with Belgrade and Rose Theatres to bring this acclaimed production to our beautiful theatre where it will end its UK tour. Bringing this reworking of the Royal Exchange’s original production to our audiences is an exciting prospect and we look forward to welcoming the company to North London for a fitting finale.”

Christopher Haydon, Artistic Director at the Rose said, “As familiar as The Glass Menagerie may be to some, Atri takes us on a heartfelt journey while challenging our perceptions of what we know about Williams’ characters. His bold and innovative interpretation will both excite those who know the story well and inspire new audiences with its optimism, energy, and love in the face of personal flaws, disappointment, and tragedy.”

Neil Murray, Interim CEO of The Belgrade Theatre, said, “The Glass Menagerie is one of the great plays of the 20th Century. We are thrilled to be opening the revival of Atri Banerjee’s highly acclaimed production, here at the Belgrade, with such a brilliant cast and team.”

Full information about The Glass Menagerie is here

Today we announce the full line-up for Kaleidoscope Festival 2024. Returning to the People’s Palace on Saturday 13 July, the packed programme features the customary mix of live music, DJs and comedy, ready to entertain thousands, outside and inside, at London’s most beautiful festival site. 

MINISTRY OF SOUND CLASSICAL will headline the Hilltop Stage this year. The 30-piece London Concert Orchestra re-imagines some of the greatest dance music of all-time, on an epic scale. Performing dance floor-filling hits including The Chemical Brothers’ Hey Boy Hey Girl, Faithless’ Insomnia, Fatboy Slim’s Right Here, Right Now and many more, the orchestra will be accompanied by a dazzling laser show to create a euphoric climax to the day.  

Double Grammy Award-winning and five-time Brit award-nominated legends SOUL II SOUL will be bringing an iconic set, featuring all the classics, to the rolling hills of Ally Pally. Indie party starters THE GO! TEAM will shower revellers with their joyful sound, spoken word and hip-hop artist ANTONY SZMIEREK brings poems to dance to and there’s a soulful set from HUEY MORGAN of Fun Lovin’ Criminals and BBC 6Music fame, in one of his first appearances since returning to performing with a live band.

The sound of summer continues as eclectic selectors including MR. SCRUFF, Ally Pally local EROL ALKAN, electronic duo X-PRESS 2 and garage legends ARTFUL DODGER take over the DJ decks on the Cloud 10 Stage.  

For comedy fans, the Fringe Stage offers quality belly laughs and variety from SIMON AMSTELL, irreverent in-conversation with actor, adventurer and raconteur BRIAN BLESSED, plus SOPHIE DUKER, AMIR SHAH and CHLOE PETTS, alongside performances from the world’s most blasphemous band OH MY GOD! IT’S THE CHURCH and crowd participation favourite HIP HOP KARAOKE.

All this, plus a dedicated Family Area – a mini festival in itself – featuring pop-up arts, circus and theatre, as well as the Bandstand Stage, featuring eclectic live musical treasures.

Simon Fell, Kaleidoscope Director: “It’s brilliant to be back with Kaleidoscope, the centrepiece of summer at Ally Pally. We’ve got a line-up just perfect for a London summertime and with our stages set against panoramic views across the whole city, plus the chance to explore the Palace too, we are serving up a festival location like no other. Join us to laugh, sing and dance – we can’t wait to welcome you up here.”

Tickets for Kaleidoscope are on sale now!

 

Stephen Middleton from the Friends of Alexandra Park introduces us to his selection for January’s Tree of the Month…

What’s in a name? Our January Tree of the Month is the Chinese Thuja or Oriental Arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis). Also known as the Oriental Thuja, Chinese Arborvitae or Biota – so many names to choose from…. Even the scientific name has recently been changed from Thuja orientalis.

What3words bucks.flag.caped gives the location of the tree or wander down the tarmac path that runs down the edge of the South Slope next to the Pitch and Putt and the tree is on the left hand side adjacent to the path, just after the weeping willow on the other side. It cannot be described as an impressive looking tree, but it is the only one of its kind in the park.

Chinese thuja is an evergreen conifer with green scale-like leaves which are the same colour on both sides. The branches are flat, but are usually held vertically rather than horizontally. The scientific name Platycladus means flattened shoots.

Like all conifers, this tree has separate male and female flowers. The latter develop into cones with hooked tips to the cone scales and this is a unique feature of the tree. More easy to see in our specimen is the red-brown bark which tends to peel in thin vertical strips.

While most conifers prosper best on acid or neutral soil, the oriental arborvitae thrives in alkaline limestone soil.

Chinese thuja comes from China and Korea although truly wild populations are rare. This species first made it over to England around 1740 and was planted in the Chelsea Physic Garden.

The oriental arborvitae is used for ornamental purposes in this country being grown as a tree reaching up to 10-15 metres or clipped into a hedge.

In its native land it was used in the construction of temples and houses and for furniture and gate posts. It is also used in Chinese medicine.

The Chinese tuja was held to have mystical significance and was planted by tombs of emperors.

What else can we see in the park this time of year? The winter flowering cherries are flowering below the terrace and in the next month the five Cornelian cherries slightly lower down will begin to show off their yellow flowers.

Client – EE 

Location – Alexandra Park

In October 2023, our Park was the stage for a world first, featuring a pretty special headliner.

The four day build of this event, which included two large cranes hanging a 50 meter gauze at the top of our south slope received plenty of interest from our Park users, curious as to what was happening but we were sworn to secrecy.

Little did they know that our iconic venue, was about to become part of history, hosting the tallest holographic projection in the world.

The Palace supported the M&C Saatchi Talk and EE teams, to bring to life the vision they had for this monumental Launch of the ‘New EE’. The telecoms giant is going through a rebrand and increasing even more their range product and services across other categories outside of telecoms, such as consumer electrics, insurance and home security.

The objective of this event – which was part of the largest marketing campaign since the brand launched in 2012 – was to build traction through media and the special guests invited with the event being streamed live on Instagram.

The creative concept was to take over the London skyline with the giant Holographic Projection announcing the launch and re-brand with a performance from one of the UK’s favorite DJs, Fatboy Slim.

The venue was the perfect choice, towering over London, allowing North Londoners to see the mammoth projection of Fatboy Slim from miles away. Ally Pally Park was kept open to the public so anyone onsite at the time of the event would have been able to witness history in the making.

Not many knew that the outdoor projection of the superstar was being filmed live inside the venue in our West Hall which hosted an intimate event for 300 guests.

 

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“Last night was a wild ride! We took over London’s skyline and made history,” said Fatboy Slim in a statement, following the performance. “A massive shout out to all those fans who joined me on the world’s biggest holographic stage to kickstart a brand-new era for EE.”

“ I had the pleasure of collaborating with Alexandra Palace on an event for my client, and I must say, they exceeded all expectations. Not only were they a highly professional team, but their unwavering support and dedication made the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. An invaluable partner in creating a successful and memorable event, hosted at one of the UK’s most iconic venues.

Chris Photi, Account Director, M&C Saatchi Talk

 

In amongst our ever-expanding programme of events, leisure activities and Creative Learning opportunities, we are also continually exploring projects that deliver on our charity’s mission to ‘repair, restore and maintain the Park and Palace for the recreation and enjoyment of the public forever’.

This can mean meeting immediate needs and requirements, such as constant maintenance (we are over 150 years old remember!). It also means looking forwards and considering how we can improve, and future proof, areas of the historic Park and Palace for generations to come.

Whenever we carry out long term improvement projects, we face a range of considerations. These include, but are not limited to:

We are currently exploring three improvement projects in our award-winning Park throughout 2024 and beyond. Read below for more information, including how you get involved. 

THE GROVE

We have begun initial work to establish the future needs of key stakeholders and tenants, before a public engagement exercise in early 2024, that will explore potential long term improvements for The Grove (which is situated on the west side of the Park).

The objective at this stage is to generate ideas that align our charitable Mission, Purpose, Vision and Goals and the aspirations of the community.

This work is being led by experts in high impact social projects Unit38 and Studio Hyte, and will include online surveys, workshops and events. Timeline:

BOATING LAKE & SKATE PARK

Public consultation has begun to find out more about how people currently use the Boating Lake and Skate Park, as well as your views on future improvements and potential priorities for investment. The consultation runs until February and can be completed here

CAMPSBOURNE

The south-east corner of the Park, including the Campsbourne Centre building, was identified as a strategic project in 2017. The long-standing aspiration focuses on reactivating and revitalising the south-east corner, improving east-west connectivity through to Wood Green, enhancing and improving the biodiversity of the area, alongside introducing wayfinding, signage, interpretation and visitor experience improvements.

Following community feedback, five key themes have emerged: water; wildlife enhancement and nature; amenities; community and culture; and play.

In response to the ideas proposed, in 2022, following the award of development phase funding from the Greater London Authority’s Rewild London Programme, a wetland feasibility study was carried out, focusing on the area adjacent to the Hornsey Reservoir. Work is now underway to source the necessary funding to realise the ambition of delivering a wetland scheme in Alexandra Park.

Additionally, in early 2023, the lease on the Campsbourne Building expired and since then we have been reviewing external ideas and discussions have been taking place about reactivating the building.

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PARK

Alexandra Park first opened in 1863 and today welcomes over three million visitors each year. It is a Local Nature Reserve, a designated Conservation Area and is Grade II listed on the Historic England ‘Register of Park & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England’. The strategic projects detailed above run alongside our year-round maintenance, environmental and volunteer-led work. More information is here

The World’s Dart Championship 23/24 will go down as one of the greatest tournaments of the century.

The highly anticipated final drew a staggering 4.8 million viewers, with a peak of 3.7 million, making it the most-watched darts event ever and securing its position as the highest non-football audience on Sky Sports in recorded history!

The atmosphere at the Palace has consistently made this event a sell-out favourite. However, the 23/24 Championship reached new heights of excitement with the meteoric rise of 16-year-old Luke Littler. His phenomenal progress through the rounds not only dominated headlines but shattered viewing records and captured the hearts of the nation.

Here we bring some of the best pictures, moments and posts from the 23/24 World Darts Championship.

 

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“This was a momentous moment in British sporting history… at this unique sporting event, and Littler had better get used to all this commotion. Ally Pally will be his home for years to come.”The Daily Mail

Luke Littler, the youngest player to compete in a World Darts Championship, aged just 16.

“The choice of attire reflects the carnival atmosphere which draws thousands of people to one of London’s most treasured entertainment venues every year. The imposing Victorian building situated on a North London hill has seen the likes of the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Jay-Z play at the venue, though over the last 16 years, it’s become synonymous with darts. If soccer has Wembley Stadium and tennis has Wimbledon, darts has ‘Ally Pally.” CNN

“I am in the biggest pub in London, squinting through a colourful, throbbing sea of fancy dress and a blurry haze of pints to soak in a scene that has become such an integral part of the festive season. It’s a piece of magic that will have them back for another year.” – The Independent

The enthusiastic fans added to spectacle with their fancy dress costumes.

Swipe through for top fan photos:

Major newspapers covered the tournament through photo essays.

“The festive event is a favourite among darting fanatics, with thousands of spectators descending on the famous venue to drink, chant songs and take in all the drama as the sport’s best players lock horns.” – The Daily Mail

“Sixteen-year-old Littler was the youngest player to ever compete in a world championship final and his progress through the rounds of the event has made headlines over the past three weeks. Here, we bring you some of the best pictures from the final at Alexandra Palace.” – The BBC

“For darts fans, the festive season isn’t just about mince pies and crackers, it’s also the chance to don fancy dress, head to Alexandra Palace to sit at long tables adorned with four-pint pitchers, and enjoy some arrows action.” – The Guardian

 

Peter Crouch sent fans wild as he downed a pint.

Event sponsor Paddy Power raised £1 million for Prostate Cancer UK.

The highly anticipated final, dubbed the Battle of the Lukes, captivated millions globally. In a nail-biting showdown, Luke Humphries emerged triumphant victor, overcoming the impressive 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler, who etched his name in history as the youngest finalist ever!

 

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Thanks to the players, staff, Professional Darts Corporation, SKY TV, and all others whose efforts were integral to the championship’s tremendous success.

Ally Pally stands proudly as the home to the PDC World championships, boasting an electrifying party atmosphere like no other, its where sporting dreams come true.

Pictures by Lloyd Winters and PDC

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