Parkinson’s Park sits on the hillside behind the old Crompton Parkinson site on Netherfield Road: access is via entrances on Kelcliffe Lane, Greenshaw Terrace, Parkinson Way, Nethercliffe Crescent and Hillside Avenue. This historic area was given to the people of Guiseley to use as a park by Frank & Albert Parkinson in the 1930’s: it has been used for walks, play, and events ever since . Now owned by Bellway Homes, basic maintenance is done by Meadfleet The Friends of Parkinson’s Park CIC (FOPP) was set up to once again make the Park an attractive green space for community use and events, whilst helping to manage its varied natural habitats.On these pages you can read the history, examine the ecology and sign up to follow and comment on progress – as well as tell us your own stories of the park.
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On Apple Day, we’re inviting people to bring along apples from their garden trees for the production of a blended juice.
We’ll set up the equipment from Urban Harvest in Crooklands Orchard in the Park, then all apples are mingled together, washed, cut up, scratted ready for juicing and pressed to make juice. This is shared out (bring a clean jug or plastic carton) and can be stored in a fridge for a week, or frozen for later use.
Our first apple day
The Apple Juicing Process
Between now and then is a good time for picking ripe apples for the juicing. Just store them in a cool, dark place in a single layer, not touching each other. Don’t include any that are rotten or diseased.
How canyou tell when apples are ready?
You know when an apple is ready to pick when you cup it in your hand and give it a slight twist, and it comes off in your hand. If you need to give the fruit a yank, or it leaves its stalk behind, or even a bunch of leaves, it is definitely not ready! You can also look at the pips to check if the apple is ready – they should be brown if the fruit is ripe, and will be green if unripe.
REMEMBRANCE WEEK 2021
Following on from 2020, we are going to continue with creating a blanket of poppies to cover the farmgate for a commemorative display during Remembrance Week 2021, 8 – 14th November.
2020 Poppy Display (picture Aireborough Camera Club)
2021 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Royal British Legion and there will also be a collection near the display for the RBL.
Last year a number of people contributed poppies to the display – and we’d like to invite more to do so this year; you’ll find a pattern here. The display will go up on 8th November – just add your poppy when you pass by.
Well, the weather was certainly kind to the Parkinson’s Park’s 2021 Children’s Gala. Glorious, warm, sunshine brought out the crowds ready to have fun, picnic, and just go for a Sunday saunter. More than one person commented that it was such a pleasure to see so many people enjoying the sunshine, fun and games, and to bump into so many people they knew.
Guiseley Brass Band entertaining visitors
This year was a little different with an orienteering Space Trail, devised by David Alcock with a map, and a bag of space goodies. Meanwhile, Guiseley Brass Band* took a couple of turns sandwiching ‘have a go‘ Circus Skill performances by Pete’s Suitcase Circus.
(*We found out this year that in 1936 the band led by Whybert Stevenson, father of the current leader Roy Stevenson, was provided with new instruments by Frank Parkinson – this was also the same year that F & A Parkinson acquired the fields to make the Park for Crompton Parkinson. The band was formed in 1870 by Sir Matthew Thompson of Parkgate, who had helped fund Guiseley Town Hall in 1867.)
The apples in the Orchard are ripening, but they are not ready to pick yet. In previous years we’ve had people picking them far to early and then throwing them away – which is such a shame. So, this year we’ve tied a label on each tree with apples with the rough time when they should be ready to harvest. Some will be ready in September, others not until November, for most in will be October.
You can tell when an apple is ready to pick when when you cup it in your hand and give it a slight twist, and it comes off in your hand. If you need to give the fruit a yank, or it leaves its stalk behind, or even a bunch of leaves, it is definitely not ready!
You can also tell from our apple guide – each tree is labelled with its name, and there is a note in the guide to the time when it should be ready. You can download the guide here. It will also tell you if it is a desert or cooking apple or both.
The Orchard Trail
Unfortunately, it has been a poor year for pears, and there are none. But the two plums have fruit, which will be ready, hopefully, during September.
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After a break of a year, the Friends of Parkinson’s Park are pleased to announce that our Traditional Children’s Gala is back. Scheduled for Sunday 5th September from 2pm to 4pm, the theme this year will be Space.
We’d love children (and parents if they wish) to come in space inspired costumes for the fancy dress competition. This all adds to a fun afternoon where attractions will include :
Pete’s Suitcase Circus
Guiseley Brass Band
An Orienteering Space Trail
Face Painting
A Hoola Hoop Competition
A Space Quiz
And lots of stalls including Aireborough Camera Club
There will also be a Raffle and Refreshments, but why not bring a picnic as well – we are hoping for good weather.
CHILDREN’S GALA PROGRAMME – 5TH SEPTEMBER 2021
1.45pm Onwards – Space Trail. Come and get your Space Bags at the Farmgate entrance to the park. The bags will be £5.00 each and contain – A Space Trail map, a space quiz, a space themed notebook, a small alien space kit and a raffle ticket. First Prize will be a Family Ticket to Harewood House but there will be lots of other prizes too. We have 100 bags.
2-2.45pm Guiseley Brass Band
2.45-3.15pm Pete’s Suitcase Circus* including Hoola Hooping. Suitcase Circus is a show full of circus skills, comic inventions, audience participation and family fun.
3.15-3.45pm Guiseley Brass Band
Around 3.30 – 3.45pm Fancy Dress Competition Judging
We are also asking children to send in their space pictures for a display, here is our first one from Ayaan showing the planets in the solar system. Email parkinsonspark@gmail.com and we’ll let you know where to drop it off.
Planets in our solar system by Ayaan
*HEADLINE ACT AT THE CHILDREN’S GALA – PETE’S SUITCASE CIRCUS
Pete’s Suitcase Circus events provide a fantastic learning experience for children and adults. Circus skills are a great have-a-go activity; learning new skills such as hula hooping, juggling and plate spinning promotes a great sense of achievement. Pete will be doing circus activities to link in with our Space theme. Suitcase Circus has performed at both local and national festivals over the past 20 years from the Ilkley Literature Festival to the Albert Hall. Glastonbury, to Leeds Festival.
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Please be aware that the unseasonal and inclement weather has brought down a branch from one of the Oak trees that lines the path that run up through the wooded area. Please take great care if using that part of the Park.
The Friends of Parkinson’s Park (FOPP) have been in touch with the company who maintain the Park who will take action when they can. FOPP have been out, armed with suitable sawing implements, and removed those parts of the tree limb that had overlapped the path and caused an obstruction.
Photos of offending tree branch, and sawing process included. Please take care!
Tree branch
Clearing the path
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The Park has been yarn bombed by three crafty Friends, to celebrate the month of midsummer and the season for picnics – particularly the week of 19th – 27th June, which is National Picnic Week. If the weather is fine, buy some local food from our range of Guiseley Delis, Cafes, and food retailers, spread out a blanket, relax and enjoy the whimsical decorations.
Abi Helen, Becky James and Barbara Winfield have been working hard over the last few months with a group of other residents to produce an array of ‘yarn’ bees, butterflies and flowers. These now adorn the Celebration Tree, and some entrances. The highlight is a community artwork decorating the Natter Bench. The artwork has been designed to represent the wild flowers found in the Park around May and June.
Yarn bombing is a form of street art that goes up in unexpected places for a period of around 6 weeks. It is becoming more popular and Abi, who teaches yarn techniques as Daisy Croft Crafts, has also done an artwork for the top of the post box at Towngate.
The Ladies are inviting anyone to add their own work to the yarn bombing extravaganza over the coming weeks. And, if you would like to get ready for future ‘yarn bombing’ events, we have a timetable set out here.
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On a beautiful May, Whitsun morning 14 cleaners turned up in the Park to do a Spring clean for the Keep Britain Tidy, Great British Spring Clean. This included ‘the Professionals’, a group from Little Free Guiseley who have always supported our event, and do such great work every week of the year.
Litter Free Guiseley – were impresed with how clean the Park actually was; an accolade to the regular litter pickers for such a good job.
Amongst our finds on Sunday were, some old, crumbling, underlay with a stash of empty bottles underneath, an aged metal sign probably left from Cromptons, and a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey (which was put in the Kelcliffe Little Library). In the copse were two Menston Primary School Tops – we’ve left these on the natter bench by the Farm Gate to be collected.
A local resident has said she’ll make a collage from the rest of the rubbish found for display – that should be interesting !!
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Parkinson’s Park sits on the hillside behind the old Crompton Parkinson site on Netherfield Road: access is via entrances on Kelcliffe Lane, Greenshaw Terrace, Parkinson Way, Nethercliffe Crescent and Hillside Avenue. This historic area was given to the people of Guiseley to use as a park by Frank & Albert Parkinson in the 1930’s: it has been used for walks, play, and events ever since . Now owned by Bellway Homes, basic maintenance is done by Meadfleet The Friends of Parkinson’s Park CIC (FOPP) was set up to once again make the Park an attractive green space for community use and events, whilst helping to manage its varied natural habitats. On these pages you can read the history, examine the ecology and sign up to follow and comment on progress – as well as tell us your own stories of the park.
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