Welcome to Parkinson’s Park

Posted on May 10, 2017 by andyeyeam

Parkinsons ParkParkinson’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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A COMMUNITY HERB PLANTER FOR THE LOVELY ANNE (1942 – 2020)

Posted on April 19, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

Earlier this year a planter was installed in the Park, which has now been filled with herbs for community use. The Planter is dedicated to Anne Grant who lived on Kelcliffe Lane for 40 years and died last October after a long illness.

Anne was a friend to many of us locally and took part in many community events held by the neighbours; including an annual bonfire on the allotments, summer garden parties, and winter barn dances. So, her family thought the planter would be a fitting and lasting tribute.

Anne came from Halifax, but was born in Edinburgh, and had a very soft Scots accent. She was an excellent Secretary and married John Grant, a university lecturer, in 1975. They have three children, Andrew, Frances and Christopher who all grew up, like many around here, playing in the Park.

Anne contributed a lot to local groups, including The Chevin Handbell Ringers, and Guiseley in Bloom: she loved both music and flowers. But some of us particularly remember her prowess in anything to do with literature, words and spelling in quizzes.

Anne had a lovely, gentle nature, and was greatly missed by many neighbours when she was admitted to a nursing home permanently a few years ago. But the planter will remind those of us who knew her with great affection, and for others it will provide a means to make food or a walk more pleasurable

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PARK’S JUBILEE TREE COMMEMORATES HRH THE PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH 1921 – 2021

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

For the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 the Park received a Jubilee Oak from the royal estate and Sandringham, which we duly planted; it was later ‘stolen’.

Sandringham, got to hear of this mishap, and in September 2012 the Friends of Parkinson’s Park unexpectedly received another small oak tree from the estate. We have nurtured the Jubilee Oak for nearly 10 years, and planted it in the Park around 3 years ago.

We decorated the tree for VE Day last year, and today we are using it to say thank you to Prince Philip for his years of service to the United Kingdom and to act as a focus in the park for the period of national mourning at this historic time. (We will also be putting a tribute up in the notice board tomorrow.)

If you would like to leave flowers around the tree, or painted stones you are very welcome too. Any flowers will eventually be composted and the mulch put back around the tree. It is our intention that the Jubilee Oak will act as a focus for any national events in the future.

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What To See in the Park – April

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

Spring is here and life is returning; a few short weeks ago there was little to be seen, but with some better weather, plant life is gathering pace. Here are some of the Park features this month, Easter weekend is a good time to get out on a nature walk and see what you can spot.

Besides, the daffodils, and primroses, most of which have been planted by the Friends since 2010, there are a variety of other flowers on show.

Lesser Celendine or Pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria)

A relation of the buttercup, Lesser Celendine is found in carpets all round the park. The name celandine itself comes from Latin chelidonia meaning ‘swallow’ because the flowers were said to appear when the swallows returned (in reality they appear much earlier!). The Celts called lesser celandine ‘Grian’ (sun) because of its bright yellow flowers that close up before rain. It was used for the treatment of haemorrhoids, hence its nickname

Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)

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EASTER IN THE PARK – APRIL 2021

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

UPDATE

Easter Trail Map to download is here, or there should be some under the Easter tree in a box. Please donate a minimum of £1 in the box on the Farm Gate or £2 to our Localgiving account here for the trail (minimum Localgiving donation is £2).

Spring has arrived and Easter will soon be here: to celebrate we have several events we hope you will enjoy. We’ll firstly be asking everyone to help decorate the Easter Tree, then there will be an Easter Trail for the children, followed by a Dawn Chorus Walk later in the month.

Easter Tree

The Silver Birch at the top of the Park has become our seasonal ‘celebration tree’. Over Easter, add your own colourful Easter Egg decorations and ribbons. There’s a crochet Easter egg pattern here but painted, knitted, or other crafts are very welcome. We will have some wooden eggs to decorate in the Easter goody bags linked to the Easter Trail (see below).

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MOTHERING SUNDAY IN THE PARK

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

It’s Mothering Sunday on 14th March 2021. To celebrate the Friends and Codswallop are inviting people to add a flower to the ‘celebration’ tree as part of the Day In The Wood Activities.

Here’s the challenge.

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MARCH IS TIME FOR A DAY IN THE WOODS

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

Codswallop CIC present 3 weeks of ‘Day in the Woods’ educational, ‘self guided’, activities in Parkinson’s Park !! Collect your packs on a ‘pay what you can’ basis at the Farm Gate .

There’s a useful map on the Park’s ecology here. https://parkinsonspark.co.uk/geology-2/ecology/

Please ensure you follow the latest Government CV19 regulations.

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MARCH IS SPRING TIME IN THE PARK

Posted on February 21, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

As the Valentine hearts come down 😢, we are very pleased to announce that to celebrate Spring and life stirring again in nature Codswallop CIC will be running some Day in The Wood children’s educational self guided activities to do during daily exercise during March. More information to follow from them.

THEN, as Easter approaches The Park will be preparing for the Easter Bunny . 🐰

The Easter Tree

Lots to look forward to.

And you may find this map handy to find the places to watch out for different natural events taking place in the different areas of the Park.

Ecology page and Map

Please ensure you follow the latest Government CV19 regulations.

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YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THE FOPP 2023 CALENDAR

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

Friends of Parkinson’s Park have decided to publish a 2023 Calendar using the photographs that are left on our Facebook page, as well as any other received. The bank of pictures on Facebook is growing, with lovely photos of the seasons; the activities, the landscape and the events – not to forget the ecology, so we thought we’d put them to good use.

However, not everyone has or uses Facebook, so if people email their photos to parkinsonspark@gmail.com we can put them on Facebook for other to enjoy and add them to the potential calendar collection.

Early next year (2022) we’ll start the process of choosing the photos for the Calendar by asking people to vote for the ones they like best (we’ll do this in a variety of ways). There will be a prize for the most popular.

Some of the Facebook Collection

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HELP DESIGN AN HISTORIC BENCH FOR GUISELEY WELLS

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

Our colleagues, The Friends of Springfield Park & Guiseley Wells have been awarded one of a unique set of 15 community benches provided by the Leeds Civic Trust ‘Take A Seat’ Project. The benches will commemorate how the citizens of Leeds came together during the Covid 19 Pandemic of Spring 2020. A little like the Trust’s Blue Plaques scheme that celebrates notable historic events. 

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ADD YOUR OWN HEART TO BOLSTER AIREBOROUGH

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Jennifer Inskip Kirkby

The displays are now up in the Park to add your own ‘heart’ for Valentine’s week 7-14th February. We have craft hearts on the Farm Gate in a cheerful, welcome display, wooden hearts can be added to the decorative ‘missing you’ tree, and painted stones can join the line of the Parkinson’s Python in the top copse.

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