Monthly Archives: September 2012

Jonathan Peate Blue Plaque – Invitation to Attend Unveiling

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Jonathan Peate

Philanthropy amongst local businessmen during the ninteenth century industrial revolution,  was a fairly common characteristic.  Our towns are littered with civic buildings and parks given to ‘the people of wherever’ by the ordinary men and women who used their skill and entrepreneurship to build successful enterprises.  In some places, such as Saltaire, Bournville and Port Sunlight they built whole communities to better the lives of their employees.

Guiseley and Yeadon had three (possibly four, see comments below)  big philanthropists;  the first was Jonathan Peate (1837 – 1924).  The seventh child of a Yeadon wool spinner, Jonathan built a thriving woollen business at Nunroyd Mills Continue reading →

Guiseley Artists

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Back in March we suggested that the dead chestnut tree in the Park might be a suitable subject for the “Hockney treatment”, in the light of his successful exhibition of Yorkshire landscapes.   Caroline Herries and Jeff Halden responded to the call and have produced these wonderful studies – contrasting the tree to its surroundings.  Both of them study at the studio of  Simon and Angela Dawson of Stonefall Avenue, Starbeck.

Time Was – Caroline Herries

Tree Shapes – Caroline Herries

White Reflection – Jeff Halden

If there was enough interest, and with Caroline and Jeff’s permission we might be able to get print’s done.  Let us know if you are interested.

Wildflower Summer – by Chris Parapia

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Wildflower Meadow in the Olympic Park, London

Were you caught up in Olympic fever like much of the nation?

I was one of the very fortunate people to have had the privilege of going to the Olympic stadium at the beginning of August. Whilst everyone else was hurrying along to get inside the stadium, I was engrossed in the amazing display of wildflowers that has been planted in the Olympic Park. The colours of the flowers reflected the main colours of the games, namely purples and pinks.

You may not be aware that now that the games have finished Continue reading →

It’s Your Neighbourhood

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It’s Your Neighbourhood -Friends of Parkinson’s Park, Level 3 Developing

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) supports a grassroots community gardening scheme called It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN).  The idea is help local people to “clean up and green up their immediate local environment to make a lasting improvement- whether that’s the street they live in, or a small patch of communal land needing a revamp”.   By 2012 over 1,000 groups from all over the UK had signed up to the scheme and Parkinson’s Park is one of them. Continue reading →

Parkinson’s Park Removed from the SHLAA

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We have heard today from Leeds City Planners, that, after strong protests by both ourselves and local councillors, Parkinson’s Park has been removed from the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, by the Leeds SHLAA Partnership.

SHLAA sites have been identified by Leeds and various local land owners as potential areas for housing.  These sites are currently being assessed for their housing potential under the Leeds Local Development Framework.

This still leaves the Kelcliffe Lane land in the SHLAA, and maybe other new areas in this part of Guiseley, but at least this is a start.  The new 2012 SHLAA map will be available in October, following a call earlier this year for more land to be earmarked as housing potential.

Queen’s Gift to Guiseley People, Stolen

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Site of stolen tree

We are very sad to have to report that the little oak sapling from the Royal Sandringham Estate,  given to us by the Woodland Trust to plant for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee,  has been stolen.  Someone,  has lifted off the surrounding turf and dug out the little tree.

Either side of the sapling was two other self seeded oaks,  anyone who wanted an oak was very welcome to one of these,  or one of the many other self seeded oaks around the park.   But,  it was this special little tree,  planted by a group of local people in March 2012 for our children to enjoy in their latter years,  that has been taken.   Indeed,  some of those children helped with the planting.

It would be nice if whoever took the tree, had a twang of remorse, and replanted it where it was put originally.

Hotel Bug – the madness continues unabated

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Hotel Bug – clearly visible above the cut hawthorn

In an audacious move characterised by a typical disregard for local opinion, another construction has appeared in Parkinson’s Park with little discussion, consultation or general consideration for community views. Lying but a few meters from Hotel Scarabee a similar hotel named “Hotel Bug” has appeared almost overnight. It is predicted that this latest building will attract a variety of insects which will in turn give rise to other inhabitants such as birds and bats. The already overstretched infrastructure of nearby trees and shrubs will be subjected to further demands as winged insects and other creatures look for food and recreation. A local resident speaking on behalf of the neighbourhood said “I remember when this was full of litter, glass and barbed wire. We knew where we were in those days. This is just pure madness”. The new hotel opened with live bands rocking the night until the early hours. Mc Fly headlined with  a medley of tracks from the Bee Gees and the Beetles. As the dust gradually settles on this new development residents wait and watch to see what comes next. There have been rumours of small boxes going up designed specifically to attract bird and bats. All we know is that the development machine moves on and no one is safe!

New Bench for Old Man’s Corner

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The Bench Arrives on the back of the PWS truck

It is said that in years gone by, Guiseley folk would stop and sit in the triangular area defined by the dry stone walls situated just in front of the entrance half way along the top bridleway adjacent to Parkinson’s Park. The tale goes that these were often elderly gentlemen who having climbed the bank would contemplate the view and no doubt put the world to rights with a wisdom exclusive to their generation. As such, you might sometimes hear people speak of this area as “Old Man’s Corner”. These were the days when the Park was proudly maintained by the Parkinson brothers to provide a place of rest and recreation for the employees of their factory and for the people of Guiseley. The walls were maintained as were the benches and other facilities available to Park users. Continue reading →