In the dark days of 2020, when meeting with friends was restricted and Christmas looked as if it just might be ‘banned’, FoPP asked local residents to bring some joy into the world by lighting up different areas of the Park in a Christmas Elf Trail. This is one tradition of those times that has been kept, it is an ill wind that blows no good at all. This year there is no official trail sheet, but there are lots of inventive displays around the Park which have been taken on by different families and groups. The only theme – ‘reuse, recycle’.

Christmas Journey to The North Pole

Mrs Claus is rightly famous for her gingerbread, and the journey to the North Pole to visit her bakery and Santa workshop, starts at the Edison Fields Entrance. Helen Armitage is the lady responsible for the theme whilst Oscar Grimways’ Dad was the man with the jigsaw – which saved loads of time hand sawing these lovely cut-outs.

There is even a trail of sweets, and at the top of the Park’s you’ll find that a group of Rainbows and Brownies exploring the Sugarplum Forest in the top copse, a display put together by local Girl Guiding.

Designed for the Local Wildlife

Next comes two displays at opposite ends of the Park both beautifully and appropriately designed by families to make winter for the nearby inhabitants more cheerful.

At the top of the Park is the Hillside entrance with its gnarled hawthorn hedge home to many birds. Here, there are wooden trees, willow stars, and fir cones filled with fat for the birds as a Christmas treat – a little Robin is particularly keen on these; and you might get a very picturesque picture. This nature inspired display was done by the Denson family with Violet Denson’s young friends helping to fill the fat cones.

Down in the south, the stark metal kissing gate near the human homes has been bedecked with artistic talent. Colourful winter wreaths greet travellers passing through, ribbon and ivy twist traditionally together around the bars, and there is a lovely little gallery of seasonal pictures on slate to stop and admire. The materials have been gathered from sheds, charity shops, Esholt woods, the Park. It was created by Amy Llewellyn and family who all helped with items, artwork and construction.  

Whitby Inspiration

The inventive Greenshaw Gate entrance was inspired by the famous ninteenth century Whale Bone Arch at Whitby which frames the historic and picturesque parts of of the town: an idea beautifully capture by Matt Barker in his picture. This is the work of Hazel Berry and husband Martin, with help from Ruth McGahan and the Berry Boys. Hazel also reused colourful rag wreaths she made out of fabric scraps.

Wassail Wreaths for Crooklands Orchard

Heritage also plays a part in the Crookland Orchard display. The Orchard had a productive year in 2022 and the trees are growing nicely. In January we’ll do the winter pruning and some maintenance work on the trees, but before that we need to do a traditional Wassail to thank the trees and drive away any evil spirits. To that end, Vivien and Martyn Hornsby Smith and Jennifer Kirkby have made wassail wreaths out of natural materials and hung them in the trees ready for a small ceremony around Twelfth Night which involves cider and toast.

Following the Star at the Winter Solstice

If you walk in the Park near twilight, anything from 3.30pm at the moment, you might spot lights amongst the Scots Pines near Clapper Brow wood. Following those lights to the entrances of the Guiseley copse you’ll spy a giant star, put up high on a birch by David Alcock and Glen Pickburn.

It’s a quiet spot, almost spooky when it is dark, where your imagination can run riot if you let it. On a bright, frosty night if you come out of the side entrance you can look across the valley towards Airedale, and see the other stars in the sky as well as planets, at the moment. A quiet place for the Winter Solstice on Wednesday 21st December.

Stars That Twinkle in the Sunshine

At the Oxford Avenue entrance there are ‘solar’ powered stars giving a warm Welcome. This entrance is looked after by Sue Jackson and Steve Magson all year round. For Christmas they’ve created this celestial display for people’s enjoyment. All the displays ‘recycle and reused’ material and Sue’s fascinating stars were made of old linoleum found in her loft.

Snowflakes for the Farm Gate

Bringing the bright spirit of Christmas to the Park on the dullest of days is the Farm Gate display created by Abi James and her Yarns Well Spun team, and Barbara Winfield. Given the weather we have had over the last weeks ‘snowflake gate’ on a cold, frosty day is a very apt name. In foggy, icy weather it is cheerful and at twilight the dancing fairy light bring a touch of magic as you approach along Kelcliffe Lane.

Marking the Passing Years at the Advent Tree

The Advent Tree is where you are the ‘creator’ as it is where you can bring your own Christmas sparkle for people to smile at. It was the first Park Decoration we introduced in 2014. Year by year people have added a decoration and we now have quite an eclectic collection of ‘historic’ items from past residents as well as present. In the sunshine, and especially as it sets, the shiny items catch the sunshine making it sparkle. Each year, the contirbutions that are in reasonable condition go up again along with the memories of Christmas Past.

Remembering Those We’ve Loved

Christmas past is also a theme at the entrance we call the Sheepfold on Kelcliffe Lane, Joanna Brooks hangs stars and snowflakes with twinkly white lights every Christmas season. Each one is dedicated to a pet or human that a park user has loved and who is no longer with us. They swing in the wind watching over the Guiseley Gap during the day, and observing night fall as the sun sets and the lights glow in homes by night.

They also watch over the bench dedicated to little Freddie, whose family have now moved to Menston; which can also be seen from this much loved spot, with its canopy of twisted hawthorn, holly and elder.The inscription on the bench given by Freddie’s family is “when it rains look for rainbows, when it’s dark look for stars”

“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” Luke 2:16

 Becky James, Richard Dykes, their families and Nethercliffe neighbours have hung up their Christmas stocking and created a Christmas wonderland hidden amongst the shrubs of the Nethercliffe Entrance. All the items are hand crafted with a beautiful little Nativity scene in a stable at the centre – although the donkey does look rather surprised to find Santa Clause there !! Joy is their message.

Friends of Parkionson’s Park would like to thank everyone who helps with the Park and wishes everyone a very Happy Christmas.