Social Historian, Author, and Chair of Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum . Retired from a career as a Business Analyst and Advisor to organizations worldwide.
Friends of Parkinson’s Park have updated their Event Calendar.
Easter – we’ll be decorating the celebration tree with an Easter theme. Please add your own decorations at anytime over the holiday period from Maundy Thursday 14th April.
Queen’s Jubilee – we are part of a team planning an innovative community event for the afternoon of Friday 3rd June. More to come on this as plans progress.
Children’s Gala – this is on Sunday 4th September and will have a circus theme – so get thinking about those costumes. There will also be a tug of war with different teams – more to come on this.
Lots of activity over the last weeks to improve the look of the Park and bring more joy to those who use it. The Park is not Council owned, it belongs to Bellway Homes. Meadfleet do basic maintenance in conjunction with Friends of Parkinson’s Park, whilst FOPP and local residents come together to try and make the Park special with the aim of looking after our heritage, and bringing joy to all.
In November the Nethercliffe working party of local residents worked on improving their entrance; which hopefully will soon have spring bulbs and early spring flowers from Celandines to Willow catkins and Backthorn blossom.
Putting Down Woodchip PathsImproving the Bog Garden Edging Continue reading →
Ten years ago the Friends of Parkinson’s Park was formed. November 2011 saw the start of the Park’s regeneration; a collaboration between Bellway Homes and an embryonic Friends Of Parkinson’s Park (FOPP); whilst February 2012 saw our first public meeting . 2012 was the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic Games; a time of celebration and joy that gave us a lot of impetus to create a community asset for the people of Aireborough – not to mention the opportunity for Jubilee related grants for improvement.
Work on Park Re-Generation Starts November 2011
Friends at the planting of the Queen’s Jubilee Walk in 2012
Ten years later, we are still here; now registered as a Community Interest Company who work to raise money for Park improvements and organize community events. The Park itself has been officially recognized as part of the Leeds Green Infrastructure in the Local Plan, and is listed as both a Community Park for wellbeing, and a Natural Space where ecology is important. This meant than when the pandemic struck in 2020 the Park was there as a crucial sanctuary for many residents.
Poster by Paul’s Paint Pots
Our 10th anniversary year of 2022, will see the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham plus the Winter Olympics in Beijing and the Football World Cup. We will be having events and ‘crafts’ that celebrate these occasions as well as the Festival of British creativity and innovation announced by Prime Minister Teresa May in 2018 and now called Unboxed.
On top of this will be our usual Aireborough events including the Children’s Gala and Lantern Parade – in addition we will be collaborating with and supporting the Leeds 2023, Yarns Well Spun creative project run by Abi James, and Good Grief Guiseley.
Children’s Gala
Improvement work on features and facilities will continue with the help of grants from various organizations and a growing band of Friends (watch out for announcements and calls for help) whilst we are delighted that the Co-op has chosen our Willow Walk project as one of their local causes for 2022. Incredible Edible Aireborough will be looking after the herb planter; we hope to plant more trees in Crooklands Orchard; and Greenshaw Wood and the wildflower areas will continue to grow.
Crookland Orchard with trees donated by Leeds City Council, new sign courtesy of Heritage Lottery and bench sponsored by Cllrs Graham and Pat Latty
Over the last decade we have had help and support from innumerable people; resident, councillors and organizations. We have had sponsorship from a number of businesses and collaborated with many local and regional organizations from Guiseley Brass Band to the Orchard Project and Open Country. Through all this time, the core FOPP team has stayed more or less the same.
Litter Free GuiseleyGirl GuidesOpen Country Fire BrigadeOtley Dry Stone Wallers
Will we be here in another 10 years time? We hope that FOPP will last that long – but the most important legacy is the Park itself which was founded by the Parkinson brothers in the mid 20th century and given to the people of Guiseley. This is what we so nearly lost at the start of the millennium and which has been core reason for being.
Gathering in the Park newly decorated by local residents, with mince pies and entertainment from Mitch Oldham.
Setting off to a good, strong, drum beat from a ‘flash’ Samba band of volunteers.
The special ‘Guiseley’ Lanterns made for us in 2016 by Lucy Phillips are still going strong, with their range of 2021 lantern bearers.
The Parade is on it way to the Town Cross with lots of waves from pavements and houses, and careful marshalling.
Community Christmas Carols with Guiseley Brass Band and our three local Ministers from St Oswalds, Guiseley Baptists, and Guiseley Methodists
The end of another day in the history of the Park.
A thank you to all who organize and take part in this lovely annual event, the community involvement from so many different people make it a real ‘feel good’ occasion.
Pictures by Liakat Ali Parapia, and Darren Sanderson.
Just one week to go until the Lantern Parade on 12th December, setting off from the Park dead on 3.45pm. We are so happy to do this again; this will be our 8th, and we hope it will be better than every. So, get making those lanterns, dig out those costumes, and we’ll light the way from the Park down to the Town Cross, where Guiseley Brass Band will play for us as we sing traditional Christmas Carols.
There will be refreshments and a display from the Parade Entertainer from 3pm in the Park. You can also look at the Light displays done by local residents, hang a decoration on the Advent Tree, and purchase a Christmas Trail Bag to do on the Christmas Tree Trail from 12th Dec – 3rd Jan 22.
Friends of Parkinson's Park CIC 
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