Marking the Start of the World War One Centenary

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Friends preparing the wildflower and rememberance poppy area.

Friends preparing the wildflower and rememberance poppy area.

On Saturday 26th April 2014,  seven Friends of Parkinson’s Park came to help dig over and prepare the Wildflower area for planting and poppy-seed sowing – as part of this year’s World War One Centenary.

The area is due to be planted by school children from Oxford Road Pre School Playgroup in the morning and Oxford Road Infants, in the afternoon of Wednesday 30th April.  The  wildflower seeds have been donated by an organisation called “Grow Wild”,  and the poppy seeds donated by The Royal British Legion via Guiseley in Bloom.

It was definitely a case of many hands make light digging,  and thanks are extended to Chris Parapia, Barbara Winfield, Richard and Gail Lamb, Sue Jackson, Josie Brooks,  and Anne a new member from the Bellway Estate, whom we were very pleased to welcome; along with Daniel, aged 8, who came along to help out later in the day.

The 30th April will see a number of local community groups taking part in poppy-seed planting to  mark the start of rememberance of those who between 1914 – 1918 gave up so much to make a stand against tyranny in Europe.   Aireborough,  will be putting on a number of events over the coming months, and a WW I committee has been formed to co-ordinate activity – more of this in a later post.

Invitation To The Annual General Meeting – 30th April 2014, 7pm

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We invite Friends of Parkinson’s Park to the FOPP AGM on 30th April 2014,  in the  Fellowship Room, Methodist Church, Oxford Road, Guiseley.  7 – 9pm.

7 – 7.45pm – Reports on 2013/2014; election of Management Committee officers for 2014/2015; discussion on whether a subscription is required for the coming year; and suggestions and discussion of the work plan for 2014/2015.  This is for all Friends of Parkinson’s Park.
7.45 – 8pm – Tea
8 – 9pm – Talk by Jennifer Kirkby on the historic research she and Barbara Winfield have been doing for the All Our Stories project.

Nomination of Officers for the Committee
The Management Committee of FOPP currently has three vacant officer positions, so if a FOPP member would like to be on the committee please could you let the Chair,  Chris Parapia (chrisparapia@hotmail.com) know the name, proposer and seconder by the 28th  April 2013.  A list of people standing for the committee will then be published for the AGM, for voting on at the meeting.  There will therefore not be any nominations from the floor on the night of the AGM.

Changes to the Constitution
The AGM is the time to make any necessary changes to the constitution, so, if there are any alterations a Friend of Parkinson’s Park would like to propose, please let Chris Parapia know by the 28th April 2013, so changes can be circulated to Friends prior to the AGM.  A copy of the constitution is here.

Work Plan 2014/2015
If any member of FOPP has any suggestions for new projects, events or work they would like to do in the Park,  please would you let Marketing Officer Jennifer Kirkby (ja.kirkby@btconnect.com) know, so that they can be added to the work plan for discussion at the AGM.  FOPP encourages Friends to put forward suggestions for improvements to the Park, that the person making the suggestion would like to lead a project on.   This, for example, is what led to the hibernaculum -a Leeds University ecology student proposed that they would like to build one in the top copse: that was then approved by the management committee who organized Friends to help.

In order to cater for the relevant numbers in a room of limited size, we would be grateful if you could let Chris also know if you will be attending the AGM.

Dog Fouling – by Chris Parapia

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Full Dog Fouling Bags Left ona Bench In the Park

After fighting long and hard to get a dog waste bin positioned by the Park’s Farmgate entrance,  and after fantastic usage by all park users,  the council decided to move it away in early January with no consultation with the Friends or park users.   They cited “health and safety” reasons, as Kelcliffe Lane is now so full of potholes their collection vehicle cannot make the journey along it.  (The potholes have occurred because a proper drainage system was not put in by the developers when the wall was built for the houses on the old allotments at the top of Oxford avenue.  Previously there was a dry stone wall along the lane which water drained through instead of sitting in puddles as it does now.)

The dog bin was moved to where Oxford Avenue meets Kelcliffe Lane – but is not now well used.

Many park users have complained to us that they are very annoyed and irritated by this and we the Friends are especially upset as we have worked so hard to improve the park , and littering and dog fouling had decreased enormously.  It is now on the increase again with dog owners leaving unbagged waste and full bags around the Park including on the benches !!!   There really is no excuse for this, the Park is not owned by the Council and any mess has to be cleared up by local people: this is a place we want children to play and enjoy !!  There are dog bins at both Hillside Avenue and the Nethercliffe entrance.

We are still negotiating with the Council for a return of the bin, however, if you feel strongly about this situation please write a comment or contact our local councillors Graham Latty, Pat Latty and Paul Wadsworth.


Memorial Bench for the Park

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I am pleased to be able to pass on the news that as of Thursday 13th March 2014, Parkinson’s Park has a new Bench. This one is a memorial Bench donated to the Park by Matthew Pinkney in memory of his wife Jenny who sadly passed away in 2013 aged 28. It is the Ogilvie KC1800, or the nice new shiny looking black bench, that you pass on your left as you walk up the hill from the Greenshaw Terrace entrance. It is fitting that the Bench looks towards the new Redrow estate where Matthew and his young son lives. Thanks to Matthew for donating the Bench, it is well located and will serve the growing community of Park users in future years to come.

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Open Country Repairs Vandalism to Parkinson’s Park – by Chris Parapia

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Open Country Members Repairing the Vandalised Wall

Open Country Members Repairing the Vandalised Wall

Last week, 17th February 2014,  Friends of Parkinson’s Park were delighted to welcome a group called “Open Country” to the Park,  to help with several outstanding conservation and repair jobs.  Open Country is a  Yorkshire based charity that seeks to enable anyone with a disability to access the countryside.  It undertakes valuable conservation and footpath repair work each week of the year.  It has a variety of countryside activities including providing work parties to help community projects.

The group worked in the Parkinson’s Park on Tuesday and Friday, repairing the dry stone wall overlooking Jubilee Walk that has been continuously and purposefully vandalised for a whole year by a group of local people – who appear to think their time is productively spent kicking down the wall for others to rebuild!!   Open Country also cleaned and restored the vandalised bench in the butterfly area of the park; repaired the wind damaged compost area,  filled in the gaps on Jubilee Walk by planting trees,  and even did a bit of remedial mud removal on the bridlepath near the sheepfold entrance. Chris was on hand to give some support,  and materials were provided by FOPP.

The group did a fantastic job, although didn’t quite get enough time to finish the wall and will be returning to do that in the near future. They may also be willing to help us on more projects over the coming months.

Thank you to the members of Open Country from all the residents in Guiseley and elsewhere who use and enjoy the Park.

2014 – Calendar of Events

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Help Us Build Community Events for Guiseley

We are pleased to announce our 2014 calendar of main events.

AGM and Presentation on All Our Stories – 30th April 2014, 7pm Methodist Church, Oxford Road

Children’s Gala – 7th September 2014, The Park

Lantern Parade – 7th December 2014, Parkinson’s Park to Town Gate  (Change of date)

If anyone would like to be involved in the organization or sponsoring of these events, or take part, then please email on parkinsonspark@gmail.com.  There is plenty of scope and support for young people who would like to gain skills and experience of leadership and community event organizing to put on their CVs.

2013 Website Review

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The WordPress statistics monkey has prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.  What this has told us is that ‘location’ has been the most popular post – thereby attracting, hopefully, more visitors to the Park, both generally, and for our three main events: All Our Stories, Archaeology Project, the Children’s Gala, and the Christmas Lantern Parade.    Our links with other social media, Facebook, Twitter and email have been a key method of people finding out about the Park and activities.  However, we need to work harder at attracting more comments and interaction from Park users.   The full report is below.  Which only leaves us to wish you a Happy New Year for 2014.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,700 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Lighting Up A Future Tradition

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Guiseley Brass Band Play Carols

Guiseley Brass Band Play Carols

Thank you to everyone who came to the Friends of Parkinson’s Park Lantern Parade; there was a fantastic turnout from all over the area, with residents old and new, all our local Councillors and Member of Parliament.  Some people passing by the in their cars, even stopped to join in.

It seems the children really enjoyed coming to the Park in the gathering dusk with lanterns: and watching people approach the decorated tree in the park from all directions was like watching a ‘gathering of the tribes’.   It was lovely to see so many different types of lanterns and the thought that had gone into them.

At the Cross,  Guiseley Brass Band really created a wonderful atmosphere in which to munch home made mince pies , and drink mulled wine, and try and read the words of the carols – those who couldn’t just hummed the tune.

We would also like to thank ‘God’ for being kind with the weather – we had asked especially if he could hold the rain off for an hour or so – and he obliged  :-).

In the role call of people who made the event happen, thanks particularly go to:

Lanterns

Lanterns

The idea – Nicola Denson

Invitations – Nicola Denson, Josie Brooks, Barbara Winfield, Jenny Kirkby

Paths Chipping – Josie Brooks, Steve Megson, Chris Parapia , Jenny Kirkby

Chippings – donated by Mike Shackleton (Tree Care Company)

Lights  – Barbara Winfield, Andy Cheetham

Moon Lantern and Drums – Cecil Higgings Arts, Bradford

Music – Guiseley Brass Band

People on Parade

People on Parade

Mince Pies and Buns – Sian Cartwright

Mulled Wine – Richard Slatcher (The Station)  & Rebecca

Photographs – Leekie Parapia, Peter Kirkby

Taking Part – Guiseley residents

Marshalls – Josie Brooks, Nicola & Jon Denson, Andy Cheetham, Barbara Winfield

Overall organization – Chris Parapia and Jenny Kirkby

Funding – Comic Relief Community Cash, Local Cllrs

Gathering In the Park at Dusk

Gathering In the Park at Dusk

The purpose of the event is to set a new Guiseley tradition, in line with our 2013 All Our Stories project – exploring the history of the Park and its role with local people. Now we have experimented with the idea and know it works and people like it,  we will aim for the same event next year with lantern making workshops, and more drums on the route.   We have made a note of a number of ideas for improvement, but please let us know of any ideas you have, or if you would like to take a role in the organization of it.  We’ll be posting more photos of the event over Christmas.  Oh, and last but not least thank you,  to all those who gave us a donation – this will go to the upkeep of the Park and future events.

A Merry Christmas to everyone from The Friends of Parkinson’s Park.