Bird Watch – Dawn Chorus by Darren Shepherd

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European Robin (Source:Northamptonshire Wildlife)

This morning I met up with David Myers to make a film of the bird life in the park singing one of nature’s glories of this time of the year – the dawn chorus. We met at 5am; the weather was calm but very cold for May.  The morning started well,  with various warblers and other passerines singing, but not particulary showing well – camera shy maybe?  One bird that did appear was the robin, which at least gave David some good shots.

Other birds we heard, included the willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, garden warbler, great tit, blue tit, and wren. However, around 5.30 we decided to call it a day as most of the birds had stopped singing or moved away from us. Due to the unseasonally cold weather a lot of summer migrants have been late arriving from the wintering areas in Africa and as such the park was quieter than usual at this time of year.  On a positive note there should be many more years that the people of Guiseley can enjoy the sights and sounds of Parkinsons Park, without houses encroaching on the area !!

Park Maintenance

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Rosebay Willowherb Jungle

The weather is warming (from time to time !!) and the rain if falling;  perfect conditions for weeds to regrow in the Park.   We are very aware of the need to get a maintenance regime in place, and are currently negotiating with Bellway to achieve this as quickly as possible.

In the meantime Pudsey Landscapes will be back week commencing 14th May,  to finish off the last jobs in the regeneration eg steps for the Greenshaw Terrace entrance,  clearing away compost, and generally tidying up.

 

Park Likely To Be Taken Out Of The SHLAA

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As a result of Cllr Latty’s intervention on the Park being in the SHLAA,  and some complaints received from individual Friends, Leeds Planning asked FOPP for a map of the Park – which we have now given them.   Planning have said it is highly likely that the land will be removed from the database at the next SHLAA Partnership meeting in June/July 2012.

It does seem incredible, that the people who have the final say on what land is in or out of the SHLAA, is a Partnership team of people consisting of 3 developers, 1 housing association person, 3 planners, a member of Yorkshire Forward, a member from the Council for the Protection of Rural England, and one ‘community representative!!

This still leaves the Kelcliffe Lane land in the SHLAA, but at least this will be a start – we will keep you posted.

 

Success for a Dogged Lady

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Cllr Graham Latty and Christine Parapia by the 'Tardis'

As you round the corner of Kelcliffe Lane, heading from Guiseley to the Park,  an incongruous site will be welcomed by dog walker and angry Guiseley residents alike.  For, sitting like a Tardis on the  verge, is a black, shiny, gold painted,  Leeds City Council, doggie bin: although it doesn’t seem as if the interior has quite the same capacity as the Time Lord’s  box.

This, striking addition to the local scene,  is the culmination of a long campaign by FOPP Chairlady, Continue reading →

Battle To Remove Park From the SHLAA

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Protecting Greenbelt (source: Folkestone Jack's Blog)

Following on from the appearance of Parkinson’s Park in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, Councillor Graham Latty has taken up the issue with Leeds City Planning Department and demanded that it is taken off the list.

At the same time, Leeds NW MP Greg Mulholland,  has demanded that Yeadon Banks, which has fought to get Village Green status to repel developers, is also taken out of the SHLAA.  Meanwhile,  residents in Rawdon have formed an action group to try and protect Rawdon Billing, which not only appears in the SHLAA, but whose owners (Rawdon Trust) want to sell it for development. And, to add the the catalogue of beauty spots in danger,  a Cragg Hill action group from Horsforth,  is sending out the troops again to try and stop Redrow getting planning permission to build 47 houses on an N32 nature area, which is also part of Woodside Conservation Area and on green belt – a plan that was stopped by residents twelve years ago. Continue reading →

Wild about Wildflowers: Sunday 15 April 2012

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Today the rain just held off for the latest project to take place at Parkinson’s Park. As part of the RHS Britain in Bloom launch celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the beginning of National Gardening Week, a small band of volunteers sowed a 10 m square patch of prepared ground near the farm gate with a packet of cornfield annuals donated by the environmental charity Landlife. The seeds in the seed mix include corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas), corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum), corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), corncokle (Agrostemma githago) and cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) and should create a bright and colourful display. Councillor Latty came along to support the event and got his hands dirty!

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Scattering the seeds

In this photo (from left to right): Jane Blake, Josie Brooks, Nicola Denson, Chris Parapia and Councillor Graham Latty. Photo taken by Barbara Winfield

In the UK our wildflower populations are in serious decline with an estimated loss of 97% of the wildflower meadows between 1930s and 1980s. This is having a knock-on effect on the rest of the food chain. When wildflowers are lost the insects which feed upon them are lost too in many cases. Insects pollinate our plants, control other pests and provide food for birds and other animals. Continue reading →

Are Houses Going To Be Built On The Park?

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Guiseley SHLAA Areas Around Parkinson's Park

Parkinson’s Park was given to the people of Guiseley by Frank and Albert Parkinson.  But, the covenant which used to be on the land deeds (and has been seen in the safe at Crompton Parkinson’s) has been ‘lost’.  The land is now owned by the developers Bellway Homes, who have built Edison Fields, and provided funds to regenerate the Park.  Bellway will keep the Park maintained and work with FOPP, until the future of the Park’s is agreed – which is now the subject of discussion between FOPP, Bellway and facilitated by Councillor Graham Latty. Continue reading →

Park Gets Its First Bench

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Paul Whittaker and the Bellway telehandler

One of the features of the Park people reminisce about are the benches:  the quiet summer evening spent talking with friends,  the lunchtime sandwiches away from the shop-floor, the first stolen kiss at dusk.   So, we are thrilled that local log merchant Paul Whittaker, has donated the first bench, which now adorns a copse ‘alcove’ – all ready for Easter strollers.

Paul has known the Park all his life,  and remembers the old benches well:  when he saw the Park was being regenerated he offered to replace one.  So,  on Maundy Thursday 2012, Paul brought the log bench to the Park;  it was hoisted into a place pre-prepared by Friends, using a telehandler lent to us by Bellway for the occasion (a great boy’s toy)!! Continue reading →

Bird Watch – Birdsong

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You can listen to the Park’s birdsong on You Tube, or better still, take an early morning stroll and hear the real thing – hope there is not too much snow over Easter !!  Thanks to one of the Friends for providing this – Darren tells us this is likely a pair of song thrushes that he has seen near the copse.