Enjoy Williamson Park

Issue 2. August 2013

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS

GREEN FLAG AWARD TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR PARK

Sensational Summer

Welcome to the second issue of Enjoy, a new magazine with all the latest news and events at Williamson Park in Lancaster.

Coun Ron Sands, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Culture and Tourism

It has been a very busy summer in the park. We have hosted wedding ceremonies, car rallies, children’s holiday activities and Robin Hood! We have put together a photo album of our favourite events to remember the good times. If you love outdoor theatre then there is still time to catch one of the shows taking place in August or September in the Dell.

The park has been celebrating the success of winning two prestigious awards. Read more on why Williamson Park is the best in Lancashire inside this issue.

We love to hear your views whether it is about the park or this magazine. Please send any comments to williamsonpark@lancaster.gov.uk

Enjoy!

Flying the Flag of Success Williamson Park in Lancaster has been awarded the Green Flag status and has also become the only park in Lancashire to have been awarded ‘special heritage status’.

Green Flags are awarded by Keep Britain Tidy and recognise parks and open spaces that are welcoming, clean, wellmaintained, safe and secure, and managed sustainably and pay attention to the conservation of the natural and built environment.

The addition of Green Heritage status recognises the excellent upkeep of parks that are of historical and cultural interest.

Coun David Smith, Cabinet member with responsibility for parks and open spaces, said: “This is wonderful news and deserved recognition for the excellent way in which our parks and open spaces are managed and the high standard of facilities they provide.

“It’s not just the city council that can feel proud – all of our parks have a Friends group and volunteers that have contributed towards these well-deserved awards.”

Williamson Park, Lancaster City Council, LA1 1UX 01524 33318 - www.lancaster.gov.uk/williamsonpark

/williamsonpark

@williamsonpark

Williamson Park is on Instagram!

Tag us @williamsonpark or #williamsonpark

Sensational Summer

Play Day

Officially “Excellent”

Thousands of people helped to celebrate Play Day in Williamson Park.

On Wednesday 7 August children took part in an action packed day of free activities and games.

There was face painting, treasure hunts, fun games, music, a huge bouncy castle, an inflatable caving experience, a water slide, inflatable twister, body zorbing, cycle skills and more.

Coun Ron Sands, Cabinet member with responsibility for tourism and culture, said: “National Play Day has become an exciting fixture on the events calendar at Williamson Park and aims to highlight children’s right to play and the importance of play in children’s lives.”

The park has scored highly on a recent inspection visit through the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) run by Visit England and now merits the accolade of ‘excellent standard of quality experience’ and can continue to proudly display the ‘red rose’ quality badge.

On his recent inspection Visit England’s assessor, Chris Vere, said: “The park – with the iconic Ashton Memorial and the Butterfly House - is showing a real determination to upgrade and enhance the overall visitor offering. Beneficial investment and quality enhancements are evident meaning that the site now merits the accolade of ‘excellent standard of quality experience.

“Paintwork, attractive new signage, vital repairs and

restoration of the Memorial stairway and a suite of enhanced literature really make a difference to the visitor impression.”

He added: “Williamson Park has always been a multi-faceted attraction – this season there seems to be that extra sparkle and staff attention that makes the vital difference in quality.”

Coun Eileen Blamire, Leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “Receiving recognition from England’s leading tourism body is an outstanding achievement.

The assessment also included ‘mystery shopping’ exercises to test the level of customer service and the feedback has been excellent.”

Take Pride in your Park Lancaster City Council has launched a new campaign to encourage people to use, and take pride in, their local park.

You can take pride in your park simply by visiting it and enjoying the facilities, putting your litter in the bin and cleaning up after your dog. You can tell us what you think of the park by completing the Park Health Check by visiting www.lancaster. gov.uk/takepride The park also relies on the work of volunteers and we are looking for people to help out this autumn.

Anyone can volunteer and the list of ‘things to do’ is growing in the 54 acre park.

Becoming a volunteer can help you learn and develop new skills, as well as offering the chance to meet new people.

There are a variety of activities to get involved in including: looking after the herbaceous beds, grounds work, carrying

out litter picking, helping refurbish benches and painting fences, lamp posts, bollards and barriers.

If you are interested the Greenfingers Conservation Project will be running again every week from Thursday 12 September.

Come and join in this inspiring community project between 10am-12 noon.

Help is needed with various activities taking place throughout the park aiming to improve the woodlands and develop wildflower meadows in Fenham Carr.

The project has been devised by the University of Cumbria Sports and Physical Activity undergraduate programme team, in conjunction with Lancaster City Council. Students from the 2nd year of the BA Sport, Physical Activity and Health Development degree assist with the project alongside park staff. With the help of local residents, the aim is to create a lasting legacy for the benefit of all park users, and hopefully a long term and sustainable

programme of co-operation between local residents, the council and the university.

So if you can spare two hours, one hour, or even just half an hour on a Thursday morning, why not come along and give it a try? You’ll be contributing to a project that not only benefits your health, but also the local environment. A winning combination!

Pop along to the Pavilion Cafe at 10am to complete registration forms and get involved. Already a good number are getting stuck in, but we can always do with more!

If interested in finding out more details, then please contact Mark Christie, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cumbria, on 01524 384578 (work), or mark.christie@cumbria.ac.uk or Elliott Grimshaw, Senior Outdoor Ranger, on 01524 33318 or email williamsonpark@lancaster.gov.uk

They are also discussing the development and funding of a fitness trail for the park. Over the last year they have been improving the building in Wyresdale Road car park. It has been cleaned, tidied and painted on the inside and are preparing to paint the outside of the building.

Katharine Bradshaw enjoys being a member of the Friends of Williamson Park and said:

The next meeting of the Friends will be on Saturday 21st September at 9.30am. Meet outside the cafe in the park. New members are always welcome.

If you want any information about the Friends group and how to join please contact Katharine Bradshaw on 01524 64803 or golgotha@btinternet.com.

Find out more : www.lancaster.gov.uk/williamsonpark

Our Friends The Friends of Williamson Park is a registered charity working to maintain and improve the park, be the voice for the community, improve the natural and built environment, promote the use of the park for leisure, education, health, sports and culture and improve accessibility and promote diversity of use.

Their activities over the last year have included; working with the Greenfingers project to plant 500 new trees in Fenham Carr, and were awarded 140 native species trees as part of the Woodland Trust Jubilee Project. They have also planted a wildlife hedge, helped to build and install bird boxes and restored the bird feeding station. There is a small collecting box in the café for donations to assist in providing bird food for the birds in the park.

Representatives from local organisations have come to talk to us on subjects such as the historic listed status of the park and its buildings and the development of a community astronomical observatory, and soon we will be learning about the bats of the park with a walk around the park at dusk.

Meet the Wedding Co-ordinator

Name: Rachel Davies Daily tasks: “I coordinate over 100 weddings and events a year in the Ashton Memorial. We cater for all sorts of events in the Ashton Memorial, not just weddings. This year we have had baby naming ceremonies, birthday parties and civic functions. My role is also to assist in organising outdoor theatre shows and events, along with the gift shop and park during weekends.

From the initial enquiries all the way to the wedding ceremony and beyond, I am the sole point of contact for all weddings at Williamson Park, which means I have to be extremely organised. Although I have done

© Martyn Mackie Photography - mrmphotos.co.uk

over 250 weddings at the Ashton Memorial no two weddings have been the same, which is something that provides variety and makes every wedding memorable.

Rachel said:

On a busy day I arrive at 8am, check my emails, (have a much needed coffee!), then I prepare the venue for a ceremony. Before every wedding we deep clean the Ashton Memorial, ensuring that the brass is sparkling, that the floor is gleaming and that the venue is of the highest of standards. We can have up to two weddings per day and an evening reception too whilst dealing with booking enquiries.

Having coordinated over 250 weddings in my three years at Williamson Park, I can honestly say it’s a really privileged job, as I get to be, albeit in a small way, part of one of the biggest days of someone’s life. There’s definitely a sense of pride that comes with the job, and it’s a lot of fun too!

If you would like to host your event in the Ashton Memorial contact williamsonpark@lancaster.gov.uk

Fenham Carr Improvements

Keep the kids busy every half term

Improvements to pathways in Fenham Carr have taken place courtesy of funding from the Forestry Commission.

Ten thousand pounds has been used to improve drainage and create new pathways and to create a new nature trail. Four A1 sized boards have been installed in oak lecterns and give information on the wildlife you can expect to find and provide an insight in to how our team of staff manage this special area of the park.

There is always plenty to do in the park to keep children amused for hours. Lots of activities are free of charge too.

Every half term Lancaster City Council organise a Holiday Activity Programme bursting with activities for all ages.

Many events take place in the park such as; bug hunting, be a zoo keeper and the famous waterslide!

Receive the programme as soon as it is available by signing up online at: www.lancaster.gov.uk/ holidayprogramme

The Priory Church Choir will take centre stage on Wednesday 18 December.

Enjoy the festive arrangements from the Rushley Singers on Thursday 19 December.

The final performance takes place on Friday 20 December by the Lancaster Singers.

All concerts start at 7.30pm and will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

Car parking is available; please use the main entrance at Wyresdale Road, there is limited car parking at the Quernmore Road entrance.

Tickets can be purchased from October onwards from the gift shop or by calling 01524 33318. You can also book through the Visitor Information Centre in Lancaster or online at www.shopccc.co.uk a booking fee may apply to online purchases.

Christmas Carol Concerts A good dose of festive spirit will be served up at the Ashton Memorial in December with a series of carol concerts.

On Monday 16 December the Royal School of Church Music will entertain audiences with their beautiful range of Christmas carols.

Join the Lancaster Singers on Tuesday 17 December for their popular performance.

Outdoor Theatre Enjoy theatre under the stars with these wonderful productions taking place in the Dell.

The cafĂŠ will be open for refreshments.

For latest updates follow us on Facebook and Twitter and receive this magazine in your inbox by joining our mailing list at www.lancaster.gov.uk/williamsonpark

ART ART IN IN THE THE PARK PARK

Who needs childcare when you can train with your pram!

Anybody with any pram is encouraged to come along and get some PramPower in your day.

All classes run from 09.30am – 10.30am Monday and Thursday on Morecambe Prom Tuesday and Friday in Williamson Park Classes start again on Mon 9th Sept, class sizes limited – sign up now to ensure your place!

Grandparents, carers and dad’s equally welcome!

First session only £2 Focus on fun, fresh air and ALL fitness levels catered for.

Safe and effective exercises delivered by an experienced and fully insured and qualified instructor.

Botanical, Botanical,Natural NaturalHistory History &&Landscape Landscapedrawing drawing and andpainting paintingclasses classesinin Williamsons WilliamsonsPark, Park,Lancaster Lancaster

Fun family circuit sessions over the Summer holidays!

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Wednesdays Wednesdays10 10-12 -12am am £10 £10per persession session FromWed Wed1st 4th Sept From From Wed 1st May May Learn Learntotocapture capturethe thebeauty beautyofofthe thenatural naturalworld worldwith withartist artistand andillustrator illustratorJanet JanetMary Mary Robinson.

Robinson.

This Thisnew newcourse courseis isdesigned designedtototeach teachthe theskills skillsofofobservational observationaldrawing drawingand andpainting, painting, from fromsketching sketchingtotodetailed detailedwatercolour watercolourstudies. studies.Classes Classeswill willbebeheld heldininand andaround aroundthe thepark. park.

Suitable Suitablefor foranyone anyonewith witha alove loveofofnature nature- from - frombeginners beginnerstotoexperienced experiencedartists. artists.

Book Bookat atthe thePavillion PavillionShop Shop or orcontact contactJanet JanetRobinson: Robinson: 07786 07786868783 868783 jmr@jmr.org.uk jmr@jmr.org.uk

Visit our website or Facebook for more details or contact Jennie direct on 07540 705309

Working Workingwith withLancaster LancasterCity CityCouncil Council

www.prampower.co.uk Email: jennie@prampower.co.uk

The Logstacle Challenge 5km Williamson Park, Lancaster 3rd November 2013

One log.

5km.

Under...

Over...

Through Solo...

Pairs...

Teams Enter online at:

www.getoutandtrain.co.uk Photo courtesy of Jonathan Tansley

For latest updates follow us on Facebook and Twitter and receive this magazine in your inbox by joining our mailing list at www.lancaster.gov.uk/williamsonpark