A Double Update: Holiday Recap, Volunteer Success, and Addressing Vandalism
DOUBLE UPDATE - LAST MONDAY
Please accept my apologies that there was no update last week. I was actually on holiday cruising the Danube from Budapest in Hungary, via Bratislava in Slovakia to Vienna and Salzburg in Austria. Everything was left in the very capable hands of Sonia and Allan - thank you for doing a great job! I am pleased to report that we had a very successful turnout of 25 volunteers enjoying a lovely morning's sunshine.
Pictures 1, 2 and 3 show snapshots of the the team busy in the park. Thank you all.
DOUBLE UPDATE - TODAY
Today we had a fabulous turnout of 42 volunteers, which included our new volunteer Lesley, Louise and 7 volunteers returning to work with us again from NatWest. Everybody was made welcome.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - VANDALISM RETURNS TO DIDSBURY PARK
The first weekend of the school holidays seems to have brought on a surge in anti-social behaviour in the park. Today we had to remedy the following areas of anti-social behaviour:
i) the removal of the new bowlers shelter structure which had been dumped in the middle of the bowling green (see picture 4 showing Christine, Allan, Jane and Tristan removing the structure from the green)
ii) the repair of the chain fencing which had been broken by children swinging on it - thank you Allan for fixing it
iii) the wanton destruction of one of the net supporting structures on one of the goals on the children's sports field. Luckily we had bought spares for this equipment and a new structure was installed this morning by Murray, Carl N, and Adrian. Thank you guys!
iv) the uprooting of one of the small new feature trees recently planted on the main field. Picture 5 shows Carl, Adrian and Rob replanting the tree and re-installing the metal guard. Thank you Carl, Adrian and Rob.
Let us hope this upsurgence of antisocial behaviour is a one off and it is not going to be a regular occurrence every weekend during the summer holidays.
THE WILD FLOWER MEADOW
The wild flower meadow was given a great facelift today by the team from NatWest. Following research and advice from Joyce and Murray (the 'tree advisory team') it was agreed that the supports around the mature Himalayan Birches could be removed.
The NatWest team set about this with a gusto and they removed all the supporting stakes, and weeded the bases before applying a woodchip weed protection layer around each tree base. The team then went on to de-weed under the four benches before washing the beautiful white bark of the birches and removing any mildew. The meadow looked fantastic afterwards. Thank you all.
WORK CONTINUES TO IMPROVE THE WILMSLOW ROAD PATH
Pictures 6, 7 and 8 show the 3 main teams (weeding and pruning the excessive growth along this path).
Picture 6 shows Tristan, Jane and Christine working near the notice board. Picture 7 shows Sandra and Debbie and picture 8 shows Anne and Carl M. Thank you all. This work has made a huge improvement.
FLOWER WALK WORK
Picture 9 shows some amazing work being undertaken by Robin and Greg as they tidy back the edges along the Flower Walk path.
Ilma and Lucy can also be seen admiring the new hydrangea plants which they had just planted with help from Lis, Lesley, Kevin O, Jude and Julie. Thank you all.
MORE WEEDING
Picture 10 shows Louise and Ilma with a wheelbarrow full of weeds from the adjacent flower bed. This is a great piece of work - Thank you both!
MORE THANKS
Thank you to Gill N for doing a thorough litter pick this morning after a bit of a wild weekend by users of the park . Thank you to Lesley for her special edging of the rose beds. Thank you also to Allan for installing the final KAVS plaque near the Poppy Path entrance.
It was great to be back in the park today and to be once again part of an amazing team..
NOTICES FOR THIS COMING WEEK
On Friday this week (26th July) we have managed to obtain the commitment from a team of over 50 staff from Mazars (international accountants etc) who have volunteered to help in the park. With a team this size it would be helpful if we had a few "old hands" to help guide a small team or two in a particular piece of work. If you are available will you please let me know - it would be appreciated. Usual start time 09:30am
FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
Will you please say a prayer (or whatever is your equivalent) for both David and Brenda at this time. David and Brenda have been regular volunteers with us for the last 10 years. David is in lots of pain with his illness and Brenda needs as much support as we can all give her.