Friends of Memorial Park Task Days in 2008

Well spring is really here at last and the park was full of people enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. A good turn out of volunteers again ensured that lots of tasks were completed. These included planting of young willow trees in the boggy wildlife area near to the cinema, where the old canal arm used to be, edging of the main path through the park and weeding of the ornamental flowerbeds in front of the council offices.

We also set out to scrub the dirt and algae from the tree sculpture before re-oiling it but soon realised that scrubbing brushes alone were not going to be enough. Thankfully one of our regular volunteers, Steve, owns a jet washer and after fetching this the task became a lot easier, albeit much wetter too. The sculpture looked great when we'd finished and will receive several new coats of oil once it dries out.

In addition to all that, we fitted our new BBC Breathing Places plaque to the corner of the library and installed an insect study centre on one of the nature posts in the wildlife area alongside the canal. This is a special box with a solar powered light and lots of holes and compartments favoured by insects and a doorway that can be opened to observe the occupants. We're not sure how this will fare in the park but we can only hope that it will survive intact, in which case we may purchase more.

We were also joined by the Stockport Youth Offending Team, who did a great job of trimming the ivy from around the public toilets near to the library. All in all a very productive day!

The weather was surprisingly kind to us after the horrendous downpours yesterday and even attracted some new volunteers. It was great to see some new faces and they also enabled us to get lots done. Polyanthas were planted around the war memorial beds and twenty trays of native wildflowers were planted in the boggy area where the old canal arm used to be and along the edge of the woodland walk running parallel to the canal. Primulas were also planted down near the entrance to the park at lock 10.

In addition, the badly designed bat boxes that were replaced during the last task day were refitted as bird boxes after having new bases fitted and holes drilled. We also had a stall inside the library selling tickets to the special showing of the Railway Children at the end of April, and tickets for the raffle of Railway Children memorabilia.

As hoped, the daffodils were putting on a good show and the park is really starting to pick up after the drabness of winter.

A better turn out this month saw the Friends install twelve bat boxes, six in the Breathing Places area and six in the trees alongside the canal tow path. We also planted Hawthorn and Honey Suckle whips in the Breathing Places area and mulched shrub beds along the path near to the junior play area and alongside the council offices.

The crocuses are putting on a fantastic display in the woodland and it looks like the daffodils are set to do the same in the next few weeks.

The first task day of 2008 wasn't very well attended but there were still enough volunteers and park staff to offload and spread five wagon loads of wood chippings to mulch two large shrub beds between the Council Offices and the Bowling Green. Dave stood in for Adrian, who was not well, looking suitably dazed and confused. Fortunately he was able to stop himself falling over with a shovel and pick up truck. Good training is obviously of benefit in these circumstances.

It was good to see the Infants Play Area progressing well and it shouldn't be long before it is open for use.