The good news on this task day was that we completed the installation of the second bowling green bench sponsored by Marple Senior Citizens and refurbished by Friends of the Park, which means that all three of the large cast iron benches around the bowling green have now been done. The first of the three having been sponsored by Marple Business Forum earlier in the year.
The bad news is that it has become clear that someone is stealing plants and shrubs from the park that have been donated by the public, or paid for by donations and planted by us. A beautiful new Black Alder, a Sambuca and two small Broom bushes recently planted have been taken from the War Memorial Beds. Hostas have been taken from near the library and a variety of small plants taken from the ornamental beds. We are both saddened and angered by this. It seems to us that the culprit or culprits must be keen gardeners who understand the efforts we are making to improve the park flower beds yet find it acceptable to steal from the community they live in.
If you see anyone working in the flowerbeds who are not wearing the blue uniform of SSK please take a photo of them on your phone. If it's a volunteer from the Friends of the Park they will smile and talk to you. If they are stealing plants they probably won't! Send the photo to us and we will do our best to ensure that they are prosecuted. If you see, or have any information about these thefts, please get in touch with us.