Volunteers Celebrate a Festive Finale to 2025 in Didsbury Park
TODAY - VOLUNTEERS CELEBRATE LAST VOLUNTEERING DAY IN 2025 WITH CAKE AND CAROLS
Today was a special day for our 41 volunteers who turned up for our final volunteering session of 2025.
At our normal coffee break time, we assembled in the garden of the DNC where we were treated to mince pies, panetonne, cakes, chocolate biscuits and chocolates with our coffees, teas and hot mulled wine. We were also delighted to welcome Mrs Jacklyn Millar and Miss Phoebe Stuart from Didsbury CoE Primary School who brought with them the full Didsbury CofE school choir of about 21 students who then treated us to some beautiful carol singing.
A lovely time was had by all and it really put us in a great Christmas mood. It was a super way to end 2025 - another excellent volunteering year! Thank you for your amazing support.
TODAY - A SAD FAREWELL TO AUGUSTINE
Today was Augustine's last day of volunteering with us before he heads off to university in London in January. I felt very privileged today to be asked by Augustine to read out an emotional and heartfelt farewell message from him. I have attached a copy of his farewell message here.
Please do read it, because it is an excellent example of how volunteering can be an enormous benefit to everyone who participates, as well as to the community.
A huge thank you from all of us Augustine! It has been a privilege to know you, do keep in touch and good luck in London!
TODAY - STORM DAMAGE REPAIR
As a result of some recent heavy rain and strong winds we had some minor damage to repair in the park today:
Thank you to Murray and Augustine who not only replanted the small "Red Robin" tree which had been blown over in the strong winds but also added some additional support, hopefully to stop it happening again. We send our best wishes to Murray who turned up today despite still recovering from flu but was unable to continue after doing this job. We all wish you a speedy recovery Murray. Thank you both for this work.
Picture 2 shows Gill B and Joyce on their return from the top of the park and the Poppy Path where they were working with Carl M to tidy up some tree branches damaged by the storm and to also tidy up a large buddleia which had toppled on the Poppy Path. Great work everyone - thank you!
TODAY - HORTICULTURAL
Much to our surprise, we found a small bucket containing a few remaining muscari and tete-a-tete spring bulbs in the volunteer's shelter this morning. Picture 3 shows Lorna planting the tete-a-tete bulbs in the grassed area behind the new bench near the cafe. Thank you Lorna. Jude took charge of the other muscari bulbs and planted them along the Flower Walk. Thank you Jude. And that definitely makes it the case that all 25,000 bulbs have now been planted! Spring is going to be full of amazing colour in 2026!
Ilma continued to refine the design of the area around the new moss garden. See picture 4. Tristan continued to build up the moss banks in the moss garden as can be seen in picture 5. Wendy can also be seen in the background of picture 5 as she tidies up the shrubs behind the moss garden. Thank you all - this area just gets better and better.
Picture 6 shows Jude and Julie tidying up the rockery plants. Lucy was also working in this area too. Thank you all
Picture 7 shows Denise doing a similar tidy of the triangular bed to try and keep it looking as best we can over this winter period. Thank you Denise.
TODAY - WOODCHIP
Thanks to a contact from Allan, we were able to obtain a new supply of woodchip for the park last week: As a result we have been able to undertake the following two projects today:
Our guest volunteer Aimee from Lily's Kitchen worked with Chris to transport woodchip to the boggy area which had been created in the grass section at the Gillbrook Road entrance. This was a great improvement. Thank you both.
I am pleased to report that our team of students and their helpers from Brentwood College, continue to grow in confidence week on week. Today they progressed to spreading woodchip along the woodland animal trail. This was a first and an excellent achievement and they also stayed to enjoy the carol singing. Well done everyone.
TODAY - TIDYING PATHWAYS & LITTER
Picture 8 shows Carl N and Adrian posing for a photo and showing the well swept pathway behind them leading to Wilmslow Road. Work on this pathway had also involved Conner and Augustine. Picture 9 shows Connor having emptied a wheelbarrow full of rubbish into the green waste skip and picture 10 shows Augustine chatting to Lucy whilst leaning on his brush. Well done Carl, Adrian, Connor and Augustine. These paths now not only look great but they are clean and safe for Christmas.
Meanwhile across the other side of the park Allan (using the leaf blower), and Alan were working together to clear away as many leaves as possible at the Sandhurst Road vehicle access. Great job guys. Thank you.
Once again Sigad and job coach Sheeba from Bridge College did an excellent litter pick across the whole park. Thank you.
We were also delighted today to be joined by young Millie, who was accompanied by Mum Lauren. Millie got all geared up in hi-vis and together they did a good litter pick across the park. Thank you.
TODAY - ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK
Sandra carried on the woodland natural hedging projects today - thank you Sandra
Thank you to Emma N for an early morning warning about the "Red Robin" being blown over.
Tony sharpened us yet another 2 pairs of sheers - this is excellent work Tony - thank you
Everybody was delighted that Grace could make it to the carol singing - well done Grace
And last but certainly not least a huge thank you to Gill N who masterminded all the catering in the DNC garden today, including that for the choir too. Well done Gill!
SEASONS GREETINGS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your amazing support during 2025 and to wish you a peaceful, enjoyable and Happy Christmas!!