Volunteers Return in Force for a Busy Morning in Didsbury Park
LAST WEEK
Firstly please accept my apologies for there being no volunteer's update report last week or Brian's Blog on the website. Margaret and I were in Spain to see our 14 year old Australian granddaughter who was visiting Madrid with her school and it was an opportunity with her being so close for us to spend some time with her, which we could not resist.
We did have a deputy in place to take photos and do a report last week but unfortunately he fell ill on the Monday morning. A huge thank you to Allan who stepped up to manage the morning's activities with everyone chipping in to help - especially Jude and Jane. Thank you all.
TODAY
It was a welcome return to normal this week, with a large turnout of 60 volunteers, on a lovely sunny morning. We were delighted to welcome two new volunteers Emmanuel and Marian from Didsbury, a team of 12 volunteers from Costain, a team of 7 volunteers from BT and our regular team of 9 students and staff from Brentwood High School.
I am pleased to report that after the 3 week trial completed today, both the school and ourselves are very happy to carry on with the arrangement for the school to continue to volunteer with us on a weekly basis. We were also pleased to welcome Alison our regular guest volunteer from the Didsbury in Bloom Team. Everybody was made very welcome.
Thanks to Gill N's organisation we were spoiled today by the provision of lots of delicious cakes at our coffee break. We had the choice of the remainder of the beautiful 50,000 hours celebration blueberry cake, a tasty lemon drizzle cake donated by the cafe and a delicious tea loaf cake made by Lucy. Needless to say that with 60 hungry volunteers the cakes soon disappeared! Thank you Gill (and Lucy)
TODAY - ALISON AND THE COSTAIN TEAM CLEAR THE VILLAGE PLANTERS
Under Alison's careful supervision, the Costain team left the park first thing this morning with 12 wheelbarrows to empty all the planters throughout the village, ready for the new winter bedding plants to arrive. This task was successfully completed by our scheduled mid morning break time and the old plants were re-cycled into our compost bays. This was a great job! Thank you everyone.
TODAY - PRUNING AND SPLITTING PLANTS
Following the coffee break Julie took charge of the Costain team and they worked really hard as they turned their hands to pruning, splitting and replanting shrubs around the Wilmslow Road entrance.
Picture 1 shows Julie (first person on the left) with the 12 members of the Costain team as they return from their work today.
TODAY - WEEDING OUT THE SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS IN THE PARK AND REPLACING THEM WITH THE WINTER BEDDING PLANTS
We had lots of volunteers today working on clearing the old summer bedding plants from the flower beds in the parks and replacing them with the new winter bedding plants. Most notably Gill B, Wendy, Lesley, David, Nicky. Kedir, Fasil and the female members of the BT team firstly cleared and planted up the flower bed at the roundabout and then moved on to the new flower bed next to Buddy and Lucy. This team did an amazing job in both locations.
Picture 2 shows the super result of the planting in the new flower bed with some of the team proudly standing behind it. Well done everyone - this was a great improvement.
TODAY - HELPING IMPROVE THE ACCESS TO THE CAFE
The low canopy of the trees next to the cafe has been providing some access issues and gutter problems for the cafe. So today some of the taller members of our team undertook some careful pruning to successfully overcome this problem.
Picture 3 shows new volunteers Emmanuel and Marian with Carl N admiring some of the cuttings as they are put into the green waste skip. Thank you guys. Great job.
TODAY - REMEDIAL WORK TO OVERCOME VANDALISM & ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Sadly I have to report that the level of vandalism and anti social behaviour has continued to increase week on week since the children from Parrs Wood High School have been visiting the park after returning to school this term.
One of the latest targets has been the new decorative stone display we created two weeks ago under the large lectern in the Bird Garden. Unfortunately these stones have been used for throwing and have consequently upset nearby neighbours. It was therefore decided that we would rectify the situation today by redoing this attractive display and set all stones in mortar.
Picture 4 shows the superb result of this project undertaken by 2 of the BT volunteers and Gary and Greg. Not only is this now very safe but personally I think it looks even better than before. Thank you all - this is an amazing result!
TODAY - EVEN MORE REMEDIAL WORK TO OVERCOME INCREASING VANDALISM & ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
In addition to the stone throwing in the Bird Garden the following incidents have been noted this week:-
Children's Playground
Picture 5 shows the broken children's trampoline in the children's playground. BUT the amazing thing is that I reported it formally to MCC on Sunday evening and at 8:30am on Monday morning Kevin Shackell's MCC team were in the park fixing it. A truly brilliant response - thank you Kevin
Sports Field
Over the weekend the new nets for the football goals which we purchased and installed only 3 weeks ago were deliberately cut down. We have repaired them today. Thank you to Richard, Carl and Murray.
Children's Playground
2 weeks ago we cleaned off obscene (juvenile) graffiti painted on the children's play equipment in the playground. Over the weekend it was back again. Luckily it was spotted by Alan and he quickly cleaned it off with his special anti-graffiti products. Thank you for being so vigilant Alan.
Leaf Pens
More bad news I am afraid - This afternoon I was in the park again and spotted that our leaf pens located out of sight behind the bowls hut have all been smashed up - We will have to address this next week.
TODAY - ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK
Kevin and Richard continued their work today on building the wildlife woodland structures. Thank you guys.
Picture 6 shows Brenda and Denise testing the final position agreed with MCC and the people donating this new curved bench before the heavy gang go ahead and install the hard-standing for it. It really is a beautiful new bench. Watch this space!
Picture 7 shows Lucy and Brenda (after her rest on the bench!) getting back to work tidying up the Gillbrook Road entrance. Thank you Brenda and Lucy.
Picture 8 shows Carl M doing an amazing job, on his knees, weeding the paved area in front of the Bird Garden entrance. This job required real dedication. Thank you Carl.
Picture 9 shows Louise, Denise and Augustine, posing for a picture behind the rose bed which Denise and Louise had both been tidying up. Thank you ladies.
Augustine , Chris and Allan all worked on tidying up the edgings along the main path past the rose beds and the volunteers shelter. This work made an amazing difference - thank you.
Gill N not only expertly managed the order for drinks for the large number of volunteers today but she also found some time to fill up all the dog bag dispensers at all the park entrances too. Well done Gill - thank you
Thank you also to Tom for maintaining the bottom end of the Poppy Path
TODAY - RYEBANK FIELDS COMMUNITY GROUP
Finally, I have included below, as Picture 10, the outer pages of a brochure published by the Ryebank Fields Community Group which is trying to retain Ryebank Fields as a community area for the local people of Longford and Chorlton. They have produced an alternative planning application and are seeking as much local support as possible.
I know we do have supporters among our volunteers and our membership. If you would like to support this initiative you can find out more by going to www.ryebankfieldscommunity.co.uk but be quick because your response is required by 2nd October 2025.
Thank you once more for your amazing support - it is good to be back!