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Almost There With Improvement Works
With the installation of a small playhouse for toddlers, the work funded by Playbuilder funding came to an end. There are still some improvements to be made, paid for by Community Spaces. These include new signs and hedgelaying later in the year. We Launch Party Well Supported Despite torrential rain, many brave sould turned out to the launch party to celebrate the improvements to the Park that have come courtesy of the Community Spaces. Although the rounders tournament had to be cancelled, the arts and craft tent was a hive of activity and party-goers were sustained by a hog roast and super music from a jaz trio. Pocket Park Wins £48,000 Community Spaces Funding For Further Improvements
Just before Christmas we received the brilliant news that the Pocket Park has won over £48,000 in Community Space funding. This money comes via the National Lottery. The grant will be used to continue the programme of improvements, including a perimeter path, a pond dipping platform, new signs and rubbish bins, hedge-laying, tree surgery, wildflower and pond planting and general wildlife management and enhancement of the environment. It is anticipated that these works will be carried out over the next 12 to 18 months. This grant is very much about community involvement, so we would welcome any body who would like to volunteer to learn how to hedge-lay, help out with planting trees and management of the wildlife.
Pocket Park To Share Trees with Obelisk Spinney Pocket Park
BTCV has donated a pack of 50 young trees to Boughton's Pocket Parks. They should arrive at the end of January. We will be holding a tree-planting day early in February. If you'd like to plant a tree or would like to dedicate a tree to someone, please get in touch.
Father Christmas Opens New Venes Play Area
In December The New Venes Play Area was launched by a VIP guest: Father Christmas. This was a very special occasion, made all the more memorable by the presence of not only our visitor from Lapland but also many members of Dick and Audrey Venes' family, who travelled from all over the country. The opening was a momentous occasion as reaching that point had been such a massive community effort. It is apt that the new play area is names after Dick and Audrey Venes: although they are no longer with us they represented everything that is brilliant about our local community and how people can work together. The project was funded by a £50,000 Playbuilder grant, money raised by the Pocket Park Committee and donated by local people and businesses. Our thanks go to the Weatherley family, Nationwide Building Society, Billing Finance, EuroBrand Foods, Macintryre Hudson and DNG for their generosity.
Boughton Parish Council also played a major role in not only reclaiming the VAT on our behalf, enabling us to get much more from the grant, but also for being so supportive when the funding looked a bit shaky over the summer.
The Pocket Park Committee is ever so grateful for the assistance of we received from professionals during the project: Artemis who put together the brilliant design based on the feedback from the extensive public consultation; Steve Johnson and all the team from RJ Warren who did the installation and had to overcome some very challenging conditions; and all those at River Nene Regional Park for their advice and support. The equipment came from Timberplay and Playdale - both excellent companies to work with.
Photographs by Dennis Tyrrell of the occasion can be seen, by clicking here.
2010 Pocket Park Fireworks & Bonfire
Thank you to everyone who helped make the second bonfire night held in the Pocket Park such an enjoyable and successful night. Just over 1050 visitors enjoyed the spectacular fireworks and delicious refreshments, prepared by hand by Portfolio Events. Numerous local people are involved with the bonfire - it's a massive community effort that ranges from the children at Boughton Primary School who made the guy to the 35 helpers on the night and all those who gave their time before hand to help set it up. We wouldn't be able to run the night without local people and businesses giving their time and services for nothing or virtually nothing. These include the Seeligs at MG Signs who donate the signs, Boughton Trees, Whitestone Hire, Mark Arrowsmith from Arrows Events, the companies who donated the fencing and the pallets, D&D Marquees and Portfolio Events.
More photographs by Dennis Tyrrell on the night can be seen, by clicking here.
Community Spaces Funding
The Pocket Park's second stage application for this lottery money is now with the grant panel. We hope to learn by the New Year whether we have successfully won nearly £50,000, which will be spent on improvements including a perimeter fence, habitat amelioration, a pond-dipping platform and new signage.
Summer Toddle Waddle 4th August
About 40 hardy youngsters and theit parents braved the rain to go on a Summer Toddle Waddle in Boughton Pocket Park on 4th August, which was a National Play Day. The event was organised by the charity Plantlife (www.wildaboutplants.org.uk) to show how much fun can be having exploring natural spaces inn the local community. Felicity Harris from Plantlife had a wide range of activities on offer for the young naturalists, including creating a nest for bugs or solitary bee, making a miniature meadow and decorating a botanical bonnet. "It was lovely to see so many people out, in spite of the rain," said Felicity. Activities like these help build an appreciation and understanding of the natural work and wild plants we find in local spaces. Pocket Parks, such as Boughton, provide a great opportunity for people to experience nature on their doorstep.
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