Idiots

This will be the last update for this year and we will start a new news page for what we hope is the last year of the restoration. It interesting to look back at the whole year and we have the 2009 photos and news on line as well at the main Queens Park website

The Queens Park lake is frozen over once again and the idiots are out. The above shot of the lads running across the lake and jumping about on it. There is also bike tracks across the lake. What they dont realize is if it breaks and they fall in they could be in serious trouble as the temperature is so low. The problem is if they do fall in someone from emergency services may have to risk their lives to rescue them. So be smart and safe and stay off the lake.

The ducks are out enjoying a game of football on the lake and seem fascinated by the football. There has been some feathers near the golf coarse end of the lake which suggest something or someone is killing them.

 

At Tipkinder even the Valley Brook has frozen over which is unusual for a flowing stream.

While people are out feeding the Ducks dont forget the other wildlife as they need food this Robin came down and sat inches from us for ages desperate for food, So bring some food for the birds as well

Queens Park Play area update

The bowing green now has the metal structure in place but due to the weather and the time of year progress is slow

The grass is in tip top conditions and very green considering the bad weather.

The same is true of the cafe all that can be done is the woodwork due to the weather.

The lake hasnt thawed out full yet and its evident how much rubbish has been throw into the lake by people while its frozen all which will sink once it thaws.

The play area’s new climbing frame and swings have made progress despite the bad weather with the new frame on site ready to be fitted. As you can see its like doing some Xmas puzzle trying to sort out all the bits for it.
 
By the play area were bird food has been put out there are lots of birds coming down to feed and this has created lots of interest with bird watchers.


The final thing is the new improved sluice gate wheels which will make things a lot simpler to operate when the lake needs to be filled

Winter Wonder Land

With the bad weather the Queens Park has become a winter wonder land for those brave enough to brave the sub zero weather. early in the week it was cold and foggy giving a mystical feel.

The sun broke through later in the week but it was still very cold. What is shocking as you can see above people have been breaking into the park behind the barriers and throwing all sorts of things onto the lake. You can see metal fence,plastic fence and big rubber feet off the fences on the lake. The problem is as the lake melts all this is going into the lake which we have spent a fortune having it cleaned. It represents a danger to wildlife.

Getting any work done this week has been touch and go due to the freezing weather but the Bowls hut has had a crane there putting the steal work in and its starting to take shape slowly

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The geese and ducks have been wondering about down the main drive due to the bad weather. You can see how frosty it has been with the trees pure white.

Despite the bad weather the play area is getting the new set of swings put in. The weather is against it as they cant cement them in while its so cold.

As well as the new swings the ground is being prepared for the new climbing frame for older youths. It was hoped to get it in before Xmas but its all down to the weather as they can cement or put the rubber down in the bad weather

Snow Work in the Queens Park

Work has been hampered all week with snow and ice but they have managed to do some more woodwork on the cafe with the centre roof going into place slowly.

 

Its even been to cold for the squirrel man who sits by the lake daily and feeds them this one was sitting on the bench waiting for his dinner.

The  lake has been frozen and as you can see the vandals have been at it again throwing logs fences and anything else they can find onto the lake. Of coarse when it melts all this rubbish will be in the lake which has just been cleaned out they have been wrecking fences to get to the lake and the Police have had to be called on more than one occasion.

The gardeners have been busy cutting back the bushes and trees in and around Coronation Walk ready for planting next year

Cafe contracts up for grabs at parks

 

Firms are being invited to tender to run the new cafeteria in Crewe’s Queens Park.

Building work is under way and the facility is due to open next year.

The offer to prospective contractors has been placed on Cheshire East Councils website and is an electronic application known as ‘the chest’.

Contracts are also up for grabs at the cafeterias within Congleton Park and West Park, Macclesfield. Prospective contractors can submit interest for any of the cafeteria operations. The closing date for tender submissions is December 13.

The website – www.thechest.nwce.gov.uk – also has a suppliers’ guide, which has useful tips and advice for first-time users.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “This is a wonderful local opportunity to work within Queens Park on the first year following refurbishment. There are lots of ideas to work hand in glove with Cheshire East Council to provide a creative and enjoyable facility within the new cafeteria pavilion.”

Work on the cafeteria began in July. It is hoped the construction will be completed by February.

Queens Park is undergoing a £6.5m transformation to bring it back to its former glory. The Heritage Lottery Fund is providing a £2.7m support grant with the rest of the investment coming from Cheshire East Council.

Within the park’s 45 acres are walkways, trees, shrubs, planting, children’s play area, crown green bowling, putting, boating lake (currently drained for construction works), grassed areas, memorials and cafeteria.

For more information on the Queens Park restoration project visit the Queens Park web pages at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk – then click on ‘leisure, culture and tourism’ and follow links to the park pages.

Great Tits in the park

Wild Life Special

No not those sort  I Know what you thought smutty lot. With the bad weather the wildlife in the park has been in abundance as they fight  to get berries etc ready for winter. There are birds of all sort to be seen. 

By Tipkinder entrance bird feeders have been placed and the birds are flocking to get their food. I spent 20 mins catching these picture and if you stand still just a few feet away they still come down to feed. These I believe are great Tits

The squirrels are as cheekey as ever and again if you stay still they will come and even feed out of your hand

The above was the funniest shot of the week as I stud with MAX my German Sheppard and took these pictures of the cat with birds all around it with out him even looking and he didn't move with the dog either

There are a few Robins popping down to get the crumbs at the base of the feeders

The lake its self is frozen over and the wack wacks are skating on the ice

Christmas at Queen’s Park

 

Father Christmas is taking time off from his busy schedule to join in with the children’s lantern procession and other fun activities, at Queen’s Park in Crewe, on December 5.

The procession starts at 4.30pm at the main entrance to the park. Staff from Cheshire East Council have been visiting schools around Crewe making decorations for the children to carry during the event.

A festive sing song is planned around the park’s Christmas tree. It will be led by Reverend Steven Clapham from All Saints Church. He will also be giving an interactive presentation reminding people of what Advent is all about.

The evening is being organised by the Friends Group, in partnership with Crewe and Nantwich Lions, and it is the second year the lantern procession has been held at Queen’s Park.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “This is sure to be a special occasion and events like this improve community life.

“The event is free of charge as well, which is good news for families at an expensive time of year.”

Councillor Dorothy Flude, ward member for Crewe South, said: “I hope the people of Crewe will come out and support this event.

“Christmas is a special time for children and I am sure that the lantern procession will be a big success.”

The bowls pavilion is progressing slowly with the Sandstone being fitted. Most of the work is at the rear so far so you cant really see very much.

While in the same area with my new super Finepix HS10 camera with 30X optical zoom I took a snap of the bell on top of the West Lodge I wonder how many walk past the lodge and never look and see the bell?

The Cafe work has mostly been on the west side roof getting the beams in place.

You can now start to see the view the cafe will present on the horizon taken from the lake

Park development rises to the occasion

The new cafeteria at Queens Park has reached a milestone – with the impressive timber structure soaring into place.

A specialist company has been involved in installing the timbers due to their size, weight and complex fixing arrangement. The design will enable users to view the internal timbers when inside the new building.

The wall materials, on both the café and games pavilion, have been carefully chosen to match, where possible, the sandstone on the two lodges located at the Crewe park’s main entrance. The dark-red St Bees sandstone is the same as that which forms the sea cliffs of St Bees Head, near Whitehaven, in Cumbria.

Councillor Andrew Knowles, Cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: “The pace this building is going up is satisfying to see. But the really great thing is that you can now visualise what it will finally look like once completed and see the scale of the new facility.”

Work on the project began in July. It is hoped the construction will be completed by February.

Crewe West ward member Councillor Robert Parker said: “I am delighted with the building work on the new cafeteria. The attention to detail is particularly inspiring and I feel, once the whole restoration project is finally complete, Queens Park will be a major tourist attraction in the North West and a magnet for visitors to Crewe.”

Queens Park was renowned as one of the finest parks in the North West. It is undergoing a £6.5m transformation to bring it back to its former glory. The Heritage Lottery Fund is providing a £2.7m support grant with the rest of the investment coming from Cheshire East Council.

Within the park’s 45 acres are walkways, trees, shrubs, planting, children’s play area, crown green bowling, putting, boating lake (currently drained for construction works), grassed areas, memorials and cafeteria.

For more information on the Queens Park restoration project visit the Queens Park web pages at: www.cheshireeast.gov.uk – then click on ‘leisure, culture and tourism’ and follow links to the park pages.

If you don’t have online access, you can request a paper copy from Queens Park manager Elaine Dodd, on 01270 537896.

The Bowls pavilion is also making progress with wooden beam going in just like the cafe so they are getting on with it well.

One of the few trees left showing its Autumn colour is near the main entrance and work on the lodges should be starting soon.

One thing happening this week that people wont notice is the amount of wildlife in the park with lots of squirrels about and lots of birds over by the main entrance in the bushes after the berries etc  all getting ready for winter.

The lake still has some nice colours left to show you with a nice dreamy scene its so much better now you can get to the lake its self

November update

The bowls pavilion has now got some of the sandstone brick work in place and starting to look something like at last.

The cafe wood work is progressing but its a big job like a giant jigsaw but a lot of the beams are in and you can see the structure taking place

The top grass area near the band stand has started to green over very well now its been levelled after being covered in mud for years

Out side the park by the golf coarse the new footpath is now in place with bollards to protect you from the cars and the playing fields path has also been done


Our favourite rare duck has been out and about all this week and I got a couple of shots of him

November in the Queens Park

The bowls pavilion is now progressing well and you can now see the basic structure in place

Most of the work on the cafe has been around getting the wooden beams in place. Its a complicated structure and the crane has been here all week off and on lifting the beams into place each beam cost about £1,00.

The big thing is the bonfire which is on Friday the 5th and they were building it today

I noticed our regular visitor to the park nick named Squirrel man who come most days rain or sun to feed the squirrels and its interesting to see how they come and sit with him with him and eat from his hand.

 

There is still lots of colour in the park and it changes everyday it seems this one from Morton Road of the lake