Mandarin Duck returns

 

Being Xmas week there is little doing in the park this week but the Mandarin duck has come back again looking as good as ever

Winter Arrives in Queens Park

Happy Xmas to all my readers remember the park is open Xmas day.

Winter has moved in this week and above the birds are standing on a frozen lake if you view it full screen you see the strange reflections of the birds up side down.

Later in the week the council had all the paths resurfaced with a new type of tarmac which looked a lot like snow LOL. You can see how big the flakes were coming down and there was just me in the park that day.

More havoc and destruction

On Monday I did a Radio interview with Radio Stoke in the Queens park about the vandalism that has taken place lately. After the interview a walk around the park revealed the yobs had struck again this time the Gulf War memorial had bee attacked by the mind less yobs. A memorial for people who gave their live in service of their country and yobs just show no respect for the ultimate sacrifice.

The problem continue as you walk by Broadwalk Bridge to find all the cones have been thrown down under the bridge and even as far as the rock pool by the lake

 

On a lighter note the Pampas grass by the Diana memorial is still in full bloom

Barriers Down

All  the barriers have now been removed from the park so you are free to walk anywhere now. They have been replaced with signs telling  you to take care. The fences were doing no good as they were anyway.

The big news is the vandals have struck  again with a memorial seat being smashed to fire wood and the above smashed in the Coronation walk. Its been highlighted in the local paper and Radio Stoke are doing a broadcast on it as well. This is mostly due to the lack of wardens in the park  and all the money spent will be wasted if they destroy everything thats been done.

A lot of the geese seem to have gone this week and now we have mostly gulls of all shapes and sizes like the Vega Gulls

A burst of colour in the park with I think the only Gorse bush in there near the monkey hut.

Wildlife Invasion

The Queens Park has been invaded by wildlife this week with what seems like hundreds of Canadian Geese there was so  many you couldnt see the grass in places for them a rough count suggest around 300 are in the park.

What has got everyone talking is the return of two swans that came back on Tuesday. They are very tame taking bread from peoples hands. Everyone is delighted to see them back again..

A Shovel duck made an appearance this week

Shovelers are surface feeing ducks with huge spatulate bills. Males have dark green heads, with white breasts and chestnut flanks. Females are mottled brown. In flight birds show patches of light blue and green on their wings. In the UK they breed in southern and eastern England, especially around the Ouse Washes, the Humber and the North Kent Marshes, and in much smaller numbers in Scotland and western parts of England. In winter, breeding birds move south, and are replaced by an influx of continental birds from further north. The UK is home to more than 20% of the NW European population, making it an Amber List species.

The Jay was seen out in pairs also this week but they are hard to spot as they move about quickly.

 

Some nice Autumn colour about this week this nice tree under the broadwalk bridge.

 

The trees behind the clock tower have turned into a nice display also

Remember this

Nothing happening in the park but the gardeners have done a good job of planting up the Boer War memorial lets see how long that stay nice before the kids are allowed on it by parents?

Some older pictures of the park do you remember how it used to be?

Coronation Walk

Lake with the old bridges in the distance

Main Drive with the big trees

Lake with the island full of trees

Main Entrance  again

Two lake pictures with the old bridge and island all from about 2005

Autumn comes to the park

It was Autumn  in the park the gardeners have the winter beading out on the main drive

The trees are showing signs of Autumn  but the colours haven't been so good this year maybe the warm spell so late has effected it

OPEN AIR QUEENS PARK 2012
Tel: 01270 537896
14™ - 17th February - 1 hr workshop time tbc Queens Park, Victoria Ave., Crewe CW2 7SE MAKE YOUR OWN BIRD BOX
Create your own bird box, take it home and watch with interest the feathered friends
who visit your garden.
With the CEC Countryside Ranger Service
£3 material supplied. Booking Line 01260 297237
January to March 2012
'Spring Watch in Queens Park' FREE Queens Park, Victoria Ave., Crewe CW2 7SE Presented by The Pickle Jar at the Lakeside
Running from January to March 2012 primary schools, in the Cheshire East area, are invited to take part in our Spring Watch' project This will provide an opportunity for children to literally track spring as it happens through observation of plants and animals and support it with photographs they take and pictures they draw Joined by the 'Friends of the Park' and Cheshire Wildlife Trust', together with other groups from across East Cheshire to provide support and information those involved.
This project is sponsored, supported and organised by The Pickle Jar at the Lakeside - the new cafe in the pavilion building in Queens Park. They will be providing an area in a corner of the cafe with display boards for each school to track what they have seen and recorded, and to display individual work from children. We also looking at a series of events to which everyone will be invited and the children will be able to take part. We look forward to seeing you! If you are interested then please contact either Tim or Rachel on: webmaster@thepickleiar.co.uk OR call them on 01606 551122
May-August
Queens Park, Crewe - Events Programme Queens Park, Victoria Ave., Crewe CW2 7SE Most Sundays 2pm - 4pm
See www.chehsireeastcouncil.gov.uk Or tel 01270 537896 for more details.
Sunday 6th May - 2pm - 4pm Bischofsheim Accordion Orchestra
Wonderful German Band visiting our own Crewe Brass Band, from Crewe's twinned town of Bischofsheim
Sun 17th 4 24th June 2pm-4pm Queens Park, Victoria Ave., Crewe CW2 7SE Clay Art Workshop
Join Sheila to create your own Queens Park keepsake with the 'Friends of Queens Park'! Creations made on the 4th Painted on the 10,h. £3 material supplied
Booking Line 01270 537896 Or, email elaine.dodd(S)cheshireeast.qov.uk
PROV..... Sun 26th August 2pm,-10pm
Folk 'n' Ale Event
Presented by Volume      Pre-promotion poss Sat Set-up Sun am. Sat 4th November
Crewe & Nantwich Lions Association Queens Park, Victoria Ave., Crewe CW2 7SE
Fireworks Display   5pm Gates Open    8pm Fireworks

Lakeside Cafe

The new Cafe taken over by the Pickle Jar was opened this week with the new name of the Lakeside. The name was chosen from many suggested as being the most appropriate for a cafe over looking the lake.

Pickle Jar at the Lakeside Winter Opening Times from October 30th
Monday 12 noon - 4pm
Tuesday 12 noon - 4pm
Wednesday 12 noon - 4pm
Thursday 12 noon - 4pm

The mayor and the Pickle jar team and Elaine Dodd

Derek Morgan our supportive Chairperson with Daniel - the youngest member of the Friends group- although that might change on the 1st!!!, that's what happens as you get older Dan!! He is also our Youth Representative and very interested and involved.

Councillor David Brickhill, who suggested the name, along with Cllr Jacqueline Weatherill who unfortunately couldn't come along today, so Karen the Manageress stepped in to cut the cake!

Some maintance  work has been carried out as dead trees have been removed near the lake.

The new path around the keep fit equipment has now been finished so you wont get muddy anymore keeping fit

If you look back a couple of weeks I pointed out the yobs had carved names on the Monkey hut which has only just been repaired this week even more carvings have been done they cant leave anything alone and it does show we want more wardens back to protect the work that has been done

Dan The Man

Dan Band one of the gardeners at the park was one of the three apprentices awarded Apprentice of the year. He has been doing stage two of the horticultural qualification and now going to move on to stage three. Well done to him and George his constant supervisor who make sure he is always working.

I noticed the Bandstand rain dripping everywhere the other day it seems the drains have fell apart.

The exercise area is getting a make over this week as it was raised at a friends meeting that it was muddy when wet. They are now putting concrete down around all the equipment   so it will be ok when it rains.

Volunteers wanted. I visited the bench grave yard this week all the old benches are stacked up and un loved many only want minor repairs. We are after volunteers to fix them and get that back in the park. These are all benches that people have bought to remember their loved ones but they are not the councils responsibility  a sits up to the owners but of coarse many have passed away or moved. It would be nice to get them repaired and back into the park any wood work experts ideal anyone retired that could give a few hours to fix them?

 

They even get wrecked by kids using them for swings under the bridge

What a week

Its been a funny week with Radio Stoke doing interview about the park this week you can still catch it for a few day here I am on about 46 mins in and the Mayor is on a few mins latter. The main concern is there is no money to finish the park at the moment but a bid has gone to the lottery 3 weeks ago for a further £330,00 to finish the paths. The lottery are looking at adding it on to the present grant which would mean a quicker decision rather than applying for a new grant.

The paths were not on the original application because at the time they were ok it was only when Wrekin took heavy machines over them that they were damaged  and of coarse they went bankrupt so we cant get money off them.

One of the thing missing that was cut from the interview is the increase of vandals in the park and if we dont get a grip all the hard work will be destroyed in a few months.

Not recant but the Gulf War memorial was destroyed by vandal's a new one is planned once soldiers have their say as what goes on it.

 

The lake as a lot of examples here near the gold coarse a lovely picture but as you can see a fence and half a gate post have been thrown into the lake.

Here we can see a 15 ft plastic pipe thrown in the lake retrieved by the gardeners this week there are plenty of other examples with dustbins and  fences and other rubbish thrown in. Below the clock tower has recently been restored and there is a ball missing already.

 

We have this week some new old photos if that makes sense sent in by B Smith to share with the people of crewe.

The old Cafe note the two chimneys which is the current design

The clock tower of coarse

A flower bed and old seat and below the lake the golf coarse end

Back by popular demand are some more panoramic shots of the park taken this week while we had some nice weather. You need to click on them to see a full picture. Taken with a Fugi HS10

Finally a nice one of the new Lakeside Cafe which is its new name