Friends’ volunteers and the Council’s Rangers teamed up again recently to do more path improvements. This was on the Astley Park Trail between the Sensory Garden and Great Wood where surface water had partly washed away the surfacing.
After removing encroaching vegetation and cutting side drainage channels to direct the water away from the path, black limestone aggregate was used to redress the surface.
This autumn appears to be especially good for fungi specimens in the Park. There are about 4000 species of fungus in Britain and many look similar to one another so it can be hard to correctly identify them even with apps and written guides, but here goes…
First off is the more distinctive Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus).
Another characteristic shape is the Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymotpha).
Many fungi like to grow on timber, whether that be living trees or decaying wood. A good example of the former site is that preferred by the Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus) which as the name suggests can grow quite large.
The curiously named Chicken in the Woods (Latiporus sulphureus) appears to like rotting timber.
The Grey Spotted Amanita (Amanita excelsa var. spissa) has the appearance of an archetypal toadstool and beware it is poisonous.
And finally, something which is not a fugus at all. Below are picture galls on an oak tree created by the Cola Nut Gall Wasp (Andricus lignicola). The females lay eggs in the buds of such trees which respond by growing tissue around the larva, providing it with a protective home and food source.
Friends’ volunteers have been busy by the River Chor in the Park recently. Firstly, by sampling the river for invertebrate species indicative of river water quality under the Riverfly [click here ] initiative, meaning this has now been fully started. Pictured below some of our members are carefully counting the range of species caught so a ‘score’ can be calculated and recorded on the national database.
Secondly, Friends’ volunteers have been busy staining the handrails of a footbridge that connects the Park with the Farthings housing estate. Pictured below is the work in progress and the finished result.
This means that over the last two years our members have stained or painted all 12 footbridges in the Park. The materials we used were kindly donated by Chorley Council.
The path between the Park Road Gates and the steps leading to the reedbed lookout has become muddy each winter in recent years. First encroaching grass and overhanging vegetation needed to be cleared. Then a layer of fine black limestone was spread over the path surface.
The limestone was then compacted to complete the job – a good morning’s work for the combined team of Friends’ volunteers and Council staff.
This year’s Mayor of Chorley – Cllr. Alistair Morwood – chose to ask the Friends of Astley Park to lead a guided walk around the Park as part of his charity fundraising. Pictured below is the Mayor holding up a representation of the Sun as part of a demonstration of how Transits of Venus occur. This is when that planet passes in front of the Sun when seen from Earth. These have a particular local significance – use link https://friendsofastleypark.com/history-and-discovery/jeremiah-horrocks-and-the-transits-of-venus/
The walkers were guided around the Park following the Astley Park Trail – use link https://friendsofastleypark.com/history-and-discovery/the-astley-park-trail/
Below Friends Vice-Chair Julian Jackson, is explaining the existence of a milking parlour remnant, dating from the time the Park annually hosted the Royal Lancashire Show – between 1987 and 2002. This was just one of many historical facts about the Park imparted on the day.
Our annual quiz night is happening on Friday 10th October at St Mary’s Parish Centre, off Devonshire Road, Chorley PR7 2BY. It starts at 7.30pm prompt and is open to non-members as well as signed-up Friends; you will be invited to form or join a team.
As this year marks our 20th anniversary tickets are free to Friends members and £9.00 for all others attending, the price includes a hot pot supper. Visitors can pay on the night, but you will need to pre-book by contacting Keith Woan on 01257 278759 or via email – k.woan192@btinternet.com
Plants that were used in the Friends’ Community Garden display and those left over from our Show stall will be available for donations in the Coach House courtyard this coming Saturday 9th August from 9:30am. A selection of the plants is shown below.
The dry weather over the Flower Show weekend brought out many visitors to Astley Park. Both our exhibits – the Community Garden and the stall were busy with people keen to find out what we do and support us. Many were rightly impressed by the original painting produced and very kindly donated to be raffled for our funds by our member Sandra Sugden. Below is a reminder of it.
The draw for the raffle was made in the presentation tent at around 3.30pm on the Show Sunday by celebratory florist and gardener Jonathan Moseley. The winning lead ticket of the raffle strip is displayed below. It belonged to a Steve Hodgson of Chorley.
For the second year running, the Friends Community Garden at the Chorley Flower Show has won a GOLD award. Credit goes to our member Jan Sanderson for the design and to our volunteers Connie & David Joyce and Steve Hodson for assisting in the build work.
The judges were impressed with the garden design and thanked the group for contributing to this section of the Show. It is pictured below.
We also had a good day today on the Stand, with the plants for donations and raffle tickets for the painting both being very popular. Thanks again to our volunteers who are staffing the Stand over the Flower Show Weekend.
Yes, it’s coming towards the end of July, so it is again time for the Chorley Flower Show. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Show and 2025 is 20 years since the formation of the Friends of Astley Park. This year as last year we have both a stall and a community garden. Again, as previously our member Sandra Sugden has very kindly donated a painting (shown below) she has produced so it can be raffled.
Currently in the days before the Show opens our volunteers are building our community garden (pictured below). The garden has been designed by our member Jan Sanderson; it is a miniature representation of the Park featuring projects achieved by the Friends during the 2010s decade.
Why not come along and view our exhibits, meet our volunteers and discover more about what we do, perhaps even become a member? The Show runs from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July, open from 10am until 5pm. Visit https://chorleyflowershow.com/ to learn more about visiting.
Friends of Astley Park 