As of today, Thursday 5th November, a new national lockdown is in place. Lockdown restrictions mean we are unable to continue with work in the park on a group basis.
It is still possible to do things such as litter picking, should anyone wish to do so, either with one’s partner or with one other individual with social distancing in place.
This new national lockdown is scheduled to finish on the 2nd December. Our position moving forward will be reviewed when new government announcements are made.
Until then, please stay well and safe and once again, we will see you on the other side.
Take care – Friends of Astley Park
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We can look forward to seeing them flower next year.
Meanwhile our members have been putting in the wayposts for the new circular route, the Astley Park Trail, which includes the new path running down the north side of the park that FoAP had installed in February/March.
The new trail will be an excellent 2K route which can be used by walkers, runners, cyclists alike and it takes in many interesting features of our lovely park.
Watch this space for more updates. Until then keep well and stay safe.
Unfortunately the Friends of Astley Park have decided to CANCEL all indoor activities until further notice pending the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
This will impact the December Members Meeting and our Quiz Night that was scheduled for early October.
The committee has also decided to curtail the MONDAY voluntary work parties in the park until next year.
The Saturday work parties will continue under very strict rules with no more than six people working together and everyone needing to socially distance. We take the rules very seriously and we will assess if indeed these can continue on an ad hoc basis.
This will of course pass in time and we will return with our meetings and work parties but until then please stay safe.
This site will be updated with any information as and when things become clearer.
Hello all, as you will no doubt be aware the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic is still impacting our lives at the moment.
Following this weeks change in local lockdown rules for Lancashire and then the whole of the country the Friends of Astley Park have had to CANCEL next weeks Members Meeting that was due to be held next Tuesday, 29th September at Chorley Town Hall.
Please stay safe and check back with the site for any updated dates.
Just a quick note to say we will be working in the park tomorrow, Saturday 12th September.
Jan will be working in the Sensory Garden at the Chorley end of the park and any other activities will be lead from the usual meeting point in the courtyard at the Coach House near Cafe Ambio.
9.30am start running til no later than noon.
Come along and see what we are all about. We hope to see you there.
As promised, we have revised our working party dates on Saturdays and Mondays. These dates can be found HERE.
We are working in the park tomorrow morning, Saturday 1st August. Everyone will be socially distanced and of course we’ll be out in the lovely fresh air.
As per usual, we will meet at the Coach House at 9.30am. If you wish to work on the Sensory Garden with Jan you can go straight there.
At the present time we are not able to advise when indoor meetings such as members’ meetings or Quiz night will be able to be resumed so watch this space.
You can follow this blog and keep up to date with things by entering your email address on the ‘Follow this Blog’ section of the Home Page to receive notifications of new posts by email.
Please follow the UK Government guidelines, stay safe and we’ll post more soon.
Did you know . . . while we have been in lockdown members have done litter picking, balsam bashing and small jobs in the Sensory Garden, all safely and socially distanced but did you know that Connie and David have been working down at the Lost Fountain?
David has built a wall, which completes the circular wall around the fountain and they have both been washing the pebbles and putting them back, on top of a layer of rock. They have also dug around the existing plants and added a few new ones.
Thank you both for all your hard work.
Connie and David working away by the fountain.
You can follow this blog by entering your email address on the ‘Follow this Blog’section of the Home Page to receive notifications of new posts by email.
Please follow the UK Government guidelines, stay safe and we’ll post more soon.
We hope this post finds you all safe and well in these strange times.
As restrictions are slowly lifted across the country we too, as a group, are starting to plan things moving forward in the ‘new-normal’.
So please keep checking back to the website as we update our calendar of events that will be planned to fit whatever restrictions are in place at the time and to keep everyone safe.
Did you know . . . that since last Autumn as well as the council maintaining the park, in the interests of health and safety, while we were doing our river cleans and litter picks we also took to clearing debris and litter from the various flights of stone steps, mainly in Great Wood.
You can follow this blog by entering your email address on the ‘Follow this Blog’section of the Home Page to receive notifications of new posts by email.
Please follow the UK Government guidelines, stay safe and we’ll post more soon.
It was back in April 2014 when after a lot of hard work behind the scenes by members of Friends of Astley Park that the physical work started on rejuvenating the Sensory Garden. It was officially opened on 23rd July 2014.
Since then the Friends have worked tirelessly to maintain and develop the garden in to the beautiful and tranquil place that it is today.
Jan Sanderson looks at how the garden has matured over the past six years.
Hello all, our roving reporter Jan has been out to visit the Sensory Garden during one of her exercise walks during lockdown and taken some lovely pictures of a number of the plant species growing there for you all to enjoy.
AJUGA repens ‘Mahogany’ (at the front of the Central Raised Bed)
AJUGA repens ‘Mahogany’
Each plant has dozens of bright blue flowers on vertical stems, which contrast with the nut brown foliage. They form good ground cover and the leaves are semi evergreen.
BERGINIA cordifolia ‘Purpurea’ (on the left of the first terrace)
BERGINIA cordifolia ‘Purpurea’
Commonly known as Elephant Ears. This is a good ground cover plant, which has shiny leathery leaves. They have clusters of deep pink flowers.
VIBURNUM plicatum mariesii (behind the first seat on the left)
VIBURNUM plicatum mariesii
A medium/large shrub with tiered branches covered at this time of year with white flowers. It will also have lovely autumn colour.
ROSEMARY (near the Mole sculpture)
ROSEMARY
This is now known as Salvia rosmarinus. An aromatic herb with upright stems and pale blue flowers.
PRUNUS ‘Snow Showers’ (in the centre of the Central Raised Bed)
PRUNUS ‘Snow Showers’
This weeping cherry is the latest addition to the Sensory Garden. It has weeping branches and white flowers tinged with pink during April to May. It will have beautiful autumn colour.
Thank you Jan for taking the time to share this with us.
We will try and keep information coming out to you all whilst abiding by the Government rules so please keep checking back. Alternatively you can follow this blog by entering your email address on the ‘Follow this Blog’section of the Home Page to receive notifications of new posts by email.
Please follow the UK Government guidelines, stay safe and we’ll post more soon.
