friendsofastleypark Astley Park - General, FoAP

Clearance work starts on the ‘Green Pond’

The so-called ‘Green Pond’ is that colour because it is covered with a thick blanket of duck weed. The pond provides the water supply to the nearby ‘Lost Fountain’ which has previously been restored by Friends volunteers and so dates back to the same era – to before 1844.

The pond is up to 12 feet deep and contains litter which has accumulated because it is hard to remove. Fully clearing the pond is quite a task as it depends on gaining access along all the banks which at present is difficult due to bordering vegetation that has grown up over the year. So, although a great deal of material has now been taken out of the pond, the task remains work in progress, to be resumed later this year when the bankside vegetation has died back.

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Astley Park Trail

Steve, our Chair, speaks to camera about the Astley Trail

Friends Chair, Stephen Rhodes (pictured), has been interviewed by Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF) staff about the Astley Trail for a video being made for the LEF’s Annual Event to be held later this year.

The Fund is a partnership of SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd, Lancashire County Council, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and Community Futures which locally distributes monies from the national Landfill Communities Fund. Such funding along with monies from Chorley Council helped pay the contractor’s costs and associated expenses incurred in 2020 in creating the Astley Trail, the 2 mile long waymarked path around the key features of the Park.

Now further works are imminent to improve the trail for wheelchair and pushchair users, again to be LEF and Chorley Council funded, involving two new lengths of path that will bypass two stretches which have steps.

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Recent Bat Walks

After two years of lock-downs etc the Friends of Astley Park were pleased to be able to organise  two evening bat walks this summer. Once again they were assisted by Harold, Michael and other members of the Merseyside and West Lancs Bat Group, who came along with their detectors and expertise.

The first walk in July was particularly successful as many bats were detected and seen on a lovely summer evening.

The second one in August took place during the heat-wave and, whilst many bats were detected, not so many were seen.  Perhaps due to the high temperature and long dry period?

This event was very well attended but next year, should the events be repeated, attendance will be limited to no more than two dozen, in order to enhance the experience for everyone.

There are six species of bat that are found in the Park. They are the Common Pipistrelle, Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctule, Daubenton’s, Brown Long Eared and Whiskered. The people who went on the walks particularly enjoyed watching the Daubenton’s skimming over the lake in the semi-darkness.

friendsofastleypark Astley Park - General, FoAP

Chorley Flower Show 2022

Friends of Astley Park will have a stall at Chorley Flower Show again this year.

Come and visit us this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday 29th, 30th and 31st July, 10am to 5pm each day (last entry 4pm).

Enter our raffle and you could win this original painting…

Our stall is in the vicinity of the main marquee and the Food and Drink Village, we look forward to seeing you there.

For more information on the Flower Show please CLICK HERE

friendsofastleypark Astley Park - General, FoAP

TODAY – Sustainability Event, Saturday 19th March 2022

Just a quick reminder that or volunteers are running a stall at a free entry Sustainability Event organised by Chorley in Bloom today, Saturday 19th March in the Lancastrian Room at Chorley Town Hall.

The Event will be opened by Sir Lyndsey Hoyle MP at 10.30am. It will run until around 3.00pm and will feature a series of talks with Q & A opportunities on gardening, climate change, wildlife and the environment.

Our stall will present how the Friends work in Astley Park contributes to these topics and for members of the public there will be a chance to discuss how you could join us in our activities.

Remember, 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.

friendsofastleypark Astley Park - General, FoAP

REMINDER – Sustainability Event, Saturday 19th March 2022

Just a quick reminder that or volunteers are running a stall at a free entry Sustainability Event organised by Chorley in Bloom on Saturday 19th March in the Lancastrian Room at Chorley Town Hall.

The Event will be opened by Sir Lyndsey Hoyle MP at 10.30am. It will run until around 3.00pm and will feature a series of talks with Q & A opportunities on gardening, climate change, wildlife and the environment.

Our stall will present how the Friends work in Astley Park contributes to these topics and for members of the public there will be a chance to discuss how you could join us in our activities.

Remember, 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.

friendsofastleypark Astley Park - General, FoAP

Sustainability Event At Chorley Town Hall, Saturday 19th March 2022

Our volunteers are running a stall at a free entry Sustainability Event organised by Chorley in Bloom on Saturday 19th March in the Lancastrian Room at Chorley Town Hall.

The Event will be opened by Sir Lyndsey Hoyle MP at 10.30am. It will run until around 3.00pm and will feature a series of talks with Q & A opportunities on gardening, climate change, wildlife and the environment.

Our stall will present how the Friends work in Astley Park contributes to these topics and for members of the public there will be a chance to discuss how you could join us in our activities.