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Top news stories... Keeping you up to date with everything going on in Rectory Park!


Rectory Park is presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge Award


Plaque

 

At the end of 2011 people all over the country were able to vote for their favourite green spaces as part of the Queen II Fields Challenge.

Our very own Rectory Park was one of the spaces to be nominated, and the local community voted in their hundreds showing mammoth support for the park.

As a result Rectory Park came 1st in the Birmingham area! And 11th nationally and was awarded permanent protection under the scheme meaning the park will be enjoyed for hundreds of years to come.

The plaque presented as part of the award was revealed by Councillors David Pears (Con) and Margaret Waddington (Con) of Sutton Trinity Ward.

Founder of FORP (2006) Councillor David Pears, thanked the local community who voted for the park and commented on the importance of the award and the status it will give the park – opening new avenues for funding which will help to drive future plans for the park further forward.

Also present was Jack Jennings, chair of FoRP, who said some of the future projects for the park including restoring an old dried up pond as well as a hedging project currently being carried out with Hollyfield Primary School.


(Images by Najm Clayton, www.suttoncoldfieldlocal.co.uk)


New hedge planting begins!


Last month saw the Friends complete the planting of the hedge along the Cricket Club boundary fronting the road-way up to the Leylandii trees. The Friends planted over 40 cell grown trees in what we now call Lime Grove over two days (27th & 28th March)  and also cut and cleared a large fallen tree from a pathway in the woods.
 
New Hedge 
 
On both days the Cricket Club Chairman, Colin Greatham, loaned us tools; wheelbarrow and with a tractor. These were used to collected up waste material for disposal, and supplied and delivered many gallons of precious water for the tree planting, Colin was also on hand for well deserved cups of coffee. Later George produced his now famous flask and biscuits for the mid - day welcome break.
 
Lime Grove
 
Thanks to the cricket clubs own work party, the clearing of the dead wood from the existing hedge row was taken care of, and and Colin agreed to cut back the weeds along the hedge line to assist with their new machine.
 
On the 5th and 6th April another deadwood section was cleared and further trees planted in Lime Grove.
 
Lime Grove planting
 
The Friends wood like to thank all that helped with the hedge planting!
 
The Cricket Club work party have made a start on tidying up at the rear of the Cricket Club where the old toilet block was and the Cricket Club will be about again on the 14 and 15th April to continue their work. 
 
The 14th is the second Saturday in the month, a work party day for FoRP, plenty to do and it keeps you fit, all are welcome! If you can make it, let Jack or Peter, 10am on the car park by the Cricket Club, or over in Lime Grove.
 
Dave, our very own Park Keeper, will be having a word with his new Boss and CPM John regarding the new trees we planted and not to cut the grass in Lime Grove. Dave's old boss Chris Silk has I understand moved onto pastures new, Chris helped FoRP out on quite a few occasions, we wish him every success in his new job.

 

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