Connaught park appreciation group
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
12 June 2013 19:13233033a bit windy for wearing a kilt tomorrow,with a bit of dampness coming and going. - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
12 June 2013 19:30233035The weather should be a lot better tomorrow for the planting so I hope you get a lot of volunteers and those benches look amazing. I wonder if the extra benches that have come are from outside the DTC offices, they were still missing last time I thought to look.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 12 June 2013 19:40233044We'd love to help Colette, but you know why we can't! To add insult to injury I've buggered up my back assembling an IKEA wardrobe.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
12 June 2013 19:42233045peter,why didn't you get a real one.
- 12 June 2013 21:52233051Benches look amazing!! I think you should put notices on...Please keep off the benches..... lol.
- Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
12 June 2013 23:05233053Well done with the benches every one involved, they look brand spanking new. I shall buy you a pint Stuart and Barry WS the next time I see you.
- 15 June 2013 10:49233315"2016, here we come." ?
Bristol wins green capital 2015 bid
"Bristol Mayor George Ferguson said: "This demonstrates Bristol's ambition to be a pioneering green city and is recognition for the many years of hard work and dedication by the city council, businesses and the people of Bristol to make our city more environmentally friendly.
"We will now be turning our attention to staging an inspiring programme of events in 2015 which will be centred around the idea of Bristol as a 'Laboratory for Change'.
"I have offered Bristol as a test-bed for environmental ideas in 2015, where we will develop pioneering practices which will not only benefit Bristol, but will hopefully become a model for cities around the world.""
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/bristol-wins-green-capital-2015-bid-053843522.html#1Dq9vs3Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 16 June 2013 20:41233474Thanks for all your kind comments re Benches very pleased with the end result. Just goes to show what a little hard graft can achieve. Still waiting for them to be put back in their rightful places, they need to be locked down so it's not just a matter of putting them back out. I'm hoping they can grace the park with their presence real soon so people can enjoy looking at our newly planted beds.
Yes, we have completed four of the five circular beds in only two days. The rain stayed away but it was very windy, still it was great to achieve so much. Volunteers were a bit thin on the ground, managed to secure three great workers plus myself for each morning. The afternoon of Thursday two of us were able to stay on & on Friday afternoon I stayed on with a little help from one of the park attendants, so many thanks to John. Also that afternoon, a class of little children from Guston Primary School came along with their teachers & they were so interested in what we were doing. I asked if they would like to help & a few of the children knelt beside us & planted a couple of plants. They were all so pleased & happy to chat about the plants & they waved us goodbye with lots of thanks, that really made me smile. Lots of people came over to us during both days to say how pleased they were to see us planting again in that area of the park & that they were looking forward to having flowers again.
I must say a Huge Thank You to the hard working volunteers, Stewart Hamilton, Jack, Cllr Pat Sherratt & Liz Dimech from the Castle Forum. They all worked so hard, we made the perfect team
Darran Solley, DDC, came along each day to offer advice which was very helpful indeed, thanks Darran
Only one more bed to plant now, the one with the fountain, so hopefully we can get that completed this week weather permitting. We hope to start that one on Tuesday.
Peter, hope your back is a lot better by now, I sympathize, I know all about back pain.
Here are some photos
Before the planting
After the planting
Our happy man team, Stewart, Jack & Pat
- 16 June 2013 21:55233480Walked the family to Connaught today, all were full of praise for your efforts and delighted with the planting up. Well done.
- 16 June 2013 22:28233485Thanks Pauline, glad you & your family enjoyed them
- 17 June 2013 09:31233537lovely to see the results of all the work put in.
- 19 June 2013 21:47234054Congratulations and very well done Colette - and well done your volunteers. Those beds will look great when they are in bloom.
Roger - 24 June 2013 17:31234688Thanks Roger, with a little TLC, weeding & watering (rain taking care of that at present) they should indeed come into their own when they eventually bloom
Talking of rain, on Friday morning last week, Cllr Pat Sherratt & myself managed to finish the final circular bed in the aviary area. We were planting away when the rain came down in bucketfuls but we continued to soldier on as we were determined to finish it. The last plant went in & by then we were both socked through. Pat looked a picture with one of the green C,PAG aprons wrapped around his head, pity I didn't get a photo but it was impossible in that rain! Many thanks Pat for staying on with me.
Thanks also to Stewart Hamilton for his help earlier on Friday morning.
The day before, Thursday, a lovely man called Rodney, Liz Dimech's hubby, arrived with Liz, to help with that last bed & I must say a Huge 'Thank You' to him. He worked away at such speed & did a splendid job, making it easier for Pat & I to finish on Friday. Some photos below.
Before
After,but taken in the pouring rain.
The specific bench bolts have been sourced & ordered so it won't be long now until our newly refurbished benches are back in place.Two of the seven benches are presently having some small repairs done but will soon be ready too.
I feel a bit of a celebratory party coming on & why not. Let's hope the weather improves, would be nice to have a proper summer's day
Then we start work on five more benches for elsewhere in the park
- 24 June 2013 17:42234690brilliant stuff by colette, pat and all the others to get things to this stage - indeed a celebration will be called for when the sun comes out.
how about a sunday picnic where the volunteers and forum members bring along their own cool box and enjoy the surroundings? - 24 June 2013 18:22234696Great idea Howard Will definitely organize that as soon as the benches are in place, the flowers in full bloom & the weather experts forecast a sunny weekend
- 25 June 2013 07:03234763You're not talking about this year then Colette ?? Forecast a sunny week-end indeed.
Roger - 25 June 2013 10:31234822This whole initiative is gaining momentum..
following press release just in from DDC..
* *
CONNAUGHT PARK POND AND VICTORIAN SHELTER - KEY RENOVATIONS SET TO MAKE A SPLASH
Key renovation works will help to make a splash at Connaught Park in Dover this summer - with the launch of a £36K programme of repairs and renovations to two of the park's important heritage assets, the pond and the Victorian Shelter.
Dover District Council is making a range of repairs and improvements to these key features in the park, including draining, cleaning and repairing the pond, and repairing and redecorating the Victorian Shelter. The work is due to start in July and is expected to take around 3 to 4 weeks to complete.
These renovations are alongside excellent work by volunteers from the local community, the Connaught Park Appreciation Group, who have been involved with a range of improvements, including planting some of the circular flower beds, working with Dover District Council.
The pond features the original Victorian cast iron fountain, which was fully restored as part of the park's 125th anniversary celebrations. The pump was removed recently as the water levels had dropped following leaks in the pond, but will be returned as part of the works. DDC continues to work with Mid Kent Fisheries to care for the fish in the pond, and due to the low water levels, the fish have been removed and placed in holding tanks until repairs are completed. Experts are also making sure that other wild life is safe, and that the tadpoles have left the pond before the works start.
The Victorian Shelter needs repairs to timber posts and the roof tiles, and will be renovated and restored. The timber shelter is the only surviving shelter of its type left in the park, and remains the only covered seating in the park.
Colette Boland from the Connaught Park Appreciation Group said: "As a regular user of the park, I wanted to help improve this much-loved area, to put something back into the community, and to see the positive results. We have had wonderful support from volunteers, as well as local groups and organisations. We have been pleased to work with DDC, and are delighted that they are restoring the pond and shelter."
Cllr Nigel Collor, DDC Cabinet Member for Property said: "We are delighted to launch these renovation works at Connaught Park. We share the enthusiasm of the volunteers who have worked hard to help improve the park, and we thank everyone for their support. We hope the community will continue to take pride in this beautiful park, and we look forward to seeing the completed renovations of the shelter and pond."
- ends -email: dover7@msn.com - 25 June 2013 12:00234832You beat me to it Paul; I've just got back in and saw this from Andy Steele.
Well done DDC and well done Colette.
Roger - 25 June 2013 12:12234837great news - especially about the pond.
- 25 June 2013 18:23234874Yes, a big well done to all concerned. It's called People Power.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
