New Park Projects take Root

On the morning of Sunday 26th February the Friends of Southwell Park (FoSP) held their Willow Planting Workshop on the brand new Squires Park in Southwell.

This was a workshop to add the final stage to the Bramley Apple sculpture created for FoSP by local artist Phil Neal. Phil Neal gave the children a master class in willow planting and the children and parents helped Phil to create a fantastic willow den around the apple and a great worm tunnel for the kids to run through. Over the next few years the willow will grow in and around the sculpture to create an amazing den for the children. The sculpture looks amazing at the moment, having weathered over the winter. The new willow makes a fab addition, we can’t wait to watch it grow!

In 2016 we completed our original project, to raise £100,000 to install a brand new play area in the Squires park area in Southwell. The whole project was an amazing community effort; it would not have been completed without the help of the Southwell Town Ccouncil and of course the immense generosity of the Southwell businesses and the Southwell public.

For 2017 FoSP have two new projects that we are working on.

Project 1 – The field and pond next to Squires Park
Four groups of final year degree students from Nottingham Trent University have spent the last few months working on their final year projects. To design a sensory / educational garden within the area next to Squires Park. Last month FoSP went to the Brackenhurst campus to watch the presentations and see the plans unveiled. The students have worked incredibly hard and have come up with some fantastic ideas for ways in which we could utilise this area whilst still keeping it as natural as possible. Ideas included wild flower meadows, pond dipping platforms, outdoor classrooms, Swales and much much more. FoSP are now looking to develop the plans, proposals and quotations further and investigate sources of funding.

Project 2 – The ‘big kids’ play equipment on Memorial Park 
This is a great park with some great equipment but it is in need of some TLC and some refurbishment. We are starting to look around for ideas for this area. Jupiter Play, who built the Squires Park, have been to have a look at the area and are putting together some proposals.

The 2017 FoSP AGM will be held on Wednesday 8th March at 8pm at The Town Council Office on The Burgage. Our concept designs and the students plans will all be on display, this is a very informal evening where you are welcome to along and find out more about what we do.

FoSP are always looking for new ideas and would welcome any new committee members. We are specifically looking for people with finance backgrounds to help to manage our funds, and also for people with an interest in landscape designing, environmental, nature and sensory gardening to help with our project on The Wider Squires Field.

If you feel you might like to get a little or a lot more involved please come along or contact us through our facebook page or by email friendsofsouthwellparks@gmail.com