Williamson Park magazine

Issue 3. March 2014

TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR PARK

OUTDOOR THEATRE

NEWS FROM THE WOODLAND

family events in the

park

Welcome to the third issue of Enjoy, a new magazine with all the latest news and events at Williamson Park in Lancaster.

Coun David Smith, cabinet member with responsibility for parks and open spaces

Spring is in the air so what better time to come and visit the park. Help our campaign to ‘Take Pride in Your Park’, everyone can join in. There have been some new arrivals in the mini beast house over winter – have you met them yet? There is a new loyalty scheme too as our way of saying thank you to our customers for your support.

The events calendar for 2014 is filling up with music concerts, festivals, fun runs and holiday activities. Look out for extra activities in Love Your Zoo week and Love Parks Week later in the year. The Dukes are also returning with Hansel and Gretel and more tales from the forest this summer, we can’t wait!

We love to hear your views whether it is about the park or this magazine. Please send any comments to williamsonpark@lancaster.gov.uk

Enjoy!

Take Pride in Your Parks Join Lancaster City Council’s campaign and take pride in your park.

The aim of the Take Pride in Your Park campaign is to encourage people to visit their local park, take pride in its appearance and use its facilities.

If you want to join the campaign and take pride in your park there are a few simple things you can do: Just visit and come for a gentle stroll, admire the park grounds, relax on a bench, have a picnic or do something more energetic – try running around the footpaths and get a free work out.

Take our Park Health Check and tell us what you think about your local park. Score

your local park on cleanliness, safety and appearance at www.lancaster.gov.uk/ takepride Join a Friends group and become more involved with the upkeep of your local park. Take part in planting and maintenance activities and enjoy talks and presentations. A community bulb planting event is taking place on Sunday 23 March at 2pm. Meet at the café where tools and equipment will be provided.

Find out more at www.facebook.com/ friendsofwilliamsonpark and www.lancaster.gov.uk/friends or come

along to the Friends of Williamson Park AGM on 2 April at 7pm, will be followed by a Bat Walk around the park.

Dispose of your litter properly and clean up after your dog – We all love a picnic and there are plenty of perfect picnic spots in our parks but please clean up afterwards and put all your rubbish in the bins. Bring the dog too; did you know you can put dog poo bags in any council litter bin and your grey wheelie bin?

Caring for our environment helps us feel better about where we live and everyone can play a part.

Take Pride in your Park Keep it Clean

Keep it Social www.lancaster.gov.uk/takepride

Keep it Green

Meet the new housemates There have been quite a few new housemates that have joined the mini beast cave during winter.

Frodo, the Dart Frog has settled in well and is enjoying his new home.

Chorlton the Bearded Dragon is a very good housemate and has been entertaining visitors since his arrival.

The photo of him taking a bath received a lot of ‘likes’ on our Facebook page.

We also have a male panther chameleon and some quails.

Have you joined the loyalty scheme yet?

Pick up your card on your next visit to the Butterfly House and after 9 visits, the tenth is free. It’s our way of saying thank you for your support.

Latest yews: Read all about it

Coun David Smith, cabinet member with responsibility for parks and open spaces, said:

A number of yew trees have been replaced around the Ashton Memorial to enhance the historic landmark.

Existing trees were removed from around the outside of the Memorial in February and more than 40 new trees have been planted in exactly the same spot. The project came about from the recently commissioned Landscape and Woodland Management Plan.

This worthwhile environmental project will greatly improve the appearance of the Ashton Memorial. The work will replace poor specimens with good, improve the views and appearance of the building and implement a proper management regime to ensure they are kept in good form for visitors to enjoy for years to come.

Williamson Park, Lancaster City Council, LA1 1UX 01524 33318 - www.lancaster.gov.uk/williamsonpark

/williamsonpark

@williamsonpark

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Outdoor Theatre Enjoy theatre under the stars with these three wonderful productions taking place in the Dell this summer.

ROBIN adapted by Oliver Gray

by

adapted by

Wood Roald Dahl David davidwood.org.uk roalddahl.com

Sunday 24 August - 7.30pm

Monday 25 August - 7.30pm

Tuesday 26 August - 7.30pm

See Macbeth brought to life on Sunday 24 August. A brave military hero... A noble and devoted subject... A popular leader respected by fellow Thanes and trusted by the King himself.

Macbeth’s outstanding qualities and achievements ensure that he has a bright future ahead of him. Three mad witches he meets after a battle confirm no less. Or, rather, two of them do. The third prophesies rather more than a rise in his fortunes: she states that he will become King himself. One brief, crazy suggestion sows a seed of ambition, causes the unravelling of a great man, and incites a chain of treachery, murder and destruction.

What better production to host in the woods than Robin Hood? Illyria’s production is adapted from the earliest Robin Hood ballads pre-dating Chaucer - which makes it as authentic as Robin Hood legends come! The play is written in fast-moving, easy-to-follow verse, and introduces all the well-loved characters such as Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian and King Richard.

It is a collection of tales featuring camaraderie, swashbuckling action, and riotous comedy.

The final show, George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl adapted

by David Wood, recreates a great childhood tale and is one that the whole family will enjoy. It’s the first day of half-term, Grandma has written to say she is coming to stay, and George is going to have to give up his bedroom for her. It wouldn’t be so bad if Grandma were a nice Grandma.

But George’s Grandma is horrible.

“George do this!” “George do that!”

“George is it time for my medicine?”

What’s the point of taking medicine, George wonders, when it’s clearly not doing her any good, and it certainly isn’t making her any nicer? So George decides to concoct his own medicine which he gives to Grandma on a spoon - with hilarious results! Come along and see what happens.

All shows are produced by Illyria, an Equity Outdoor Touring Guidelines compliant company. Tickets are available from the gift shop or online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/park-tickets

The Pavilion Café will be open before the productions and during the interval for refreshments.

If you go down to the woods today….Take our new Woodland Walk leaflet!

Come and explore Fenham Carr with the help of a new Woodland Walk leaflet.

Have fun exploring the woodland and spotting the variety of trees, wild flowers and creatures that live in this area of the park. There are hints and tips of what you might find during your walk, depending on the season.

The walk is less than a mile in length and follows the pathways around Fenham Carr taking in Fenham Wood, the Reservoir and Bowland View.

The leaflet has been funded by the Forestry Commission and is available from the gift shop and also to download from our website: www.lancaster.gov. uk/wililamsonpark under the downloads section on the right hand side.

Remember to take a pen with you for filling in the quiz!

Show us Your Love Extra events will take place in the Butterfly House and zoo to celebrate ‘Love Your Zoo Week’.

Visit between Saturday 24 May and Friday 30 May and support your local zoo.

The zoo keepers are finalising their plans at the moment and will post the details of all the events taking place online soon. Keep up to date with us on Facebook and on our website for more information.

Love Your Zoo Week was launched in 2011 by BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums)

BIAZA is a conservation, education and scientific wildlife charity, which acts as the principal professional zoo body representing the responsible zoo and aquarium community in the UK. Its aim is to encourage people to visit their local BIAZA zoos and aquariums and to not only have a great day out, but also learn just how much they do for conservation, education and research.

Keep the kids busy every half term There is always plenty to do in the park to keep children amused for hours. Lots of activities are low cost or free of charge too.

Every half term Lancaster City Council organises a Holiday Activity Programme bursting with activities for all ages.

Many events take place in the park such as; Bug Hunting, Be a Zoo Keeper and an Easter Egg Hunt. There are some new activities too especially for little ones under seven including; Little Forest Fun and a Treasure Hunt.

Receive the programme as soon as it is available by signing up online at www.lancaster.gov.uk/ holidayprogramme

Play Day National Play Day is one of the park’s busiest days of the year.

Thousands of people came along to last year’s event and took part in some fantastic activities including body zorbing, a climbing wall, giant Twister, a tug-of-war, face painting, bouncy castle, and our famous waterslide.

The event will be back again on Wednesday 6 August and we can’t wait!

Something’s happening in your district...

INSPIRING ARTS ACROSS LANCASTER, MORECAMBE AND THE DISTRICT

A free ‘What’s On’ smartphone app for Lancaster arts activity including listings for The Platform

First Fridays: every month, take a chance on something new or submit your own arts event to submissions@artscity.co.uk

The Dukes and Williamson Park present

Re-told by Zosia Wand Friday 4 July to Saturday 16 August

For all the latest Williamson Park updates:

Follow the breadcrumbs...

/williamsonpark @williamsonpark Box Office: 01524 598500 www.dukes-lancaster.org/parkshow

Registered Charity Number: 501935

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