The finished work on the path and benches, September
2007
The Northenden Riverside Park in Manchester is sited on the banks of the
River Mersey between Palatine Road Bridge and the Tatton Arms Bridge. (Lat 53
24'36.40"N Long 2 15'14.59"W, OS Map Ref SJ832902, Google Earth Placemark to download)
The Friends Group aims to support a wider use of the site and to enhance
the Park for the benefit of the whole community by being involved in the
installation of educational and environmental facilities.
Riverside Park Friends Group Calendar as a Google Calendar
Riverside Park Image Gallery
The aims of the Friends Group, taken from our constitution, are:
- To promote the wide usership of the park
- To enhance the park area for the benefit of the whole community
- To improve the recreational, environmental and educational facilities
of the park
- To raise funds to support the work of the Friends of Northenden
Riverside Park.
We are making suggestions and offering opinions about the developments of
the park as it progresses. It is a chance for park users who live locally to
influence the decisions that are made by the Council and how money is
spent.
Current News
Fun Day and Heritage Day Saturday 12th September
A lovely sunny afternoon for the Punch and Judy show
As well as activities for children, including shows and tile painting there were heritage walks around the area including St Wilfrid's Church. The Environment Agency had a stall with information about the Mersey Life project to encourage recreational use of the river and support wildlife in and around it. They were also prepared to talk about flood risks!
The Friends Group also ran a stall with drinks and snacks and talked about what we are doing. We also used the occasion to launch our Oral History Project (see next section). We had many fascinating conversations with people who talked about what the area around the river was like in the recent past and some of the things which they had done. We hope to follow some of these up as part of the project.
We had a lovely sunny day and there were lots of people there who all seemed to having a good time. Thanks to everyone who worked hard to make the day happen especially the park warden, Robert, and the development officer, Ali, who ran the heritage walks.
Oral History Project
The Friends of Northenden Riverside Park are starting an oral history
project about the River Mersey and the way it has figured in the lives of
the people of Northenden throughout the years.
Over the next 6 months we intend to ask people to share their memories
of the river with us. We will record these memories and edit and collect
them in order to create a story of the many ways in which the river has
played a part in our lives over the years. We intend to publish these both
in written form and using the internet and other media.
We want to talk to anyone who is willing to tell us any of their memories
about the river. Did you play, or walk along the river bank as a
youngster? Do you remember the floods in the 60s, or the Mill before it
was demolished? What was it like in the 70s? Do you have stories that
have been passed on to you?
We would also like to hear from young people about their more recent
memories. Did you play near the river before the new park was created?
What sort of things did you do? Has this changed in the last year?
If you would like to take part, or know anyone who you think might like
to talk to use, please contact us by talking to anyone on the committee of
the Friends Group or contact:
Dave Wilson, 21a Boat Lane, M22 4HR; 0161 902 9550 or email;
history@northendenriversidepark.org.uk
Jan 2009: The completed, and officially opened, play area
The official opening ceremony and school children playing
imediately afterwards
The official opening of the play area took place on January 16th. Two
classes came from local primary schools, and imediately after the official
opening speech began to use enthusuiastically the equipment.
Using the slide
Since the opening the play area has been used frequently, even though it
has been cold throughout January and February. Mainly this has, of course,
been at weekends, although as the nights are slowly getting lighter it is
also being used in the late afternoons.
A week after the opening the weather was sunny, although very cold. During
this weekend the play area was in full use by many families - up to 20 people
simultaneously for a period of the Sunday.
Fun on the tyre
Then we had some snow, and the park was empty, but pretty. A little later
groups of children were using the area near the slide as an improvised
toboggan run.
Snow in the park in early February
Future Plans
Now that the first phases have been completed we intend to get involved
with:
- working parties
- encouraging wildlife
- security and seating
In the future we intend to organise and support a variety of activities
within the park including, tree and wildflower planting, bird box making.
Autumn colours, October 2007
