Minutes:
Colette Jones provided an update on the work of Friends of Close Park since the last meeting of the Forum, as follows:-
· £1,000 had been received from the Forever Manchester fund which would contribute to the Owl Youth Work project. This would involve relaying the forest path and the purchase of story chairs for children.
· £250 funding had been obtained from the Township Forum which would pay for new notice boards.
· The remaining £2,500 Sustainability Funding would contribute to work with the “I Will if You Will” project on keep fit activities in the park.
· The Bury Hospice Party in the Park was taking place this Saturday 5 July from 11 am, including the pilot of the Tower Tours where volunteers had been trained as walkers and the Recycling stand.
· Volunteers were required to help produce a number of information panels for the church, park, tower and tythe barn.
· HLF bid – 10 research reports has been undertaken in different areas. All of the 10 reports had been collated (by local volunteers) and would be issued soon.
· War graves – volunteers were now looking for the necessary permissions from families of approximately 40 soldiers buried in St Mary’s churchyard. The Friends were interested to hear from any local families in order to gather information about the soldiers, including photos. The Army Cadets were holding an event on 30 October and would like to do some work on the war graves.
· The Tower Beer was about to be launched.
· Radcliffe Tower – plans to plant bedding plants to show where the workers houses had stood. Also hoping to do some work with “Incredible Edible” scheme.
· The Friends were looking for groups who would be interested in working on the “River of Flowers” planting scheme in the park.
Carol Hayden, St Mary’s Parish Churches Together informed the meeting that the recent Archaeological Dig had been in collaboration with Salford University, not Manchester University as previously stated.
Barbara Law representing the Chapelfield Residents Association informed the meeting of the following news and information:-
· Nicky Fox & Friends musical event would take place on Saturday 5 July at 7.30 pm at Stand Reform Church. All welcome – tickets available on the door or from Stand newsagents.
· Grow Your Own - agreement had been made to dedicate a bed to the Lancashire Fusiliers. A dedication ceremony would take place on 20 July.
· Members would be involved in the “River of Flowers” Borough-wide planting scheme.
Gill Stainthorpe representing Withins Community Association informed the meeting of the following news and information:-
· The group had been successful in obtaining Community First funding to tackle the Balsam problem in the park – work would start on 2 July.
Volunteers had cleared the area so that work could begin along Withins Lane.
Councillor M Bailey asked for an update on the recent successful Radcliffe Carnival event. The Chair gave an assurance that this was provided at the next scheduled meeting of the Township Forum in September.
It was agreed:
1. That the information provided be noted, with thanks to all contributors.
2. That the Township Forum receive an update on the recent Radcliffe Carnival at the next scheduled meeting.