Volunteers who work tirelessly to help make Trafford’s parks great places to visit were honoured at a special get-together.
Members of many of the Friends of Parks groups across the borough gathered at Stretford Public Hall to meet the Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Jane Brophy and Council Leader Cllr Tom Ross.
Executive members Cllr Steve Adshead and Cllr Rose Thompson, plus senior officers also attended the event with cake and refreshments.
Friends from a total of 26 groups in Trafford give their time to work with the One Trafford Partnership to improve their local green spaces, making them welcoming and vibrant.
Each park has its own unique identity and events. For example, the Friends of Moor Nook Park in Sale look after a community orchard and organise an annual apple festival where residents get to try donated apples from all over the neighbourhood.
The Friends of Ashton Park, also in Sale, have been holding a summer picnic in the park since the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012. Meanwhile, Friends of Marje Kelly Park in Stretford fundraise to stage a free community day with bouncy castles and stalls. Last year their gardening work included planting 6,000 bulbs.
Cllr Brophy, who has chosen Trafford’s green spaces as one of her good causes for her year as Mayor, said:
“I’m a founding member of friends groups for Pickering Lodge Park and Moss Park Gardens in Timperley and I learned all my gardening skills through volunteering.
“They are so important for our communities. Not everyone has a garden, or even a window box, or a back yard, but parks are there for everyone to enjoy.”
Cllr Ross told guests:
“Our parks would not be what they are today if it were not for you. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all.”
Russell Scharosch, Chair of the Friends of Woodheys Park, said:
“We friends do everything from gardening and tidying to liaising with park users and the Council, so it’s nice to be recognised for our work.”
Twelve Trafford Parks were recently given Green Flags, awarded international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
They are Davyhulme Park, Davyhulme; Denzell Gardens, Bowdon; Flixton Park, Flixton; Hullard Park, Old Trafford; John Leigh Park, Altrincham; Lostock Park, Lostock & Barton; Victoria Park, Stretford & Humphrey Park; Walkden Gardens, Sale Central; Walton Park, Brooklands; Woodheys Park, Broadheath; Worthington Park, Sale Central, and Stamford Park, Hale.