Friends of
Castle Park

2021
 

AGM Summary Report

Since June this year we have been able to open up our activities on the events side. We began with the Rangers Bio diversity day when as part of their education programme they invite families to take part in the count of flora and fauna within the park.
 

At the end of June we were once again at the Food & Drink Festival. It was scaled down this year with numbers being limited and the park was unable to provide us with plants this year due to COVID complications. Members and friends rallied round and provided a splendid selection of plants by taking cuttings and dividing plants plus super home crafted items and we enjoyed a very successful weekend.
 

During September we took part in the first Eco-festival to be held in the park, serving refreshments. This introduced our group to many new people and helped us with our fundraising.
 

The other first this month was our stewarding of Gray’s Summerhouse for the national Heritage Open Days event run in our area by Ipswich & Colchester Museums. They were keen to have a part of the park in this event and were thrilled when we suggested the summerhouse with a self-guided walk.
 

We hope to conclude the year with a Wreath and Christmas Decorations stall.

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2019

 

The Woodland Trust 'Tree of the Year 2019' 

We recently came second in this competition! Thank you to everyone who voted for the Sycamore tree on Colchester Castle (left, top) in The Woodland Trust 'Tree of the Year 2019' competition. It achieved second place and the council will receive a prize of £500 towards the preservation or promotion of the tree.

The Tree of the Year competition is held in the United Kingdom in Autumn each year by the Woodland Trust, a nationwide conservation charity. Nominated trees are shortlisted by a panel of experts before going to public votes to select a tree of the year for each of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom.

Adam Cormack from the Woodland Trust stated "The people of Colchester, and indeed anyone else that voted for the tree, can rightfully be proud that they have helped to put one of the most remarkable trees on the map".

 

Our seasonal 'Walk in the Park', Tuesday 22nd October.

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Gardener's Question Time: on Thursday 19th September, we enjoyed an evening with Park Gardeners Jon Wright and Simon Lawrence,  in the Ranger's Cabin; an opportunity to hear from our Park Gardeners about gardening in the Park, and how they keep it looking good all the year round.

 the Ranger's Cabin.

An afternoon of animation and storytelling with Nick Butterworth:  on Saturday 20th July we were treated by Nick Butterworth to a delightful afternoon of animation and storytelling (left, below). The young families gathered in the Rangers Cabin were held enthralled as he engaged with them (below left). Nick finished the session by signing books the children had brought along.'

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This was also the first official appearance of our Junior section character created for us by Nick and named by competition winner Finnley, aged 10, as ‘Oakley’ (below right). The winner of the colouring competition Yvie, aged 6, was there with her prize of Nick’s latest book, ‘One Springy Day’.