Carlisle Park News

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Click here to download the latest newsletter from the Friends of Carlisle Park (in pdf format).

A Grand Day Out

Thanks go to Lord Ridley for giving up his Sunday afternoon on one of the first beautiful days of spring to have the Friends of Carlisle Park over for lunch and a tour of Ridley Hall's outstanding gardens. Acers, Sorbus and spring flowers abounded. Lord Ridley also kindly donated a Handerchief Tree to be planted in Carlisle Park.

The friends of Carlisle Park and Lord Ridley (raising his glass, far right). Photo copyright John Watson of John Watson Photography.

New member, New Tree

On Monday 22nd February despite the weather, Lord Ridley, a member of the FOCP, donated and planted an ornamental hazel tree in the formal gardens part of the park. Afterwards he took a short walk around the park and the William Turner garden. The Friends are grateful for his interest in the park.

2009 Awards

In 2009 we maintained the Green Flag Award, going for the Enjoy England Visitor Attraction Accreditation and regained Northumbria in Bloom's Best Park Award.

Heritage Lottery Funded William Turner activities

Thanks to Funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the William Turner 500 celebrations continue in to 2009. Three Morpeth schools are taking part in creative workshops to discover more about The Father of English Botan. Ira Lightman is developing WIlliam Turner poetry through language workshops with Chantry Middle School, Textiles through Time are exploring Tudor textiles crafts including knitting and spinning with Stobhillgate First School and David Hall is creating a wall hanging of botanical art with pupils from All Saints First School.

The William Turner Education pack has been reprinted and is ready to be distributed to schools throughout the North East.

New Sculpture Trail

Henry Amos and Marianne Wilde of Brightblue Studios have developed a new sculpture trail for Carlisle Park, through funding we received from Castle Morpeth Borough Council's Extra Mile Award. The trail has been in the Park for you to enjoy from Summer 2009.

Paddling Pool Refurbishment

in 2009 Morpeth Town Council refurbished the paddling pool in the Park. It was resurfaced and a new, more efficeint pump room and some interactive water play features have been installed. The pool will re-opens for the second Bank Holiday weekend in May every year and remains open until the end of the school summer holidays.