Friends of Longford Park (FOLP)

Friends of Longford Park (Stretford, Manchester) are a group of local people who work with Trafford Council to improve and promote the park as a vibrant local facility for the whole community.

The Friends have held many successful events ranging from social nights, health walks, festivals, picnics, conservation days, carol singing, tree planting, music events, youth activity days and have helped in the creation of a wildlife garden. To host more of these events we do need more volunteers. Please contact us if you can help out. Find out more about our activities and how the community can develop and shape the future of Longford Park.

Longford Park is the largest park in the borough of Trafford and is in need of significant investment. The Friends of Longford Park believe that the park remains an attractive place to visit, a vital community resource with a rich heritage that has the potential to be an excellent asset for Stretford and the whole of Trafford. The North West Film Archive have kindly provided a 1933 film that illustrates the important role Longford Park has played in the heritage of Stretford.

 

Longford Park Matters

The Friends of Longford Park are grateful for the efforts of Trafford Council in preparing the 2008 Heritage Lottery bid to restore Longford Park. The rejection of this lottery bid though in April 2009 was extremely disappointing. A successful lottery bid would have brought many improvements to Longford Park.

In the absence of the heritage lottery funding we are now particularly concerned about the condition of the Edwardian Bungalow which would have become a community cafe as well as providing much needed centrally located toilets. We will continue to work with Trafford Council and other organisations to resolve the following issues:

1. The Edwardian bungalow in the conservation area has a damaged roof requiring urgent repair
2. Inadequate toilet facilities
3. Much of the park lighting is now broken
4. Eroded paths, damaged walls, graffiti and poor signage
5. Poorly maintained sports areas
6. Empty flowerbeds in the ornamental gardens
7. Inadequate drainage leading to frequent flooding of the park
8. Removal of the water features from the ornamental gardens
9. Lack of staff heightening safety concerns
10. Longford Hall gardens was built using poor quality, inappropriate materials that have not aged well and the area has now become an unused void in the centre of the park

The Friends of Longford Park are keen to help develop a first class park with great historical significance and exciting green credentials. If you care about Longford Park or would just like to get involved with a worthwhile enjoyable community group then please contact us. If you have comments, suggestions or ideas regarding the future of Longford Park then please add your comments here.

Images of Longford Park

Image Courtesy of Imran Rashid

 

Image Courtesy of Hannah Roberts

Image Courtesy of Jean Thompson

Please view our Longford Park Image Gallery .

If you have any pictures or film of Longford Park you would like to share with us then please contact us.

Posted by rylands on July 3rd, 2009 in What's On

Destination Parks is a program of events for young people over the holidays. There are many enjoyable events being held in Longford Park, Davyhulme Park, Stamford Park and Victoria Park. Some of the events being held at Longford Park include:-

July 10, Longford Park, 6 to 9pm, Havin’ a Blast, an indie and rock music festival for all ages.
July 24, Longford Park, 4.30 to 8.30pm, Summer Fun in the Park, which includes music, dance, pony rides, graffiti workshops, bouncy castle, face painters, arts and crafts and sports sessions.
August 28, Longford Park, 3.30 to 7.30pm, Fun in the Park.

There are also a variety of sports and music sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings.

For the full programme of events for all the parks please visit www.trafford.gov.uk/events

Posted by rylands on July 3rd, 2009 in Images of Longford Park, What's On

The theme of this year’s photography competition was ‘Aspects of Longford Park Spring/Summer 2009′. The subject matter was to relate to the landscapes, the wildlife, the history and of course the people that use Longford Park.

The winner of this year’s photography competition prize is Pat Long.

Congratulatons to Pat and a big thank you all the others that submitted a photograph to the competition.

View the winner and finalists of the 2009 Longford Park Photography Competition

Winner - Pat Long

Commended - Paul Wride

Commended - Paul Wride

Finalist - Melanie Windle

Finalist - Carmel Hardy

Finalist - Alan Taylor

Finalist - Jean Hunt

Finalist - E Davies

Posted by rylands on May 28th, 2009 in Stretford Pageant/Carnival, What's On

Stretford Pageant is an annual Rose Queen Carnival and takes place this year on the 27th June. The inaugural Stretford Pageant was staged in 1919. The tradition of the Rose Queen Festival derives from an earlier event organised by St Peter’s Church from 1909.

At this year’s Stretford Pageant there will be a procession of decorated floats through the streets of Stretford, collecting money for local charities and ending at Longford Park, where the Rose Queen is crowned. Various other entertainments are provided in the park on the day of the Stretford Pageant, such as a fun fair, many stalls and a car boot sale.

If you need more information on Stretford Pageant or can help out then please contact Victoria Mcleod on 0161 748 2300

To take part in the Stretford Pageant parade please report to Stretford High School(Greatstone Road, Stretford) where the parade will assembly from 11.30am. The theme this year will be Edwardian 1909 with prizes awarded for the best outfits. Judging commences at 12pm.

Stretford Pageant parade leaves Stretford High School at 1.30pm arriving at Longford Park at approximately 2.45pm. The Stretford Pageant parade travels from Stretford High School to Longford Park via Greatstone road, the Quadrant, Kings road and Edge Lane. Collections will be made for local charities so please come along and show your support!.

As well as the Stretford pageant parade and the crowning of the Rose Queen, a car boot sale commences at 8.30am and there are many other stalls, attractions as well as an excellent funfair.

Find out more about 100 years of Stretford Pageant

If you have any pictures of Stretford Pageant that you would like to contribute to our website then please email the pictures to photo@folp.org.uk

Posted by rylands on March 29th, 2009 in Health Walks, What's On

The Friends of Longford Park Health Walks will continue to take place at 10.30am on the last Sunday of every month (more details here). Tea, Coffee and biscuits will be available at the end of the walk. Thanks to Jean and Janice for continuing to organize this popular event.
The October walk took place shortly after heavy rains had flooded parts of Longford Park. The Autumnal colours and the sudden appearance of a lake in the south of the park made for an interesting experience!
Opportunities now exist for free training in being a Health Walk leader. Please contact us for more details.

Posted by rylands on November 24th, 2008 in What's On

The occasion will be a family day for all communities in Greater Manchester to promote cultural understanding.

Proposed events include a Careers Fair, Business Stalls, Walk in Clinics, Sports and Jamaican food and entertainment.

More details coming soon..

Posted by rylands on October 25th, 2008 in Social Nights/Meetings, What's On

The Cutback Ceilidh band (with Peter Bearon calling) will play the Chorlton Irish Club on the 18th September 8pm-11.30pm.
The Cutback Ceilidh band features the highly accomplished fiddler Tom Kitching.

Refreshments by way of a Jacobs Table - Bring buffet type food you like to put on the communal table and share. Friends of Longford Park will provide cutlery and napkins.

The Chorlton Irish Club address is 17 High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9DJ

Tickets are £6 and are available from Bob on 286 6979.

Posted by rylands on October 24th, 2008 in What's On

We are hoping to build on the success of last year’s ‘Picnic in the Park‘ event by having more live music.
We are hoping to have Stretford Brass Band as well the ‘One Love’ steel band providing the entertainment for this event.

This event will take place on Sunday 20th September between 12.30pm and 3.30pm in front of the Longford Hall facade.
Please bring your own chairs, rugs and food and enjoy the September sunshine and enjoyable mix of traditional and contemporary music styles.


More details to follow …