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Latest News: Health Walks Spring/Summer 2013

Join Friends of Longford Park volunteers in a gentle stroll around the main paths in Longford Park Stretford. Enjoy the fresh air, company and beautiful surroundings of Trafford’s largest park.

Sunday 28th April
Sunday 26th May
Sunday 30th June
Sunday 28th July
Sunday 25th August
Sunday 29th September

Walking can make a difference. It can be fun, a chance to talk and can help keep you fit. The walks are especially suitable for people who do not take regular exercise and who might feel unable to access their local green space.

Walks commence at 10.30 am at the main entrance gate on Edge Lane (at the Junction with Cromwell Rd.) Walks last about 1 hour and are suitable for all abilities. Everyone can walk at their own pace. Wear suitable flat shoes. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the walk at Trafford Athletics Stadium within the park.

Walks provided in partnership with Trafford Borough Council as part of the British Heart Foundation Walking Your Way To Health Initiative. For further details contact Sport Trafford on 0161 912 3140 or Jean on 0161 865 6030

Please note the Thursday Walks have now been cancelled due to low demand

Latest News: Free Boot Camp Starting Monday April 1st 10am

Latest News: Longford Community Choir

Learn to sing! Join Longford Community Choir!


Friday nights at Firswood Community Centre M32 8QS 6 – 8pm
Only £3 per session (including refreshments!)

I’m here to help you to realize your ambition to sing well and above all enjoy yourself whilst you learn. All levels are welcome from beginner to advanced, and at any age!

Individual lessons in Pop Vocals, Classical Singing, Musical Theatre and early piano now also available at £15 per half hour. Exams from the London College of Music, Rockschool or just Sing for fun!!
Visit http://www.longfordchoir.org.uk or Contact me: - Janice Rendel Dip(LCM) on 0161 864 1996.

Latest News: Proposal for a Disc Golf course

Disc Golf is an emerging sport playable by all ages that currently has no full size course in the North West.
Trafford Council,The Friends of Longford Park and Ultimate Frisbee for Amateurs Group(Duffa) are working together to develop the first Disc Golf Course in the North West.
The nature of the game gets individuals out walking in a natural environment participating in a low impact sport that can be enjoyed at all times of the year by a wide range of ages
Disc Golf users will be able to co-exist with other Longford Park users without the need for exclusive use of the Pitch and Putt course.
To find out more more about Disc Golf then please visit www.manchesterdiscgolf.co.uk.
Detailed proposals for the proposed Disc Golf course at Longford Park can be found at http://friendsoflongfordpark.org.uk/docs/DiscGolfProposal.doc

Latest News: New Signs for Longford Park

This week we were very pleased to see new display boards have been placed in various locations around Longford Park. Thanks to all concerned for making this happen.

Latest News: Longford Park Community Cafe Update

Community Cafe Update [8th March 2013]:
Contracts have now been signed and the Community Cafe is now due to open this April! More details coming soon ..
More about the Edwardian Bungalow:

The best way to preserve older buildings such as the Edwardian Bungalow is to put them back into productive use and this scheme will restore an attractive building in the Longford Park conservation area as well providing the local community with a cafe, community space and centrally located toilets.

The conversion of the building comprises replacing roof coverings, repairs to timbers, new windows and doors, re-pointing and general repairs plus the internal rearrangement of facilities to provide a new cafe with an associated toilet block which can be opened up separately. Externally, a new paved seating area is to be created for use by the cafe.

Renovation of the Formal Garden Shelters Update

Regular park users will know that the shelters in the formal gardens are in a very poor state of repair. The rear walls will have the plaster removed before being renovated to the bare brick - hopefully that will not prove so attractive to the graffiti artists! The proposed plan for the renovation of the shelters is that each roof will come off (as they are in a dangerous condition) and the art-deco facade preserved. The existing toilet block will also be enhanced to include this art-deco design. Let us know your thoughts on this.

Aims of the Friends of Longford Park:

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.

1933 Incorporation of Stretford
Borough Council and
Fireworks!

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.

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.

What's On

Longford and Firswood Strollers (LAFS) Health Walks

HEALTH WALKS SPRING/SUMMER 2013

Sunday 28th April
Sunday 26th May
Sunday 30th June
Sunday 28th July
Sunday 25th August
Sunday 29th September

Join Friends of Longford Park volunteers in a gentle stroll around the main paths in Longford Park Stretford. Enjoy the fresh air, company and beautiful surroundings of Trafford’s largest park.

Walking can make a difference. It can be fun, a chance to talk and can help keep you fit. The walks are especially suitable for people who do not take regular exercise and who might feel unable to access their local green space.

Walks commence at 10.30 am at the main entrance gate on Edge Lane (at the Junction with Cromwell Rd.) Walks last about 1 hour and are suitable for all abilities. Everyone can walk at their own pace. Wear suitable flat shoes. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the walk at Trafford Athletics Stadium within the park.

Walks provided in partnership with Trafford Borough Council as part of the British Heart Foundation Walking Your Way To Health Initiative. For further details contact Sport Trafford on 0161 912 3140 or Jean on 0161 865 6030

Please note the Thursday Walks have now been cancelled due to low demand

Trafford Wheelers - Longford Park Simply Cycling

Your all ability cycling community Fresh air, exercise and fun!

Come and join us at our friendly all ability cycling sessions in a social environment. Everyone is welcome. No need to book - just turn up and we’ll find a a suitable cycle to meet your needs. See you soon.

Trafford Wheelers at Longford Park Athletic Stadium
Ryebank Road, Stretford (Sat Nav M21 9LJ)
Session days and times
Monday: 9.30 – 12 noon
Thursday – SPECIAL RIDE OUT – PHONE TO BOOK
Friday: 9.30 – 12 noon
Sunday: 1.00 – 3.00 pm
For more information call Helen on: 07871 621778
e.mail: helenhines68@hotmail.co.uk
Visit the Website http://www.simply-cycling.org

Old Trafford Gardeners Plant Sale - Sun 19th May 12-3pm

Longford Community Choir Friday Nights 8pm

Learn to sing! Join Longford Community Choir!


Friday nights at Firswood Community Centre M32 8QS 6 – 8pm
Only £3 per session (including refreshments!)

I’m here to help you to realize your ambition to sing well and above all enjoy yourself whilst you learn. All levels are welcome from beginner to advanced, and at any age!

Individual lessons in Pop Vocals, Classical Singing, Musical Theatre and early piano now also available at £15 per half hour. Exams from the London College of Music, Rockschool or just Sing for fun!!
Visit http://www.longfordchoir.org.uk or Contact me: - Janice Rendel Dip(LCM) on 0161 864 1996.

Free Boot Camp Starting Monday April 1st 10am



STARTING MONDAY 1ST APRIL 10am
Every Monday until 6th May
ALL FITNESS LEVELS SUPPORTED
Meet at the park’s new community café
contact Sammi – 07412711101
Supported by Friends of Longford Park
A TMBC REGISTERED EVENT

Longford Park Centenary Display 2nd-30th March

The Longford Park Centenary display will be going on show in the foyer at Sale Waterside, at the Tatton Road entrance to Sale Library, from Saturday 2 March to Saturday 30 March, no entrance free. The well-illustrated display covers the history of the Longford estate in Stretford before John Rylands took it over in 1855; the Hall and estate from 1855 under Rylands and his widow; and then the more recent history of both the Hall and Park. This later history is also covered by a new feature, a ring binder of people’s memories going back to the 1920’s, again with lots of pictures.

‘The Lost World of Longford Park’ Talk Wed 20 March

Trafford Local Studies on Wednesday 20 March, at 7.15pm. The talk will explain how the speaker has recovered the lost history of the Park, from its time as a private residence, including the Rylands era, and its transition to a public park. The talk will include lots of fascinating photos - for example,a 1926 aerial view which also shows Kings Road being built - and maps, including a very detailed map of 1881, featuring the ornamental lake.

The BIG DIG Saturday 16th March 2–5pm Longford Park

Rylands Kitchen Garden – is developing – and needs YOU!

Through the black door in the wall past the pet’s corner, on the patch where the kitchen garden was in John Ryland’s day, there have been many changes over the last two years! A group of locals, part of Friends of Longford Park, are now growing local food.

Saturday 16th March is BIG DIG day nationally and we will be among numerous gardens in the North West and across the country who will be opening their doors and encouraging you to join us…..See www.bigdig.org.uk

The community allotment surrounds the bowling greens and there is a vegetable section, a herb patch as well as a developing small orchard and soft fruit section.

We have had exciting times, as we have seen the changes we have made and the support of those who have dropped in to help as volunteers or for our open days - even when the weather has been rather wet! We have had challenges too, this last year, thanks to the weather, as well as vandalism of the greenhouses, newly erected on site, even before we have been able to use them!

We are all learning, as we garden, and we look forward to a positive year ahead – with abundant crops….
BUT TO REALLY DEVELOP WE NEED MORE HELPERS
whether you can join us on a regular or occasional basis – you will be welcome.

Call in on BIG DIG afternoon between 2pm and 5 pm to help plant potatoes, sow salad seeds, get some information and of course have some refreshments.

If you can’t make it on 16th you can drop in any Sunday morning from 10am – 12pm or Monday afternoon from 2 – 4pm and from Easter we will also meet on Thursday evenings from 6 – 7.30pm.

For more information get in touch by email rylandskg@hotmail.co.uk or by phone 0161 865 6064

We are grateful to
The Co-operative for the establishment of fruit trees,
Manchester Airport for greenhouses.
Unicorn Grocery for some tools, seeds and general funding
Greater Manchester Police Property Fund for arches
Parkers for perennial flowers.
Local people and Trafford Council for their support.

Christmas Carols & Winter Songs- Sun 9th Dec 2-5pm

Free entry to our Christmas Carols and Winter Songs event featuring the Open Voice Community Choir.

The event includes Christmas Carols, mince pies, mulled wine, community singing, jamaican punch and childrens activities and will be held at the Longfords Suite (adjacent to the Longford Park Athletics stadium).
The address for Longford Park Athletics Stadium is Ryebank Road, Chorlton Cum Hardy, MANCHESTER, M21 9TA.

Longfords Athletic club Over 50s keep fit - Tuesdays 11am

You might be interested to know that Longfords Athletic club Over 50s have started running a keep fit group.
The session is held every Tuesday at 11am, first session free then £3 a session. More details can be found at http://50plus-fitness.co.uk