Friends of Longford Park (FOLP)

Posted by folp1 on July 26th, 2011 in 2009/2010 People's Millions

Welcome to the Longford Park Education Pack!

Here you can find a wide range of lesson plans and activities that your children can enjoy in Longford Park!

Lesson plans are suitable for use with the National Curriculum Key Stages 1 -3.

Preparing for Your Visit
The following information sheets will help you to prepare for your visit to Longford Park.
Sample Risk Assessment
Accessibility Information
Local Facilities
Getting to Longford Park

Lesson Plans
The following lesson plans and related resources have been produced for use in Longford Park and tie into various sections of the National Curriculum.

Activity 1 - Changing Seasons
Children observe the park at different times of the year observing and recording the changes that occur in different seasons.

Activity 2 - Forces in the Play Area
Activities 2 to 8 form a series of activities based in the play area of Longford Park which allow the children to explore a range of physical concepts. These are shorter activities that can be linked together to form a complete lesson or series of lessons.
Activity 3 - Interacting Forces
Activity 4 - Potential and Kinetic Energy
Activity 5 - Friction and Mass
Activity 6 - Air Resistance
Activity 7 - Angular Momentum
Activity 8 - Levers

Activity 9 - Forest Masks
An environmental art activity that allows children to explore their natural environment and use their imagination to create a character.

Activity 10 - Mapping the Park
Children use the two OS maps and their observations to consider how the park has changed and how it may change into the future.
Activity 10 Resource - 1933 OS Map
Activity 10 Resource - 1894 OS Map

Activity 11 - Picture Trail
Children identify areas of the park using the photograph worksheet.
Activity 11 - Map
Activity 11 - Photo Worksheet

Activity 12 - Textures
This activity explores the concept of texture through group discussion.

Activity 13 - Timeline
A quiz activity in which children create a timeline of events that occured at Longford Park.
Activity 13 Resource - Time Cards

There is an orienteering course around Longford Park that consists of marked points that participants must locate with the aid of a map. The course includes both the southern and northern sections of the park but could be limited to, for example, the southern section for a shorter course. Maps can be bought from Stretford Library or the Greater Manchester Orienteering Association at www.gmoa.org.uk and currently cost £1 each.

This education pack was funded by the National Lottery and has been completed in partnership with The Friends of Longford Park, Groundwork, Trafford Council, MEEN and local schools.

Posted by folp1 on April 20th, 2011 in 2009/2010 People's Millions

Longford Park Education Pack is coming soon!

Groundwork have been working with Friends of Longford Park, Trafford Council, MEEN and local schools to develop an education pack including lesson plans and worksheets on a variety of topics for use with the National Curriculum.

The final adjustments are being made and the pack will be available on this website; watch this space!

Posted by rylands on April 1st, 2011 in 2009/2010 People's Millions

See our image gallery below showing the progress that has been made:-

21st Nov 2010

12th Dec 2010

16th Jan 2011

12th Feb 2011

24th March 2011

29th April 2011

Posted by rylands on February 24th, 2011 in 2009/2010 People's Millions, Longford Park in the News

As reported on February 24th 2011 by Peter Devine

FLASHBACK…The park’s rockery in the early 1970s
A FORMER Longford Park gardener has sent in pictures of how it used to look as it undergoes a revamp.

Chris Barnett’s photograph shows the park when it was still in its prime. He worked on the park from 1961 until 1979.
The project to transform part of the park is well under way following the award of £50,000 funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s People’s Millions competition.

It is, hoped the cash will breathe new life into the park’s rose garden, restore running water to the ornamental fountains and to the Japanese garden and to build a band stand.
The works are expected to be completed by April. John Fitzgerald, a member of the Friends of Longford Park said: “The initial work on the gardens started back in November, and despite the bad weather in December, the project is progressing.

The designs were put together by the council with the help of the pupils of Stretford Grammar School.When it is completed in April, there is going to be quite a lot of planting to be done which will take.a season or two to become established, and before the beds will come to fruition.”

The project has also provided the opportunity for pupils to become involved in all aspects of transforming the gardens and help develop an education pack. It is seen as an important stepping stone to future improvements in Longford Park as laid out in the council’s park’s masterplan.

Posted by rylands on October 12th, 2010 in 2009/2010 People's Millions

A wildflower maze, an art-deco sunburst feature, a small performance area as well as plans for the shelters and Japanese water gardens are all featured in the Longford Park Peoples Millions Consultation Plan. For detailed notes to accompany this consultation plan please click here.

Please click on the image below to see the enlarged view of this plan.

View enlarged plan [JPG Format] or [PDF Format]

Students from Stretford Grammar School, with help from experts at Trafford Council, have worked on these designs to transform this part of Longford Park. If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions regarding these plans for Longford Park’s new Peoples Millions gardens then please leave a reply below.

Posted by rylands on October 12th, 2010 in 2009/2010 People's Millions

These notes provide more details on Longford Park Peoples Millions Consultation Plan.

1. Area in front of shelters. The landscape architects identified that this area slopes towards the hedge and so have proposed that the stage area be located in this semicircle. This stage will be level but identified by a different surface treatment such as bound gravel. Making this level does mean that the two paths leading to it have to be reprofiled slightly.

The grassed area is planted up with “rays” of bulbs and so should be spectacular in March.
Roses are to be planted around the periphery of the whole to tie the area together and this will be carried out along with shrub removal and management to the beds surrounding the area.

You will note that the tarmac areas directly in front of the shelters and the toilets are reduced to a single path and the remaining areas grassed.

The shelters now face onto the Stage and a separate pot has been negotiated to allow there repair with the stepped parapet replaced where missing. We are looking to grow climbing roses up over the pillars of the shelters.

The Beech hedge will be reduced shaped and a gap installed to make the gardens one, open lines of sight.

2. Walled Garden. The paths in this garden will be bound gravel possibly with a stone edge treatment if finances allow. See planting guide for plants and structure. The walls will be repaired and capped and were the paths meet the external tarmac paths stone sets will be installed.
Although the central plinth will be in place a water feature at this point is likely to be outside the budget and perhaps that or a suitable statue could be funded from future bid.

3. the mushroomed clipped willow and poplar garden. A much more formal design has been drawn up for the wildflowers here that has a art deco feel. These circular strips will be planted up with cornfield annuals which will be rotavated and re seeded annually to maintain a regular annual display. The circles are pierced by the lawns to allow visitors to walk through The beds surround some of the trees which are the centre circles.

4. the Water Garden or Japanese garden. This area is giving us some difficulty due to the budget. Resealing the feature could be costly and so we are trying to find a compromise. What we currently propose is to get upper ponds sealed perhaps in fibreglass and install a pump and circulation system such that the waterfall works. From that point onwards we are proposing to fill the channel with gravel and plant into it to give the impression of flow (like a Zen garden). Finally the bottom pond we are proposing to fill and plant with moss to create a slightly domed bog garden. Generally some of the large shrubs will be removed or reduced and trees lifted to open up this garden with some other plants installed below.
We intend to replace the bridge and some of these paths will be treated with bound gravel.

Posted by rylands on June 29th, 2010 in 2009/2010 People's Millions

The following news release was issued by Trafford Council on the 28th June 2010 :-

Work has begun on an exciting project to bring Longford Park back to life.

Students from Stretford Grammar School, with help from experts at Trafford Council, have started work on designs to transform the park’s rose garden.

This is part of a scheme which won the public vote and £50,000 in the Big Lottery Fund’s People’s Millions competition last year, promising to:

• Transform the deteriorating rose garden into a beautiful garden.
• Use the latest sustainable technology to restore running water to the ornamental rock gardens.
• Provide the opportunity for young people from local schools to be involved in all aspects of transforming the gardens.
• Develop an education pack for local schools.

To kick start the project, all Year 7 arts classes at the school visited the garden site and are now putting pens and brush to paper and using their imaginations to put down their vision of an exciting, attractive garden to visit.

A team of young designers from the school, working with Trafford Council’s landscape architects, will distil these ideas into a final design which should be ready by the end of July.

Executive Councillor John Reilly said: “We’re working closely with the Friends of Longford Park and Stretford Grammar School to bring this project to life over the next few months.

Longford Park is steeped in history. We want to maintain it as an historic site while making sure it is more sustainable to ensure it survives in to the future and continues to be well-loved and well-used.

This project is an important stepping stone to future improvements in Longford Park, as laid out in the Park’s Masterplan, and I’m really excited about seeing it come to fruition.

This is an excellent example of how the community coming together can really help make Trafford a greener Borough.”

Posted by rylands on December 7th, 2009 in 2009/2010 People's Millions, Longford Park in the News

As reported in the Stretford and Urmston Messenger December 3rd 2009

THANKS to the support of Stretford residents, run-down Longford Park has won £50,000 to start bringing the historic site back up to scratch.

It was announced last Thursday that the park had won a public vote in the Big Lottery Fund’s People’s Millions competition to secure the cash.

The project will, say organisers – which includes the council and the Friends of Longford Park – breathe new life into the deteriorating rose garden; use the latest sustainable technology to restore running water to the ornamental rock gardens; provide the opportunity for young people from local schools to be involved in all aspects of transforming the gardens and help develop an education pack.

The project is an important stepping stone to future improvements in Longford Park as laid out in the council’s Park’s Masterplan.

Friends of Longford Park member, Margaret Westbrook, told SUM: “This is the first real extra money that we have managed to attract, having failed with the big Heritage Lottery bid last year.

“It effectively marks the start – but only the start – of many future possibilities.

“This is so very important as it will mark the beginning of constructive involvement of young people in our community.

“It also marks the beginning of an imaginative partnership between the school, the Friends, and Trafford Council.”

The money is designed to enable students to restore the Japanese water gardens using green technology and to redesign and replant the rose garden area which is somewhat worse for wear at present.

The council’s executive councillor for parks, Jonathan Coupe, also welcomed the cash injection: “I am delighted the bid was successful and would like to thank everyone who voted.

“The Friends group, local schools and council staff put a lot of hard work into this campaign and I’m now looking forward to seeing the project come to life.

“The council will continue to work with partners to secure more funding for projects like this one,” he said.

Posted by rylands on December 7th, 2009 in 2009/2010 People's Millions, Longford Park in the News

As reported on December 1st 2009 by Kirsty Elleray (View the Article)

CAMPAIGNERS celebrated Longford Park winning the People’s Millions.

The park which borders Chorlton and Trafford has scooped £50,000 after ITV viewers voted it to be a worthy recipient.

The money which comes from the Big Lottery Fund will help transform areas of the park.

It will enable the deteriorating rose garden to be turned into a beautiful garden; allow the use of the latest sustainable technology to restore running water to the ornamental rock gardens; and enable pupils from south Manchester schools to get involved with transforming and maintaining the gardens.

Margaret Westbrook, from the Friends of Longford Park, said: “We are delighted to get the money – this is a dream come true and we’d like to thank all the people in Chorlton and Stretford who helped and who voted for us.”

Trafford Council, which had led the bid along with the Friends of Longford Park, Stretford Grammar School and other campaigners, says the money will form an important stepping stone to future improvements.

Executive councillor Jonathan Coupe said: “I am delighted that our bid was successful and would like to thank everyone who voted.

“The Friends group, local schools and council staff put a lot of hard work into this campaign and I’m now looking forward to seeing the project come to life.”

The campaigners’ plea for the money was filmed and shown on ITV on Wednesday, November 25. Their bid was one of five out of eight competing projects to be awarded money.

A spokesperson for the People’s Millions confirmed that Longford Park will receive the money once the administration processes have been completed.

Longford Park campaigners have been trying to raise £2 million to upgrade the park and have twice failed to secure £2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said they – along with other campaigners – would continue to look for new funding incomes.

Posted by rylands on November 7th, 2009 in 2009/2010 People's Millions

Longford Park has won £50,000 to start bringing the historic site back to life! Thanks very much to everyone that voted in the People’s Millions to vote Longford Park.

More details coming soon …

A scheme to transform part of Longford Park has been shortlisted for a £50,000 Lottery award - and it needs your vote to secure the funding. The Council, Friends of Longford Park, Stretford Grammar School and other partners have come together to campaign for the Lottery’s People’s Millions funding and make the project come to life.

The scheme will feature on Granada TV’s evening news programme on Wednesday 25 November. Voting phone lines will open at 9am on this day and close at midnight. There will be full details of the scheme and how to vote at www.trafford.gov.uk and the voting telephone number will appear in the Daily Mirror and at www.peoplesmillions.org.uk on this day. Find out More >>>

For all the latest developments visit us on Facebook:- Vote Longford Park!

Posted by rylands on October 28th, 2009 in 2009/2010 People's Millions, Longford Park in the News

The following news release was issued by Trafford Council on the 28th October 2009 :-

A scheme to transform part of Longford Park has been shortlisted for a £50,000 Lottery award - and it needs your vote to secure the funding.

The project would give the much-loved historic park a real boost by creating a beautiful garden in the former rose, ornamental and water gardens. This would become an educational resource for young people, with an education pack available for use by local schools.

And, in keeping with Trafford Council’s pledge to create a greener borough, planting methods best placed to respond to climate change would be used, creating a site fit-for-purpose for the 21st century and beyond.

The Council, Friends of Longford Park, Stretford Grammar School and other partners have come together to campaign for the Lottery’s People’s Millions funding and make the project come to life.

A statement from the Friends of Longford Park said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for the People’s Millions project that will enable young people to design an informative, sustainable and very appealing green space for the whole community. This reflects the historical significance of the Longford Estate as an example of land management for the benefit of all.”

The scheme will feature on Granada TV’s evening news programme on Wednesday 25 November. Voting phone lines will open at 9am on this day and close at midnight. There will be full details of the scheme and how to vote at www.trafford.gov.uk and the voting telephone number will appear in the Daily Mirror and at www.peoplesmillions.org.uk on this day.

Executive Councillor Jonathan Coupe said: “Local people are really passionate about Longford Park and this can be seen through the huge amount of support shown for the Masterplan that has been created to lay out a vision for its future.

“The garden project is just part of that Masterplan, and it would be fantastic to see it start to take shape and to see the community coming together to achieve this common goal. I’d encourage everyone to support this campaign to help us make Trafford a greener borough and a great place to live, learn, work and relax.”

You can find out more about The People’s Millions scheme at www.peoplesmillions.org.uk.