15 people braved the rain for an enjoyable stroll through the park on the 27th April Health Walk.
They were rewarded for their efforts with fine views of the park in bloom. Spring seems finally to have arrived and areas of the park such as the oriental gardens are looking particularly attractive just now.
Tea, Coffee and biscuits were available at the end of the walk. Thanks to Jean for organizing this event.
South Manchester Reporter columnist, Neil Rolands, on the 24th April 2008 mentioned at length John Rylands and Longford Park.
Excerpts from his column include:-
“Longford Park is a fascinating area, and well worth a stroll…. With the birds and shelters, the original stables and its classic layout, it really is a splendid place that deserves the restoration it seeks, and it seems particularly pertinent that the bid to restore it should occur this year, exactly a century after the death of Enriquetta Augustina Ryland’s third and final wife who he married when he was 74, and who created the John Rylands Library in his memory. “
“Nobody today would suggest that John Rylands was motivated by greed - indeed, he built orphanages, homes for gentlewomen and ministers of slender means, and in Stretford, on the borders of which stood Longford Hall, he built the town hall, baths, library and a coffee house. Yet his efforts made him Manchester’s first multi millionaire and the United Kingdom’s largest textile manufacturer, his businesses boasting a capital of £2 million. ”
The full text of this article can be found here.
Longford Park Festival 2005
(Film running time: 5 minutes)
The Longford Park Festival, normally held in May, will not take place this year. This is because of a lack of members to run an event of this scale.
We do hope to host more community events in the near future so if you are a performer, stall holder or would like to just be kept informed then please contact us.
The spirit of Longford Park Festival was captured in 2005 by film maker James Graham (0774 7080523)
The 2007 Longford Park Festival sought to provide a platform for local community organisation/arts and crafts, attracting people from a wide area and from different cultural backgrounds. This was an enjoyable (though rainy!) chilled out event with acoustic musicians, arts and crafts, children’s entertainment, environmental and local produce stalls, and raffle.
Images from the 2007 Festival below:-
Please get in touch if you have any photographs we could use for this festival
The Friends of Longford Park have been supporting Trafford MBC with a multi-million pound application to restore Longford Park to its former glory and also provide up to date facilities. This vital cash injection would restore the many heritage features such as the landscape, the stable block and bungalow. Initial proposals include new performance spaces, youth facilities such as a skate park, a multi-use games area, refurbished play areas and upgrading the pets’ corner.
There are further proposals for a cafe and improvements to the general infrastructure including parking, paths, drainage, planting and to communicate the rich history and cultural value of the park.
The park would also benefit from new staff such as a site based park manager and two park rangers who would help with events to involve hard to reach groups and provide a safety role.
It is hoped that by April 2008 we will have an important update on the progress of the Heritage Lottery Fund bid.
The Friends of Longford Park put together a fun day of International music and dance with styles from England to Zimbabwe:-
“You can either watch, or alternatively take part in one of the dance workshops where you can get to grips with Indian dance, capoeria, rumba, klezma, Jamaican moves and belly dancing.
To keep the kids happy they’ll be a craft area where they can make percussion instruments, learn willow weaving, woodcarving, and even circus skills.
By the time they get back to school they’ll be all-dancing, all-making entertainers.
The less proactive can listen to a storyteller and watch a puppet show.
Bands and strolling players, Street theatre, dancers and several folk music type workshops are on offer. Free, thanks to the friends-of, as in title. Most participants are amateurs in the real sense, so join in if you feel like a taster of Klezmer dancing, African drums or just food tasting from stalls.”
Images from the 2005 International Festival:-
Images from the 2004 festival:-
As reported by the Trafford Metro News on the 18/04/2008:
Stretford’s Longford Park has bid for a £2.5m slice of the Heritage Lottery Fund – and, if successful, the cash would see the park’s cultural and historical features preserved for future generations.
Plans include a new visitor centre in the old stable blocks, while a dilapidated bungalow near the children’s park could be turned into a cafe.
The old formal gardens and pathways would be restored, new toilets built and demolished conservatories recreated.
Angela Elphick, acting chair of the Friends of Longford Park, said she thought it would be an “excellent added amenity” for Stretford.
Ms Elphick, a resident of nearby Alder Grove, added: “It is in a part of Trafford that we sometimes feel gets a bit neglected in favour of the other areas to the south, like Hale and Bowdon.”
The park and the imposing Longford Hall were built in 1857 by Manchester cotton magnate John Rylands, who lived there until his death in 1888.
The site became a public park after it was bought by Stretford Urban District Council in 1911. Longford Hall was knocked down in 1995, but its facade still stands in the park.
The funding bid was submitted last October and a decision on the park’s next stage is due over the next few days.
Angela said: “I feel optimistic, because as well as being such an attractive park, I think it is quite important because of the John Rylands connection.”
She added that outdoor events have recently had to be cancelled because of a lack of volunteers – and put out a call for new members. For details visit www.friendsoflongfordpark.org.uk.
The very best of music, dance and art will hit Longford Park this Sunday with the 2003 ‘Celebrating Friends Folk Festival’.
The festival is organised and fund-raised by the Friends of Longford Park in conjunction with the Parks and Countryside Service. It is one of the many Trafford in Bloom showcase events, which will help raise the profile of local parks and show the important year round work all the local ‘Friends of Parks’ groups carry out.
Interim Head of the Parks and Countryside Service Bernard Sheridan said it is thanks to the hard work of all the ‘Friends’ that it has been possible for this event to go ahead.
“The Folk Festival promises to have something for everyone and I hope that the Bank Holiday weekend weather is kind to us. It is encouraging to see just what efforts local ‘Friends’ groups put into our local parks week in week out and the Council is pleased to be able to work with these and other groups to maintain and improve the facilities and events hosted in the parks.
“With plans for this year’s Boroughwide Trafford in Bloom entry gathering pace it is good to see what enthusiasm and commitment there is from the Friends of Longford Park and all sections of the local community. They are helping to keep our parks and open spaces attractive places that people can visit to relax,” he said.
2003 Festival Images below:-
‘Celebrating Friends’ is a unique international folk day and FREE event to mark the coming of spring. Folk Music, song, dance and crafts will be available for all to come, RELAX and ENJOY.
This event is organised by the Friends of Longford Park, a local community group, who have succeeded in attracting funding from both National Lottery Arts Awards for All and Trafford Area Board to organise this free event which will celebrate different cultures in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
National, regional and local performers include Helen Watson, folk singer; Longnote, a local traditional Irish band; the Cajun Specials, Risky Business, a contemporary folk band; Northumbrian Pipes, Sambrio, a local Samba band; Tabla players; Polonez, Polish Dancers, Asbasindi African Drummers; Nrtya Jyoti, Indian Dancers; Chorlton Green and Fylde Coast Morris Dancers and local singer Paul Mr Nulty.
As well as listening and lazing, visitors will be able to perform themselves in a singaround; get involved in banner making, Maypole dancing, African drumming or instrument making. For younger visitors there will be storytelling sessions and an opportunity to learn circus skills.
There will also be craft, information and food stalls - all adding up to a great day out for all ……
Map demonstrating the enhancements that could be made to Longford Park:-
The Friends of Longford Park are extremely disappointed that the Heritage/Lottery bid was rejected and very concerned for the future of Longford Park.
Users of the park are also concerned about the current state of the play areas, broken walls, eroded paths, graffiti, the toilet facilities, safety issues and the neglect of the ornamental gardens.
The Friends of Longford Park appreciate though that Longford Park will be featured as part of the The Stretford Neighbourhood Forum on the 10th June at Trafford Town Hall.
Trafford Council have promoted the Stretford Neighbourhhood Forum and Longford Park by issuing a press release on the 3rd June entitled Have a say about the future of Longford Park?
From 6pm there is a drop in session where individuals can meet with Councillors, Council Officiers and other partner agencies to raise issues of concern. The Friends of Longford Park will also have a display stand there so please come along to find out more.
From 7pm Council Officers and the Friends of Longford Park will provide short presentations to be followed by a lively discussion on the future of Longford Park. This will be a great opportunity for the community to have an influence on the revised heritage lottery bid as well expressing other concerns about the future of Longford Park.
If you cannot make the Stretford Neighbourhood Forum you can add comments, suggestions or ideas regarding the future of Longford Park here.
The Friends of Longford Park AGM will take place on the 26th June at Longfords at Longford Park Stadium on Ryebank road, Chorlton at 7.30pm.
Longfords is an excellent venue, with a fully licensed bar and the night will provide a great opporunity to learn more about the Friends of Longford Park and and get involved!
” I am writing to inform you of a couple of key dates for your diary in relation to Friends of Longford Park.
The dates are: -
10 June - Stretford Neighbourhood Forum, Trafford Town Hall, 6 – 8 pm (more of this below)
26 June – Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Longford Park 7.30pm. Longford Park has reached a critical stage in its development and FOLP, with its aim to act as a voice for local people, could and
should be a vital link with Trafford Council about the park’s future.
Our Committee too has reached a critical stage and our future, sadly, is uncertain. This is why we need more members to become actively
involved. A number of resignations over the past 18 months have resulted in a smaller and less experienced committee. In 2007 we
continued to deliver our annual music festival and a programme of events. However, Trafford’s Heritage Lottery Fund bid and work on
various other funding applications (some of them successful) haveabsorbed our resources leaving us less able to offer events in the
Park this year. We need to increase our active membership so that a modest programme of events can start up again.
The Stretford Neighbourhood Forum, mentioned earlier, is to focus on Longford Park and our environment. This provides an opportunity for
you to share your concerns about Longford Park with organisations working in Trafford. Trafford Council will be publicising the event
and arranging for speakers, including environmental organisations, the police and other service providers. Not only can you come and have
your say, you can also renew your interest in FOLP.
So do put that date in your diary and come along!
If FOLP is to continue, we need people to play an active part and we need a Committee. Perhaps you would be prepared to stand for office
(giving as much of your time as you have able). The positions that need to be filled include Treasurer and Secretary.
For an informal chat about what’s involved please phone Angela on 864 1326.
I look forward to seeing you in June at both events.
Yours sincerely
Jean Byrne
Secretary
Friends of Longford Park”
You can download a nomination form here.
