Welcome
The Friends of Fletcher Moss Park and Parsonage Gardens
PARK NEWS
If you have any concerns about issues in the park or its management please contact Manchester City Council:
parks@manchester.gov.uk
For the latest Covid Advice go to the City Council web page:
For Fletcher Moss park this means:
1. The café is open.
2. The toilets are also open under the management of the café.
3. HEALTH WALKS PROGRAMME
The walks have resumed under new guidelines. It will not be possible to provide refreshments at the end of each walk. However the café is open and walkers can bring their own drinks and snacks. Although Covid regulations are now relaxed it will be important to observe basic health and safety precautions such as distancing; mask wearing will be optional but advised for those who feel vulnerable.
Monday 10th January - two walks
Both walks from Fletcher Moss at 2.00pm
Monday 17th January - two walks
1. Burnage Rugby Club, 1.30pm
2. Fletcher Moss, 2.00pm
Monday 24th January - two walks
Both walks from Fletcher Moss, 2.00pm
Monday 31st January - two walks
1. Burnage Rugby Club, 1.30pm
2. Fletcher Moss, 2.00pm
Monday 7th February - two walks
Both walks from Fletcher Moss, 2.00pm
4. VOLUNTEERING AT FLETCHER MOSS
The current rules do allow some relaxation of previous stricter ones. But we should carry on with our usual vigilance - social distancing at all times, no more than one person at a time in the machine shed or the tool store. The park is still being heavily used and we need to take care on that count.
If you want to know more please phone me (Alan Hill) on
07719 659 689 or e-mail: awhill@globalnet.co.uk
Volunteering is every Wednesday 1.00 - 4.00. New volunteers are welcome.
VOLUNTEERING AT PARSONAGE GARDENS
Volunteering at Parsonage Gardens has resumed on its former basis - every Tuesday morning from 9.30 - 12.30. The same common-sense precautions (as above) are being taken.
ADDITONAL COMPANY VOLUNTEERS AT FLETCHER MOSS
The Friends love having Company volunteers who come for a day of team building. They help keep the Park up to scratch but also personally benefit mentally and physically from being in nature and away from a desk. Their blood pressure will go down and stresses will be forgotten. If you would like your teams to benefit AND give something to the community please contact our Park Ranger, declan.kelly2@manchester.gov.uk and/or john.keys@manchester.gov.uk
5. BIRD LIFE AT FLETCHER MOSS
This website has got a set of great photos of the birds at Fletcher Moss, photographed during lockdown. You will have to click on the link in the search engine
https://landofsize.com/urban-birdwatching-the-secret-wildlife-of-fletcher-moss-park-in-didsbury/
LATEST NEWS
THE CAFÉ WILL REMAIN OPEN, OPERATING AS A TAKE-AWAY. OUTSIDE SERVICE ONLY, SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE. 10.00AM - 4.00PM EACH DAY DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.
TOILETS. THE ONE TOILET IS NOW OPEN AGAIN BUT UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CAFÉ
VOLUNTEERING (see above).
Please use the 'Contact Us' tab (menu on left) with any of your questions, opinions or thoughts about Fletcher Moss or Parsonage Gardens.
Or e-mail: info@fletchermossgardens.org.uk
Latest (please go to the 'News' page for more details)
Cancelled AGM. Our proposed AGM for 25th March 2021 has been cancelled. If you would like to read the reports of the Chair, Vice-chair, Membership Secretary, and Treasurer please go to the 'News' page where you will be able to download them. Reading them gives a good picture of the work that our wonderful volunteers have contributed over the past year. IT IS INTENDED TO HOLD AN AGM IN MARCH 2022.
Wellbeeing Garden. We have been given a grant of £15,500 from the Government's 'Pocket Parks' initiative to turn part of the old grass tennis courts into a garden which will aim to be 'therapeutic' and welcoming for all, but particularly for people with mental and physical needs who would benefit from a close interaction with nature. And it is 'wellbeeing' because it will be good for bees and other insects as well, all of which need all the help we can give them. Read more in the News section ...
Fletcher Moss is a "well loved park". This was an award from the Fields in Trust charity, as part of their 'Best Loved Parks' scheme. A presenation of the award took place in the park attended by representatives of the Council, the Friends' group and the RSPB.
RSPB founded in Fletcher Moss Park. June 2019 saw a celebration of the 130 years since the founding of the RSPB in 1892. This was in large part due to the heroic efforts of Emily Williamson, who lived in the Croft from 1892 to 1912. Emily was appalled at the wanton killing of birds for their plumage, to be used in millinery and fashion adornments. The ceremony was attended by a relative of Emily's, Professor Melissa Bateman, and by Jeff Smith our local MP.
Sewage. The water and sewage issues at Fletcher Moss remain, and progress might have been made at a meeting on 25th March 2020. However that meeting has now been cancelled due to Coronavirus concerns. It is quite amazing that in the year 2020 raw sewage from St James' Church is being discharged into an open stream in a public park. Should there be outrage over this? It'S hard to find anyone who is seriously interested in the matter. The Friends'g group will keep plugging away.
Past News. The Officers and Committee have drawn up a 'Memorials Policy' for Fletcher Moss Park and Parsonage Gardens. See the 'News' section for further details.
CONSULTATION ON PARK PLAN
There is another park plan for Fletcher Moss which is in the process of being drawn up. In normal times this would have involved wide consutlation, a meeting with 'stakeholders', and plans based on the inputs from those interested in the future development of the park. Much of this has had to be put on hold as it has not been possible to hold meetings. The Council officers are looking at ways members of the public can have their say in what they think should be the way forward.
THE CAFÉ IS NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND IS OPEN EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. PLEASE GIVE IT A TRY. A WELL RUN AND WELL STOCKED CAFÉ IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASSET IN OUR PARK.
Introduction and background to the Friends' group
The ‘Friends of Fletcher Moss Park and Parsonage Gardens’ group was formed in early 2006. At the time it was realised that parks and gardens needed some degree of ‘protection’ – from developers, from easy cuts to funding, and, in some cases, from damage and neglect. We also wanted to create a sense of ‘ownership' of the park by local people and by many others from further afield who loved and valued the Fletcher Moss area – its Gardens, Stenner Woods and Millgate Fields, its beauty and tranquillity.
Since its formation the Friends' group has worked closely with the City Council and with the Mersey Valley Warden Service to establish priorities for the maintenance and enhancement of the park, to provide volunteers for work where it is needed, and to raise funds for projects by applications to grant-awarding bodies. These efforts have produced significant results: the Alpine House behind the Old Parsonage has been completely transformed – what was once derelict has now one of the best collection of alpines in the north of England; safety rails and signposts have improved the area in and around the rockery gardens; noticeboards have been erected at the Visitor Centre and in Parsonage Gardens; plants and trees of many varieties have been introduced throughout the park; and a Local Nature Reserve with a Nature Trail has been established in Stenner Woods and Millgate Fields.
Regular activities include a Volunteering session every Tuesday morning in Parsonage Gardens, a second Volunteering session every Wednesday afternoon at Fletcher Moss Park, and a Health Walk every Monday afternoon from the Visitor Centre at The Croft, Fletcher Moss (see further details in the ‘Activities’ section).
(Note: Fletcher Moss Park and Parsonage Gardens are open every day of the year from dawn to dusk. Entrance is free. Dog restrictions apply in some signed areas.)
We are keen to have as much local input as possible, not only in our walks and volunteering, but in any matters connected with the management of the park and in its future. Our Committee meetings are held once every three months and we have an Annual General Meeting in late spring. All these meetings are open to any members of the Friends' group. If you have any views or questions about the park and its facilities you could also contact us by e-mail. We have a strong and supportive membership and we warmly invite you to become a member of the group if you care about the park and gardens; as a member you will receive a Newsletter every quarter and know that you are contributing to the well-being of this precious area.
To get in touch with us about any matter(s) connected with the Park and Gardens use the 'Contact' button on the left or mail us at: info@fletchermossgardens.org.uk