The ramblings of our lovely Garstang Walking Festival volunteer, Pat Ascroft

Garstang Walking Festival 11 – 20 May 2012

 

Shock and horror in March – the un-seasonally hot weather has triggered off the Bluebells to start flowering, when really they should be at their best in May (hence why we choose the 2^nd week in May for our Walking Festival).

 Well, fear not all you Bluebell lovers – the unseasonably low temperatures and frosty nights of mid-April are holding the flowering back – so all should be well!

 Bluebells are one of many the magnets that draw people to the Wyre area during the festival. As we know, the weather plays a big part in outdoor events and happenings.

This weekend doing a recce for a fell walk in Wyresdale, a local farmer told us that the Wheatears had arrived in the top field. It’s a bird of the Thrush family with a striking white rump, dove grey back and black cheeks and wings.  He said they are 2 weeks later than last year and 3 weeks later than the year before. Their arrival has been held up by strong northerly winds on their flight from North Africa.  Swallows too are late arriving for the same reason. It`s good to be reminded that we can`t dictate to the elements or rule the weather. We can say though that the Garstang Walking Festival will start on the 11 May, but we could do without a strong northerly wind!

 See you out and about.

 Pat Ascroft

Volunteer Countryside Ranger

Wyre Tourism Familiarisation visit hailed a success!

On March 20 a group of Wyre Tourism Association (WTA) members and Wyre Council staff and volunteers visited some of our WTA members establishments and enjoyed a lovely day out.  We started out with a drive along the seafront at Fleetwood and saw the Sea Change project and work on the Marine Hall gardens.

We then carried on to Fleetwood Market where Julian Brent, Market Manager gave us a super tour of the stalls which were very varied and interesting.  Farmer Parr’s Animal World was our next port of call with morning coffee and some rather nice cakes.  Farmer Parr himself conducted a tour around the farm and the Fylde Country Life Heritage Museum.  We were also joined on the tour with local celebrity Syd Little (from Little & Large fame).  We were impressed with the more unusual animals they now have on the farm.

We drove along the award winning Cleveleys promenade for arrival at The Venue for a super value lunch of top quality.  The Venue is in a wonderful location overlooking the sea and such a relaxing facility we could have stayed there for the afternoon.  On board the coach again we headed for the Bridge House Marina and Caravan Park tucked away off the A6 at Garstang.  This holiday home park is close to the Lancaster Canal and has a very popular day boat hire which will take you along the Canal to Guy’s Thatched Hamlet at Bilsborrow or the Plough at Galgate for lunch.  It is within easy walking distance of Garstang by walking on the Canal towpath and via the road.

Our next visit was to the Ashdene bed and breakfast.  Situated off the A6 the family have owned the establishment for over 20 years and were fully occupied when we visited.  Walkers and cyclists are some of the many visitors that return year on year .We finished our trip by visiting The Priory at Scorton.  We enjoyed afternoon tea in the contemporary bar and popular restaurant with a log fire. The Priory is situated in the village square at Scorton with parts of the building dating back to 1650.

A wonderful day out was enjoyed by all and it was fantastic to see just some of the gems we have in Wyre.

All the establishments mentioned and other great ideas on places to visit, things to do and places to eat can be found on our website: www.visitwyre.co.uk

Joy Allen.

Visit Fleetwood and Cleveleys Supervisor.

Friends of Garstang Walking Festival

Its official – since Tuesday 17 January 2012 I have been a member of the above group – founder member at that, along with the others to date and I hope to attract more. 

I’ve been involved in the festival for some years, so when a friends group was going to be set up to ensure this popular annual event carries on – I wanted to be in there.

 This new group will help to promote the May festival and organise additional events and activities.

 As a friends group we can apply for grants and raise money to ensure the sustainability of the festival and already we have a coffee morning booked in Garstang on April 12.  As well as the usual stalls and raffle we can use the event as a platform to “sell the walking festival”, which will only be a month away as it starts on the 11 May – heavens above – that was quick you might think.  Well – we may like walking on grass in this area, but we don’t let it grow under our feet.  The friends of Garstang Walking Festival is very very new – but its up and running and I’m glad to be running with it.

 

Pat Ascroft

Volunteer Ranger

 

Those who wish to download or request a copy of the 2012 programme of activities planned can do so by going online: www.visitwyre.co.uk/request-a-brochure

Those wishing to get involved in the Friends of Garstang Walking Festival should contact Duncan Byrne: Duncan.byrne@wyre.gov.uk or call 07989 579351 (Tues-Sat)

 

 

 

 

Words from the Void – Exhibition at Kiln House Gallery, Marsh Mill, Thornton Cleveleys

2012 Wyre’s major events unveiled

There are lots of exciting events planned for the year including a couple of special events, Sea Change celebrating Wyre’s coastline from Cleveleys to Fleetwood and of course the Olympics. Wyre is very fortunate to be picked for the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Route and on Friday 22 June, the Olympic Flame will reach our borough. Torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame through Garstang, St Michael’s on Wyre, Fleetwood and Cleveleys, who will host a welcome on behalf of their surrounding communities and enable people to share in the excitement at these locations. Keep an eye on our website for further details www.wyre.gov.uk

Wyre Sea Change is a unique and exciting regeneration project that will transform Wyre’s Waterfront.  The project encompasses different elements that stretch from Cleveleys through to Fleetwood – starting with the Sea Swallow Public Art in Cleveleys, an observation tower at Rossall and extensive refurbishment of the Marine Hall Gardens in Fleetwood.  Wyre’s Mythic Coast has also been detailed in a specially commissioned book ‘The Sea Swallow’.  A series of events to celebrate the different elements of Sea Change will take place during 2012 – check our website for details www.wyreseachange.co.uk 

Be sure to visit our events sections of http://www.visitwyre.co.uk/events and http://www.wyre.gov.uk/events/full where you’ll find regular updates and any events. We couldn’t possibly fit everything that’s happening in this guide so log on to find out the latest events.

Come and Experience Wyre for yourself!

Rebecca Parkinson (Marketing Officer)

A spooktacular success at the Wyre Estuary Country Park

Halloween fairies, skeletons and giant walking pumpkins joined the Countryside Rangers for a fun afternoon of Halloween activities at the country park.  These included pumpkin carving, mask and badge making.  By far the infamous ‘doughnut dilemma’ eating competition and ‘take the plunge into the tub of doom’ were the highlight of the event.  Over 40 children enjoyed this winning event.

Forthcoming events at the Park include: 

Tree dressing,  3 December, 1 pm – 3 pm

Rangers Christmas Festival,  4 December, 11am – 4 pm

New Years Day Stroll, 1 January 2012, 1pm – 3 pm

Charlie Pass – Country Park Officer

Family Sculpture Day hailed a success for the 2nd year despite the rain!

The Wyre Estuary Country Park has been brought alive with various creatures, animals and plants. Woodland monsters, owls, deer, dens and even a Gruffalo stand guard within the park grounds and woodlands following the annual Sculpture Day. 

Local schools invited to participate in this popular event worked with staff, volunteers and artists to get creative and construct woodland themed sculptures out of locally sourced timber.   Visitors to the park then also enjoyed a full day of creating and constructing timber structures.  These amazing sculptures are waiting to been seen at the Wyre Estuary Country Park so why not come along and see for yourself?

The popular Sculpture Day is held every October and is just one of many events and activities that are held at park.   You can find out more information about events and activities taking place on the Visit Wyre website www.visitwyre.co.uk or follow us on Facebook.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

 Charlie Pass – Wyre Estuary Country Park Officer

New Tourist Information Point at Poulton Train Station

A new Tourist Information Point has been installed at Poulton Railway Station on Breck Road to provide visitors with key information about Wyre.

The information point, funded by Wyre Council, is located in the ticket office and includes a large descriptive map of the area and an information board. Visitors and locals alike can pick up free guides to visitor attractions, places to stay and events in Wyre. The ticket office has also been redecorated and new flooring installed to give it a fresh new feel.

Councillor Lynne Bowen, Cabinet member with responsibility for tourism at Wyre Council said “Poulton Station is a key visitor gateway to Wyre and the only railway station in the borough. It is hoped that this additional information service will encourage people to stay and increase spending in Poulton and across the area. Friends and family of local residents will also benefit from up-to-date information on things to see and do and places to eat.”

The request for the information point originally came from Friends of Poulton Station, a local voluntary group responsible for the design and maintenance of the plant and flower displays at the station. Carol Woolley from the group said “We would like to thank Wyre Council and Northern Rail who have worked together to provide this fantastic facility. Poulton Station really is a station that the community can be proud of.”

Wyre celebrates success at Tourism Awards!

The annual Lancashire & Blackpool Tourism Awards 2011/12 took place on the evening of 22 September at the glittering Paradise Room at Blackpool Pleasure Beach where the best tourism and hospitality businesses contended for 16 categories. Blackpool born Jody Prenger, star of BBC 1′s “I’d do Anything” and Cameron Mackintosh’s revival production of “Oliver!” was the host for the spectacular occasion. Wyre’s businesses and Wyre Tourism Association members shone during the event which saw wins for Caravan Holiday Park of the Year (Sunset Park) and Small Visitor Attraction of the Year (Old Holly Farm). I was so very proud of the Wyre winners and shortlisted Wyre finalists too!

I am especially proud of a project very close to my own heart – The Visit Garstang Centre which was shortlisted with 3 other very worthy contenders for the Visitor Information Provider Award. I’m very pleased to say that we WON and took home a beautiful glass engraved trophy and certificate I was so very proud of our achievement and my wonderful staff who made it all possible. Here’s to the National Awards which we will do our utmost to be shortlisted for which will take place in May 2012, possibly in London.

Alexandra – Visit Wyre team at Wyre Council

Art Exhibition – Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes

Art exhibition by Ann Charlesworth is being staged at Marsh Mill in Wyre. This series of work takes a step backwards from my previous exhibition which was shown here at the Kiln House Gallery. It includes selected pieces from my second year degree work at Blackpool and Fylde College and is the origin of what was to follow.

The work is based on Yates’ Wine Lodge when the building was in a state of demolition after its arson attack. I recorded its destruction, not just from the bulldozers and workmen but from the elements as it slowly began crumbling and falling into oblivion. This also lead to the study of the Grand Hotel on Station Road, South Shore, when that too was dealt the same fate. I am fascinated by the mixing of different media and materials and aim to capture an overall ambience of the process involved in the destroying of monumental buildings and their historical and social presence. Transience and ephemerality are also key themes that I explore through my work.

Do come along and view the exhibition. It’s on from 24 September until 30 October between 10.30am and 4.30pm every weekend.

Ann Charlesworth.