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.

The start of Autumn at Cleveleys

You can feel the autumn starting to march towards us, and as the last day of August comes and goes, the Starlings are singing their end of summer song and the evenings are getting shorter at Cleveleys – although we get away with extra daylight being on the West coast, and long sunsets as the day disappears over the horizon.

The relentless onset of Christmas is starting to happen with some shops already starting to get cards and tinsel in, but before the winter does descend we’ve still got plenty of nice things to look forward to at the seaside, and hopefully some warm days and walks on the beach without wellies and coats! 

In between the rain we’ve had some lovely days and last week we were treated to the sight of a seal bobbing up and down just off shore. In the past they’ve had a rest on land, but this one was just having a swim and a sunbathe and enjoying the view of people sitting on the beach and fishing! A lot of work goes into keeping the seas and shore clean, from both the community and local authority, and the quantity of wildlife that we get in the seas and on the beach has risen dramatically over the years. The top reaches of shingle beach at the northern end of Cleveleys promenade are dry all year round, and this year we’ve even got a quite rare yellow horned poppy growing and flowering among the native wild plants.

The Rossall Beach Group have won Lottery funding to produce a range of interpretation signs to highlight the wildlife in the area, and are currently researching what is to go on them. DONG Energy, who famously installed the electricity cable earlier in the year for the new Walney Offshore Windfarm, have kindly contributed to the project, so other boards will explain about the views over the sea and what you can see in the distance. 

I’m Jane and my business is a member of Wyre Tourism Association.
You can find out much more about Cleveleys from my website www.visitCleveleys.co.uk

Tractor Pulling Power hits Great Eccleston

The recent bank holiday weekend saw Wyre play host to the Tractor Pulling Championships at Great Eccleston. For anyone who doesn’t know, these are monster machines powered by jet engines – yes, the ones you will find in aircraft! In a nutshell, they “pull” a weight at the back of the tractor called a sled as far as they can down a track and the one who “pulls” the furthest is the winner. I attended on the Saturday evening for the floodlit pull and as the sun started to set, the crowds filed in to find their viewing point on the embankment. The skies remained kind which helped as I have been when it’s poured down in previous years and ended up being towed out of the field due to being stuck in the mud! The evening didn’t disappoint with some excellent “pulls” exceeding the 100 metre mark. There were a few wobbly “pulls” too with some tractors almost veering off the track! Competitors from all over the UK took part along with teams from Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Probably the furthest to travel to get here was Phil Fairbanks from Massachusetts USA and his “Original Rat Poison.” A great night was had by all with the following day providing just as much excitement. If you have never been I strongly recommend you visit at least once to witness the power of these truly awesome machines.

Becky – Marketing Officer at Wyre Council

Fun at the Farm!

Farmer Parrs Animal World

When talking to a friend last week they couldn’t believe I’d never been to Farmer Parrs Animal World in Fleetwood before. So, off we went with the kids for a fun day out. If you’re looking for somewhere to spend the day this summer I’d recommend it. As well as all the farm animals (which are all at the perfect level for kids to see and stroke) there was a little show with the rabbits and guinea pigs as well as loads of little rides, pony riding, a great play area (one inside and one out) and a lovely cafe. For £5 per person to get in (which included most things) I thought it was a bargain!

Emma.

Wow Factor Wedding!

Wedding celebrations at Singleton Lodge!

We went to a beautiful wedding this weekend at Singleton Lodge Hotel – what a gorgeous place! It’s just outside Poulton on the way to Singleton and is a really beautiful venue for a party. The grounds are stunning and made a great backdrop for the photos. Inside is all new with a few lovely rooms to sit and enjoy a drink. The main dining room was really pretty and the food was great. It has hotel rooms too so many of the guests were lucky enough to be staying over. Definitely worth checking out if you are planning a special occasion.

Emma

Opera Events – Coming Soon to Marine Hall

I went along to Opera Event’s latest performance at Stanley Park, Blackpool this weekend in anticipation of their up coming concert at Marine Hall in Fleetwood. It was, in a word – brilliant! Opera is not something I know much about but I was surprised at how many of the songs I recognised. Charlotte and David were amazing and really captivated the audience. Young and old were there and I was surprised to see how many people the performance appealed to. I’m really excited now about the big concert we have coming up. To recognise all the changes and upgrages taking place on Wyre’s coastline as part of the Sea Change project it will be a ‘sea themed’ celebratory concert. A great chance for everyone to get dressed up and enjoy a night at the opera.

Emma.

What a lovely day to be in Poulton!

Poulton Park

I was proud to live in Poulton this weekend as the monthly farmers market came to town and the first ever picnic in the park organised by Wyre Council took place on Saturday.

It was great to see so many people out and about enjoying what was almost a sunny day! The market was as good as ever, full of lovely treats to buy. I got some nice food for the BBQ and cookies for the kids. Lunch was a sausage barm at the market – the poor man couldn’t cook them fast enough there were so many people there.

On the way back home we stopped in at the picnic in the park where the kids enjoyed ice cream, face painting, Thomas the Tank engine and a good play on the bouncy castle. Many of Poulton’s best shops were out offering everything from kid’s hair cuts to mini manicures! A quick go on the swings and a run about and we’d soon spent the whole day out. Lovely.

 Emma

Walking the Wyre Light

Wyre Light Walk

Just recovering from the Wyre Light walk across the Bay. It was only two miles there, and even though the tide was out, we still had to wade through water. Neither I nor the other hundreds of participants were deterred. The RNLI kept us safe, counting everyone in and out, laying out flags to guide us, and providing refreshments at the Wyre light itself. Hopefully they made lots of money from donations and sales.

 It was an especially atmospheric walk this year as it was an evening walk. We started at 6.30pm- some older people who do the walk every year, babies in backpacks- by 8.30pm we were back on the promenade and heading to the North Euston for a well-earned pint and music from Captain’s Crew. An amazing end to a fantastic experience.

Jean Laurie, Arts Development Officer

Celebrating Art in Fleetwood

Artists Residency at The Mount, Fleetwood

As Louise Wood’s artists residency at the Mount, Fleetwood has come to an end – we have been busy organising a celebratory event to showcase each of the ten sculptures she has made. Each piece reflects the maritime history of Fleetwood and has been on a journey before arriving back in time for today’s event.

I didn’t think we’d get all the exhibition ready in time,the last two pieces which had been over to Northern Ireland, arrived back at noon, and we opened the doors of The Mount at 1pm. Actually, we opened up at 9am to let Tony, the skipper of the Knott End ferry see his artwork!

Another artwork reflected local men’s involvement in the royal Naval Patrol Service, and they did us proud by bringing along their standards. The Mayor officially unveiled their artwork. He and the Mayoress (Fleetwood born and bred) stayed to talk to residents who had contributed during the community workshops, or who contributed stories. All this was set to a musical accompaniment provided by local musicians.

Children were catered for by storyteller Domonic Kelly. We’d scattered cushions upstairs and there was so much to see from the ten-sided clocktower that he was never short of inspiration for a story. To follow that, we’d devised a quiz about the park keeper in times gone by (the Mountie) and solvers all received a prize.

Many people were amazed at the beauty of The Mount and looked to what the future use of the building might be. All agreed that Louise Wood’s sculptural pieces both looked at the history of The Mount and saw a rosy future for the building.

 Jean Laurie, Arts Development Officer