Friends of Chadkirk

The Friends of Chadkirk are volunteers who freely give their time, energy and skills to maintain and protect Chadkirk Country Park and Estate. While recognising this valuable and unique environment, we look to do what we can, where we can, to allow this vibrant, yet tranquil, haven to flourish. Throughout the year, Friends will be involved in a range of activities supporting and enabling others to visit and enjoy this special place.

Each year, thousands of visitors come to Chadkirk for a solitary stroll, to walk their dogs, to gather with friends and family in the walled garden and to linger for a coffee or ice cream in Chadkirk Chapel. While all of the visitors appreciate the beauty of the landscape and buildings here, many are unaware that much of the work is done by this small group of volunteers.It is this group that works in the Walled Garden, organises and supports many of the events and raises money to nourish, nurture and enhance the assets of Chadkirk.

This year, as in previous years there are things to enjoy throughout the year. Events organised and supported by the Friends of Chadkirk are listed below.

Chadkirk: The Walled Garden in February

On Saturday 7th February, a hardy group of Friends will be along at the Walled Garden. These volunteers will be tidying up some of last year’s growth and preparing the garden for the year ahead.The delights of this garden are, in no small measure, a result of the cheerful contribution they make on the team gardening days. Gardening volunteers will be in the garden between 2 and 4pm. Chadkirk Chapel will be open during this time and refreshments are available for visitors in the Chapel.

2015

The Friends of Chadkirk are volunteers who freely give their time, energy and skills to maintain and protect Chadkirk Country Park and Estate. While recognising this valuable and unique environment, we look to do what we can, where we can, to allow this vibrant, yet tranquil, haven to flourish. Throughout the year, Friends will be involved in a range of activities supporting and enabling others to visit and enjoy this special place.

Each year, thousands of visitors come to Chadkirk for a solitary stroll, to walk their dogs, to gather with friends and family in the walled garden and to linger for a coffee or ice cream in Chadkirk Chapel. While all of the visitors appreciate the beauty of the landscape and buildings here, many are unaware that much of the work is done by this small group of volunteers.It is this group that works in the Walled Garden, organises and supports many of the events and raises money to nourish, nurture and enhance the assets of Chadkirk.

This year, as in previous years there are things to enjoy throughout the year. Events organised and supported by the Friends of Chadkirk are listed below.

2015 Calendar of events

Team Gardening in the Walled Garden takes place on the first Saturday and third Thursday of each month.

The Friends meet each month on the first Thursday of the month.

Gardening Time for volunteers:
First Saturday (2-4pm) and third Thursday (10.30am-12.30) of every month.

Meetings:
Friends of Chadkirk meet every month on 1st Thursday of the month.
Business meetings alternate with a varied mix of social meetings.

Sunday 1st March St Chad’s Day Service in the Chapel

Sunday 5th April Easter Sunday Service in Chadkirk Chapel 3pm

Monday 6th April Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday 13th or 20th June Plant Sale in the gardens 2.30-4pm TBC

Tuesday 21st July Team begin Well Dressing for Festival TBC

Sunday 26th July Chadkirk Festival

Saturday 12 or 19 September Bat and Bird Box Building in Chapel

Friday 23 October Harvest Supper in Chapel TBC

Sunday 25 October Harvest Service in Chadkirk Chapel

Sunday 6 December Carol Services at 3pm and 4-30pm in Chadkirk Chapel

Mapping the new…

Let’s celebrate the start of 2015 with a map.
A new map. A map available to all (all on-line anyway).
A map of Stockport which begins where you are.
You might try this link: http://maps.stockport.gov.uk/myhouse.aspx

You can key in a postcode, your home or a Chadkirk postcode,
or somewhere like Healdwood in Romiley, another little jewel enjoyed by local folk.

Then click on my maps

On the left is an alphabetical list of things which can be added to the map. Scroll down for transport (it’s 15th on list) and check the box. This will then add information to your map. Rights of way are shown…these are shown with a red broken line.

I have found that the map seems most useful when the scale marker has the bar in the middle of the scale.

It is unclear whether these lines are footpaths/bridleways. Or if these lines refer to current/pending/aspirations.

To know that, you need to go to Fred Perry House to view the Definitive Map.

Happy New Year

2015 and a chance to celebrate and look forward to all that this year might bring.

Friends of Chadkirk start the year with the first meeting on Thursday 8th January at 7-30 pm in the Chapel.

2014 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,300 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

New bridleway…to be or not to be ?

New bridleway…to be or not to be ?

The story so far.

In March 2014 Werneth Area Committee agreed to a proposal to build a new bridleway. The existing footpath from the car park, by the stream and through Little Wood would be closed. A new bridleway would be built so that horses could go around a circuit in the fields, including the Coronation Meadow.

In July, a casual remark from a council employee alerted the Friends of Chadkirk to the plan.

From July to November, Friends of Chadkirk set about learning more about the plans, so that other users groups might be consulted about the desirability of the proposal and to get some idea of how it might affect the environment.

In November 2014 Werneth Area Committee met and decided to request that more information was collected and a report submitted.

The Werneth Area Committee met again on Monday 8th December.
Chadkirk bridleway was Item 10 on the agenda.

The minutes of the meeting are now available on line. Here are the key paragraphs:

Since this date (March 2014) and prior to works starting on site or indeed the Deed of Dedication being drafted a number of issues have arisen. It is possible that had the Committee been aware of these issues at the time the resolution to dedicate the bridleway might not have been made.
 
The Area Committee is recommended to  reconsider the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate, marked A-B on the attached plan given the considerations listed within the report.
 

Minutes:
A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the current position with regard to the dedication of a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate previously approved by the Area Committee at its meeting on 10 March 2014. 
 
RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to a future meeting of the Area Committee pending a full consultation on the proposals to rescind the previous decision of the Area Committee to make an Order to dedicate a bridleway at Chadkirk Country Estate as marked A-B on the plan attached to the report.