Community

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The aim of the Sub Group is to increase the number of people who use the park. 
The rational being that an increased number of users would raise the  PoWP profile within the council maintenance team, who have limited resources, and base their input on foot fall.

The Friends enjoy the park and seek to make it as accessible and attractive as possible so that the park rings with the excitement of children and all age groups can enjoy the unique  variety of habitats the park has to offer. The group works in partnership with the council.
Over the last three years, the sub group has organised children's trails that run over the Easter and Christmas school holidays. The feed back has been most positive from children,parents and grandparents.

The 150th Jubilee celebration in the arena was our focus for the first year and a half. We aimed to restore the Prince of Wales Park to it's former glory  a 150 yrs on from it's ceremonial opening . Money was raised from local business, individuals and local groups which enabled us to bid for a WREN award. This £50,000 paid for better paths, play equipment, sign posts and a trail leaflet.
 The Jubilee was a chance to showcase the restoration and was a most exciting and extremely well attended event . It proved two things to us, firstly how many people hold this special park so dear and secondly how many had never been before. Generous sponsorship  and a large inividual donation together with fantastic volunteers made this event possible.
Our next planned arena event is going to be May 21st 2017 so save to date. There will be music and  a Royal theme  among other attractions, fancy dress and children's games.

We have just hosted a very well attended Forest School Day with input from our members Mags and Pam. More are planned next year.
This year we have had a calendar of lead walks of special interest -the horticulture,history,and butterfly walks have been of great interest as were 
Robert Bell's bat walk and William Frazer's fossil walk, both last September.
Finally we very much hope that other organisations will be inspired to use this wonderful park for their events and that many more of you will support us by becoming Friends of Prince of Wales Park ,current membership fee is £10 or 15 for a couple.
This money helps to pay for our insurance,first aid training ,website and tools.

Lynda Chadwick.

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