News Archive 2006

Friends of Peel Park Calendar Out Now
22 November 2006

The 2007 calendar produced by the Friends of Peel Park is now available to buy at a cost of £4.00. It features landscape and action pictures around the park.

Photographer, Tony O'Connell has produced a fantastic selection of shots for the groups first journey into promoting the park through this medium. Anyone wishing to purchase a calendar can do so from Peel Park Depot on Bolton Road or through the group who can be contacted via their website www.peelpark.org

Geocaching is here!!
21 November 2006

Find out more on our new Geocaching page

Christmas Concert at Lister Park
18 November 2006

The festive spirit again comes to Lister Park with the 4th Christmas Concert. Soak up the atmosphere at the festively decorated bandstand and join in the carols with the Heaton St. Barnabas school choir accompanied by Sovereign Brass Band. There's also an opportunity to pick up some last minute Christmas goodies at a selection of stalls or why not sample some hot mulled wine, mince pies and hot roasted chestnuts. Don't miss Santa and his reindeer that will be taking time out of their busy schedule to be with us on the day. For further information contact: 01274 433828 or email park-promotions@bradford.gov.uk

Christmas Concert
Lister Park
17 December
12.30 - 3.00pm

Halloween Event
November 2006

See pictures from the recent Halloween event that was staged at St. Ives Estate, where the chainsaw carvings were spookily lit up in a partnership between the Friends of St. Ives and the Parks and Landscape Service.

Roberts Park restoration one step closer
2 October 2006

One of Bradford's most historic parks is one step closer to being restored.

The Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund have announced that Roberts Park in Saltaire has been awarded a development grant of £114,800.

Bradford is one of five local authorities to receive a grant to transform and regenerate their parks.

Proposals have been developed for a £4.9 million restoration programme for Roberts Park.

The news of this grant comes just over a month since Lister Park in Bradford was named as Britain's Best Park.

The development grant now means that work can begin on the next stage of the lottery bid.

After research and consultation with a number of local groups and organisations some of the key recommendations to restore the park include:

• Restoration of park shelters and Sir Titus Salt statue.
• Restoration of Half Moon Pavilion and fit out as refreshment kiosk.
• Restoration of boundary walls, entrances, steps and footpaths.
• Replacement bandstand.
• Major re-planting and arboriculture work.
• Provision of new seating, litterbins and signage.
• Clearance and restoration of riverbank.
• Installation of CCTV.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, said:

"The news that we have received this grant is fantastic for all the people who currently visit and use Roberts Park.

"The Parks for People Programme presents an exciting opportunity to link the restoration of parks with a commitment that we share at Bradford to involving local people in their redevelopment.

"The success of our stage two application will be reliant upon strong partnerships and we will be working hard to involve as many people as possible in the development and transformation of this wonderful part of Saltaire's History, bringing the park back to its former splendour."

Sharon Ashton, Chair of the Friends of Roberts Park, said:

"We are absolutely delighted with this news and are looking forward to the future."

Bradford Park is Britain's best
18 August 2006

Bradford's Lister Park has been voted the best park in Britain - four years after being restored to its original splendour.

Lister Park in Manningham has been awarded the title of Britain's Best park in the 2006 competition. The competition was organised by lawnmower engine makers Briggs and Stratton.

Bradford Council has owned the park since 1870 when we bought Manningham Hall and its grounds from Samuel Cunliffe Lister for £40,000.

The figure was £20,000 below its valuation on the condition that we used the land to create a public park.

The land became Lister Park and now houses seven listed buildings including Cartwright Hall, a purpose built art gallery.

Lister Park fought off strong competition from parks across the country to take the top prize and will now go forward to compete against parks from France, Germany, Sweden and Italy in the European Best Parks Competition.

In September 1996 Bradford Council submitted a successful application for a grant of £3.2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards a £4.5 million project to restore Lister Park.

The project team was led by Bradford Council's Parks and Landscape Service with support from the Museums Service, Heritage and Conservation, Planning and Building and Landscape Architects.

By 2002 Lister Park was refurbished and given a new lease of life.

The transformation of the park involved the community at every stage and in 2002 a friends group was formed independently of the Council.

As well as the Mughal Gardens, the bandstand and botanical gardens visitors flock to the park for concerts and outdoor events.

In addition to being voted Britain's Best Park Lister park has gained Green Flag status and has also received a BALI Landscaping Award, Yorkshire in Bloom Tourism award and local design awards.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, said: "We are thrilled to have been named as the best park in Britain and it just proves what a jewel Lister Park is in Bradford's crown.

"The park was restored to its original splendour and beauty which has provided new and improved facilities for the local community and visitors and also restored part of our heritage.

"There is so much at Lister Park to keep everyone entertained and yet it retains a peaceful and calm atmosphere."

Cliffe Castle Family Day - a success!
July 2006

Cliffe Castle Family Day was blessed by good weather and a bustling, lively atmosphere as Cliffe Castle Park hosted the annual children's event.

Throughout the day the park was filled with children and families enjoying the many attractions that included trampolines, bouncy castles, swing ball, face painting and a magnificent puppet theatre workshop.

The stage provided the centre point of the day's entertainment. Entertainer and host Tam Ryan once again producing a fabulous show with a variety of acts including illusionists 'Visage', Clowing by Bobby Bubbles, plate spinning by the amazing Elcockarino and multi instrumentalist 'Billy Budlan'.

All the efforts of the events team will now be concentrated on the forthcoming events 'Fun in the Park' at Riverside Gardens at Ilkley on Sunday 6th August and Music at Myrtle & Party in the Park, Myrtle Park on 2nd & 3rd September

Judges from Yorkshire in Bloom were in Bradford this week judging the Bradford in Bloom entry
July 2006

Bradford Council's Parks and Landscape Service were responsible for submitting Bradford's entry in to the competition.

Judging of the city took place on Wednesday 12 July and we will be competing against Yorkshire's other contenders which include Leeds, Hull and Barnsley in the City category.

Two judges from Yorkshire in Bloom were escorted around the city for the day.

The judges last year were particularly impressed by the quality and colour co-ordination of the City Centre hanging baskets and the standard of grass cutting.

This year a group of people from Bradford Council's Parks and Landscape Service, Street Scene, Education, City Centre Management and Recycling have worked together to improve this year's bid.

Some of this year's initiatives include children's competition to design a flowerbed and poster, new city centre and gateway flowerbeds and Council recycling and composting schemes.

We have been invited to hold the awards ceremony at Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford on September 5.

Coun Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, said:

"Yorkshire in Bloom is all about enhancing our towns and taking pride in where we live and work with communities working together.

"I hope the judges will be impressed with the beautiful displays and hard work that has gone into this year's bid."

Greengates Recreation Ground

New walks for Lister Park
June 2006

Join us on our guided walks around Lister Park. You can learn about the park's history, discover interesting features and enjoy the park's facilities.

Sunday Walks 2006 - Lister Park (PDF 2mb)

Cleaner, Safer, Greener campaign
30 May 2006

The Parks and Landscape Service is a keen supporter of Bradford Council's Cleaner, Safer, Greener campaign. A large marketing campaign has been launched around the district to promote the work that is being carried out. If you haven't seen the material please click below to see the posters and leaflets that have been produced.

Cleaner, Safer, Greener - Posters (PDF 108kb)
Cleaner, Safer, Greener - Leaflet (PDF 148kb)

Bradford in Bloom Competition Winners
23 May 2006

As part of the Bradford In Bloom campaign year six children from across the district have been invited to take part in a competition to design a flowerbed and a poster to promote the competition. The flowerbed is to be created in the Bradford by the Sea themed area behind City Hall and needed to incorporate design elements to reflect that. The poster needed to be of a distinctive design that could best show off the theme of floral Bradford.

The winning school received a £50 garden centre voucher and three prize winners in each category received book vouchers.

Flowerbed Winners:

Poster Winners:

Photography Competition Winners
22 May 2006

The winners of the photography competition that was run on this site in association with Community Pride have been decided upon. In the over 16 category the winner was Brian Smith, and in the under 16 category the prize was shared between Adam and Emma Petrie.

Park Events 2006
12 May 2006

New Park Events guide for 2006 is now available.

Youngsters in Bradford are set to create colourful posters to promote the city's entry in the annual Yorkshire in Bloom competition
19 April 2006

The theme is Floral Bradford and elements of the successful poster will be used to promote Bradford's entry. Year Six pupils are also being asked to draw up a design for a flowerbed and the winning entry will be created and planted in the city centre park, behind City Hall. The flowerbed has to reflect the Bradford by the Sea theme and include red, yellow, white, blue, silver and green, or shades of these colours. Letters have been sent to schools with full details of the competition.

Jane Glaister, Bradford Council's Arts, Heritage and Leisure Director, said:

"This is a fantastic opportunity to involve young people at a local level in the competition and it is also a positive approach to increasing their awareness of their local environment.

"The involvement and encouragement of children and young people is a key aspect of the bid.

"We are looking forward to seeing some imaginative and exciting entries."

Winners will each get a £100 Waterstones voucher for their school and book vouchers will also be awarded to second and third placed youngsters.

The deadline for entries is Friday, May 19 and they should be sent to Andy Ross, Bradford Council's Parks and Landscape Service, 2nd Floor, Jacobs Well, Bradford, BD15 0HW. Telephone 01274 433828 for more details.

Park Yourself in Bradford this Spring!
10 April 2006

Bradford Council is urging residents to make the most of the District's multi-award winning parks. As the days get lighter and warmer it’s an excellent time to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the natural beauty offered by the changing of the season.

Over the coming weeks, Bradford's parks will feature a delightful array of natural phenomena that indicate the changing season.

Lister Park and Peel Park are excellent places to enjoy the brilliant burst of colour and delicate form offered early spring flowers. Crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops are blooming and will be at their best over the coming weeks.

This year Blue Bells are likely to flower in late April and can be enjoyed at their best towards the end of the month. The Bradford District has some wonderful woodland parks such as Middleton, Woods in Ilkley and Hirst Wood in Saltaire where forest floor positively radiates with colour.

Hawthorn also blooms in spring. Their pretty white flowers will be out from late April and can be seen at Buck Wood in Thackley. Hawthorn trees have been known to live up to 250 years; one at Buck Wood is believed to be 100 years old.

During the first warm days of spring, red-tailed bumblebees will begin to appear. They emerge from their long winter hibernation and the queen bees, which grow up to 30mm long, are particularly spectacular. Chellow Dean is a good place to see red-tailed bumble bees.

Ladybirds, the gardener's friend, have appeared after lying dormant over winter. One ladybird will eat more than 5000 aphids in their lifetime and prey on a range of garden pests. They are often found in thistles, roses, lupins and nettles and can be seen in all the parks across the district.

The peacock butterfly is one of the most spectacular butterflies in the British Isles. They emerge from their winter hibernation to mate and usually appear at the first hint of warm weather. Good places to see these distinctive insects are in the flowerbeds at Wibsey Park and Myrtle Park.

A quintessential sign of spring, swifts migrate from their winter home in Africa. Swifts spend most of their lives on the wing and even sleep in the air. They are often seen at the St Eves Estate at Bingley in early May.

Bradford in Bloom
24 March 2006

Bradford's Parks and Landscape Service are gearing up to show the Yorkshire in Bloom judges just what can be achieved when we compete against Yorkshire's other contenders Barnsley, Leeds and Hull in the Large City Category of the regional Britain in Bloom competition this July.Entrants are judged according to set criteria, which includes floral enhancement, community involvement, cleanliness, permanent landscaping, and conservation and recycling.

This year campaign and competition is focusing on encouraging the involvement of young people and communities to develop recycling schemes to save natural resources. A newly established partnership to widen and drive forward the campaign has been set up. This partnership includes representatives from Parks Service, Bradford Community Housing Trust, Education, Regeneration, Street Scene, City Centre Management and Marketing.

Already ideas to maximise Bradford's potential are being put forward with the intention of collecting some silverware at this year's awards ceremony which coincidently will be hosted by Bradford on 5th September at Cedar Court Hotel. As well as submitting the entry for Bradford and Keighley the service also supports the entries for Ilkley, Addingham, Esholt, Haworth and Menston. Lister Park is also entered in the Tourism Award, a category in which the service has had success over the past few years.

How can you help! The service would like to find the best turned out areas in the city, be it residential gardens or a community project. If you have an area that you think is worthy of inclusion in the city's entry please email park.promotions@bradford.gov.uk to lend your support. To find out more about the competition please visit Yorkshire in Bloom's website, www.yorkshireinbloom.co.uk

Harold Park play area work completed
24 January 2006

Refurbishment work has been completed at Harold park play area and it officially opens this Friday (January 27 2006).

Bradford Council's Parks and Landscape Service has worked in partnership with the Friends of Harold Park to refurbish the play area.

The £54,000 for the revamp has come from money from Bradford Council and WREN, a landfill tax credit scheme.

The play area will also include a wheelchair accessible roundabout so disabled children can join in the fun.

Local children were consulted on what they wanted to see in the park and local schools took part in designing the play area.

New playground for Steeton
4 August 2004

A new £50,000 playground for Steeton has recently been opened.

Bradford Council's Parks and Landscape Service has been working with Steeton Parish Council and the village's local youth group to raise the money to refurbish an existing play area at Steeton Recreation Ground.

Young people in the village got involved with the fundraising and carried out their own consultation to establish the type of play equipment they would like to see.

The Council then put together a plan, which includes a space net, monkey bars, springers, roundabout, a globe shelter and a kick-wall for football and basketball, which won the approval of both the parish council and the young people of Steeton.

An access path will also be built, which was funded by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive.

Funding for the project has come from:

• £20,000 Bradford Council's Parks and Landscape Service and Section 106 funding - money arising from planning agreements;
• £8,000 Steeton Parish Council;
• £24,740 Yorventure

Councillor Andrew Mallinson, ward councillor for Steeton, added:

"This is an excellent project which has been made possible through the hard work of the local community, the parish council and the Council's Parks and Landscape Service.

"This is very welcome for this local area which has had very little play facilities for many years.

"I congratulate the parish council for getting involved and being one of the co-founders of the scheme. I am extremely pleased with the swift process of the whole initiative, which has secured the funding required in just three months."