Latest News

From Thursday 8th March there will now be a Health Walk on the second Thursday of the month, 10am, from the Barn on Berkeley Drive. This is in addition to the one currently on the fourth Thursday from the Barn and every Tuesday from Clayton Green Sports Centre. Why not come along and get fit, meet new people and enjoy the Park in all seasons.

In the morning, Cuerden Wildlife Explorers/Watch club held their annual Big Garden Birdwatch. It was a very cold day, but dry and clear. We were counting blue, great and coal tits on the bird feeders when a Great Spotted Woodpecker made its alarm call right above us in a horse chestnut tree. A nuthatch made a hasty exit from the same tree and flew far away. We walked towards the Sue Ryder home and had our regular guard of honour of collared doves. One of the young people then asked me about a bird they could see. It took me a while to find it but was able to identify not one but two mistle thrushes. Cinder path is usually good for goldcrests, but not this year. As we arrived in the pinewood next to the nature reserve a couple of jays made a loud screech. Sam, our new junior leader found a fungus he had not seen before. It was Jelly Ear fungus but did not quite feel like jelly because it was covered in ice. Much of the lake was frozen, which meant the birds were in one area. Black-headed gulls, mallards, two coots and one moorhen were joined by the regular Great Crested Grebes.

We stretched our legs a bit more to go through Dog Kennel Wood, but here too was a little quieter than expected. The roe deer were in their usual place near the wooden bridge with a grey heron standing as lookout for them. The time as usual went too quickly so we returned to the visitor centre to check our results and report them to the RSPB. The picture attached is of the coots showing their very large feet

The windy weather on Saturday prevented the use of the large marquee again for the Market on Sunday. The turnout was still quite reasonable and the reduced market area still brought in much needed funds to help keep the Park going in these uncertain times.

The first Farmers' Market of the New Year will take place this coming Sunday 22nd January 2012 so why not come along and have a look at what you can buy from the variety of stalls. Parking is free and entry is by donation, you will find meat products, sweets, cakes and preserves as well as other foods and a variety of craft stalls. Visit our Farmers' Market page for more information.

For those of you who are interested in the how the Park is being run there is a new page with Trust Documents including our latest annual report. It is found in the "About Us" drop  down menu in PDF format but you can link to it here.

David Beattie led the first Friends Event of the year, a Winter Bird Watch, on Sunday afternoon from 1pm. Fourteen people attended and although the bird were not as numerous as previous years we did have some good views of a variety of birds. Siskin, treecreeper, great spotted woodpecker, goldcrest, nuthatch and bullfinch were amongst these. The best views we had all afternoon were of three roe deer near the wooden bridge.

Following the closure of the Cuerden Farmers' Market website we have added a new header on this website with an information page for the Farmers Market. This replaces the original Fundraising header which was seldom used by visitors to the site. Watch this space as the pages develop over the coming months. Make a Donation and Corporate Sponsor drop downs are still available for the time being.

Ranger Mike Tattersall and three Conservation volunteers braved the elements yesterday to do some clearance work around Wigan Road. If you are interested in joining our team then please contact the park office.

Health Walks leader, David Beattie, took ten people on a walk in the Park yesterday, also giving them an insight into the wildlife. They spent around two hours walking, longer than our usual walks, and then came back to the Barn for a well deserved hot drink, biscuits and mince pies.

Today's Christmas market was a resounding success with people braving the cold to come at shop at the last Cuerden market of 2011. With bread and meat, cakes and sweets galore along with many craft stalls to chose from. A good day was had by all visitors and stallholders.

The last Market of 2011 is on this coming Sunday 19th December from 10am - 2pm and will be a Christmas extravaganza. Santa Clause will be here and so will the carol singers. Looking for those last few presents then there will be a number of craft stalls and for that extra special edible item all the usual food stalls will be here. Our refreshment stall will be offering tea and coffee as usual, along with the mince pies and other delicacies. There will also be a chance to buy copies of the 2012 Cuerden Calendar, an ideal gift for those who love the Park. We look forward to seeing you there.

Cuerden Watch Group were on the Park today with their leader, David Beattie, making Christmas decorations from natural products found on the park and some sequins and glitter to give that extra sparkle. The Wildlife Watch/RSPB Explorers programme for the first months of 2012 is now on their web page, link here to find out what they will be doing. If you are between eight and twelve years old an would like to join in, then please contact the Park Office.

Our events page has been updated today to include most of the activities due to take place on the Park next year. Keep an eye out for posters nearer the time with more details. Activities include our monthly Farmers' Markets, Friends walks and talks, children's holiday activities and health walks. Our annual Cuerden Valley Fair is to be held in May and the Beer Festival in June.

Yesterday staff and volunteers came together to provide a day of fun craft activities and a visit to Santa for the local children. This annual event is a popular as ever and many people braved the winter weather to come along and enjoy the festive spirit.

David Beattie, Wildlife Officer of the Friends of Cuerden Valley Park accepted a gift of Bat boxes from the chairman of Chorley Natural History Society, Keith Woan. The Park support many species of bats some of which are Bap species.

In spite of the stormy weather on Saturday night destroying some of our marquees and gazeboes, we still carried on in true Cuerden Valley Park spirit to put on a reduced market for our visitors and vendors. Stall holders praised staff and volunteers who carried on in spite of the difficulties. Don't forget it is our Christmas Market on Sunday 18th December which will be business as usual so come along and buy those last minute gifts and special treats for the festive season.

Nine people joined Ruth Abraham and David Beattie, two of our health walk leaders on an invigorating walk on the Park today. Health Walks are led from the Clayton Green Leisure Centre on a Thursday and from The Barn on the fourth Thursday. Join us for the last walk of the year on Thursday 22nd December and look out for our events page for next years walks in the near future.

Nine people joined Friends Committee member, David Beattie and Ranger Joe Brindle to hear an illustrated talk from Nick Bruce about how the recording of Lancashire's wildlife takes place. Nick was part of the Bioblitz which took place on the Park last year where over 800 different species mammal, bird, plant an insect were recorded on the Park over a 24 hour period.

Lesley (Les) Cryer joins the staff of Cuerden Valley Park today as the Fundraising and Development Manager, working three days a week Les will be looking at grant funding and events on the Park and we welcome her to the team.

Cuerden Watch Leader, David Beattie, led a group of fifteen children and their parents through the process of making felt from sheep fleeces today. The Park keeps a small flock of Jacob sheep for meadow management and each spring the shearer comes to remove their fleeces.

Ten Volunteers joined with Ranger Mike Tattersall today to continue cutting back along the scramble track and building a bonfire. They enjoyed a lunch of baked potatoes cooked in the fire before finishing off their work in the afternoon. No fireworks with this one though just a feeling of a job well done at the end of the day.

Susan Jeeves entertained us with a slide show called "My Favourite Things" set to music this evening with stunning pictures of scenery and animals from the beautiful English and American countryside.

Those who came said it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and Susan has agreed to come back and do another one in February, if you are interested in coming along please contact the Park Office, on 01772 324436.

© 2012 Cuerden Valley Park Trust

Park Office, The Barn, Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6BY.  Telephone 01772 324436

Cuerden Valley Park Trust is a registered Charity (number 1002888) and a Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 1994107)

 Registered office: 4 Southport Road, Chorley, Lancs. PR7 1LD.

VAT number 636 2831 36