Friends of Springfield Park annual dinner

Councillor James Gartside and Councillor Pat Sullivan at the Friends of Springfield Park annual dinner

The Friends of Springfield Park (FoSP) held their annual dinner on Friday (30 January).

Attended by FoSP members, ward councillors and Rochdale Council countryside rangers and park gardeners, the evening included a dinner, a quiz and a free raffle.

Organised by Keith and Marilyn Fairhurst and held at the Royal Toby Restaurant in Castleton, the evening was well attended and celebrated the hard work of the friends group.

In the past 12 to 18 months, the friends group has installed nine picnic tables/benches, safety fencing around the mere, created a small tree nursery and formed a close relationship with Matthew Moss High School for them to carry out environment projects as part of their school curriculum work.

There are several further projects being planned by the group, including a second notice board, a hard topped 1.8m wide tarmac pathway around the park's medieval mere and, in close conjunction with Rochdale Council’s Environmental Management department, the renovation of several large raised beds at the rear of the hard courts with wildlife friendly, low maintenance trees and shrubs.

The group is also looking at offering a memorial bench with a commemorative plaque, including 10 year maintenance, for anyone who would like to install one in Springfield Park, in memory of a lost and loved family member or friend.

The "most important" project is the renovation of Mereside House to provide an eco-friendly café and events room facility. The renovation will include parking, lighting and several other features. It is understood that this could take up to two years.