Focus on Littleborough: Friends of Hare Hill Park

Hare Hill Park, Littleborough

The second in Rochdale Online’s Littleborough friend’s features focuses on the Friends of Hare Hill Park.

The group was set up ten years ago to restore the park which was very run down.

Reporter Laura Wild caught up with Chairman of the group Malcolm McCormick to find out more…

Mr McCormick said: “The group was set up 10 years ago because the park was so run down the group was formed to try to get funding to renovate the band stand and the park and with the help of the Pennine councillors and Rochdale Council officers we got a grant for the bandstand then the council decided to put Hare Hill park forward for the green flag award. It was the first park in Rochdale to gain the award and we have got one for the last five years.”

The group is made up of fifteen friends who are involved with most of the event organising however they are supported by many more people in the community and also the park’s warden John Carney.

Mr McCormick said: “We organise band concerts and events in the park and we are involved in helping the Rushbearing festival take place on the Saturday in the park.

“We also go for grants to improve the park like the skate board park and the infants play area.”

Mr McCormick explained what the park means to him: “The park is of interest to me because it fetches back memories of my childhood when it was our play ground and I would like the young of today to have pleasure and happy memories of it too.”

Mr McCormick has been involved in the group ever since it was set up 10 years ago, and he has numerous happy memories, however, one stands out more than the others.

“I have many memories but my favourite must be when we held our first candle lit Christmas carol service.

“We held it in the bandstand; the roof had so many holes in it, and then just as the band was ready to play it started snowing.

“But the band carried on playing and the people sung the carols. - The number of local residents who attended was about 300.”

The best achievements for the Friends of Hare Hill Park over the last ten years have been the continuing success of the Green Flag Status, the new band stand and the children’s play area.

In the future they are hoping to renovate the water wheel and have an outdoor theatre to hold plays.

Don’t miss the third and final instalment of the Littleborough Friends groups which focuses on the Friends of Hollingworth Lake which is coming soon.

To find out about more community groups in Littleborough visit:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/community/groups/littleborough