News

Boxing Day 2010	Boxing Day 2011

The Christmas trees which have been part of the river bank reinforcement project started early last year and which have been the subject of numerous articles in the press have now weathered nicely and have accumulated plenty of flotsam as planned.

May 2011

January 2012

We are hoping to build on the success of the operation by contacting local suppliers of Christmas trees to help them dispose of unsold stock to add to the river bank protection.

Looking back (and forwards) 100 years

To celebrate its 100th show, which took place in July this year, the Alderley Edge and Wilmslow Horticultural Society teamed up with the local rangers and Friends of The Carrs to plant a copper beech tree in The Carrs.

The tree planting in the park on Thursday, 8th December, and was attended by members of the Horticultural Show Committee, Wilmslow Town Council, Cheshire East Council and Friends of the Carrs.

Details of the very first show have been lost, but the earliest record from the 1897 show schedule, published by the Alderley Edge and Wilmslow Horticultural Society, makes reference to a 'Past President' suggesting that this was not the first Show. This means that, although the show has been held for at least 114 years, because of gaps during the war years of the 20th century, the 2011 show was in fact the 100th.

Originally the society staged a large horticultural show in the Harden Park area, known as the Alderley Show and reputed to be the largest one-day show in the country. The show then moved for two years to the Legion Hall in Wilmslow, then to the playing fields off Altrincham Road before finally moving to Wilmslow High School in 2000. The committee now consists of 11 members, who organize the annual show which is held in conjunction with what is known as the Wilmslow Show.

The hundredth show, held 2011, was a great success and broke all attendance records – with around 7,000 visitors, it was possibly the biggest event ever held in Wilmslow, providing a focal point and allowing many of the local voluntary and charitable bodies to raise funds and bring their presence and activities to the attention of the Wilmslow and wider community.

Chairman of the Wilmslow Show, Frank McCarthy, who has been a member of the Horticultural Society for the past seventeen years, is arranging for a plaque to be placed at the tree at a later date. The plaque will read "This tree commemorates the holding of the 100th show of the Alderley Edge & Wilmslow Horticultural & Rose Society in July 2011".

Balsam Bash 2011

We had a great response this year - bashers from Lacey Green and local Scout and Guide groups, bashers with considerably more years under their belts, passers-by who thought it looked like fun and so joined in; bashing is a very inclusive activity. However, apart from all the lovely people who got involved, what is most gratifying is that all this sustained and targeted violence is reaping its due harvest of scarcity.

Scarcity of balsam, that is. The area between St Bartholomew's and the first bridge is now almost clear of the weed, and that between the first and second bridges is not far behind. The literature maintains that 3-4 years of attrition is needed, and that does indeed seem to be the case. Witness the riverbanks up to the stone bridge, which have received patchier attention; that is where we shall direct our efforts next year.

It is not only the Friends of the Carrs who have been at toil. The Bollin Valley Partnership and the Environment Agency have directed work, not only in the Carrs, but up and downriver. The National Trust, too, was very busy in Styal Country Park this year. All of which is to the good because here, as in so many spheres of life, one person can make a gesture, but many can make a difference.

Spring in the Grass

It’s been a memorable Spring in the Carrs, with the fine weather arriving just at the right time for visitors to enjoy all that the park has to offer. For the Easter weekend and the May Bank Holidays, the exceptionally good weather meant that the grass was dry and quite short, perfect for playing ball games, spreading out picnics and just lying and relaxing in the sun. The benches and picnic tables were so popular that at times they were all in use.

The barbecues were much appreciated, and even if you forgot the sausages, there was Waitrose just up the road!

And the next day? Quietness everywhere, the fish and birds which had retreated to hiding places had returned and there was scarcely a scrap of litter to be seen, thanks to a conscientious public and the thoughtfulness of Cheshire east Council in providing extra bags for rubbish and their swift removal after the holiday.

Let’s hope the next holidays are blessed with such good weather.

Bridge replacement

After several years of discussion, work finally started on the new 'second' bridge in January 2011. The unsightly bags of stones that had temporarily protected the bridge supports from the threatening bank erosion were finally removed and the riverbank lined with boulders to provide a more lasting  and better looking solution. We were delighted to see that this work passed the test of the winter floods with flying colours. The bridge will soon be passable again ready for the Spring.
 

Oaks from Lindow

The gift of 2 dozen oaks from Lindow Common has borne fruit in the Carrs. FOTC members were out bright and early last Saturday (9th Jan) to plant them around the Twinnies Bridge car park and along the Styal Road fence, with room left between them for other varieties.

Another day of planting is scheduled for the 20th of January.

Colin Shepherd and Ann Brown of FOTC

Waitrose Community Matters to the Carrs

The Carrs has benefitted for the second time from this wonderful scheme at Waitrose supermarket in Church Street. Colin and Ann were there this week to be presented with the cheque, this time to a value of £340. It is most appreciated.

Celebration Day 21 August 2010

It came; we went; it was fun.

The weather had been louring, but ended up only mildly sulky.

The children weren't. Once the Cheshire East Play Team had flown in, games moved from the playground out onto the green and the bright tinkle of children's laughter lit up the Carrs.

Mind you, they had stiff, even unfair, competition. CPSO Christopher Hopkins had turned up with his car, opened the doors, and let in the curious. What did they find? A siren. Small boys make big noise. Authorised graffiti in sound. Some miserable adults muttered complaints, but no one could hear them.

And there was more. Lots more. The Wilmslow Trust, the Bollin Valley Trust, Green Heyes Farm, Cheshire Guild of Woodturners, Lower Moss Wood Wildlife Hospital, to name just a few.

See what happened here.

Carrs cleaned up!

Saturday April 10 - Our first taste of spring sunshine brought on the long-suppressed urge to clean winter's accumulated muck, and that we did. Thirty of the nicest people in Wilmslow, including two prospective Parliamentary candidates, gathered to muck out and a fine job they did of it. There was, as well, one notable triumph against the Town Idiot and time's inertia.

See what happened here.

Daffodils - Digging in for Spring

Under constant attack by the weather, a small, but dedicated, group of the Friends dug in and managed to plant 1000 naturalising daffodils at strategic points around the Carrs.

Watch out next spring for the results, the Carrs crazed with colour and then, like Wordsworth, when your heart with pleasure fills, you can dance with the daffodils!

Nature Walk and AGM - 2pm 18th October 2009

And a good day was had by all.

Ranger Jan Hanby guided us over the river, up through the woodland to St Olaf''s and back to base via Twinney's Bridge with lots to savour about our park as well as what she termed 'interesting facts'. An example: when grain supplies from the Americas were interrupted in World War I, the children were sent out to collect conkers to enable the continuing production of cordite. Or this, which I shall certainly employ the next time someone promises me a 'bar-b-que summer':

Oak before ash, in for a splash.
Ash before oak, in for a soak.

The AGM followed in quick order. (It must be admitted that it started a good half-hour late because, as always, the walk went on much longer than scheduled. We never learn.)

We lost a couple of committee members whose lives have become too crowded, but gained a couple as well. There was a lot of discussion about the travellers' invasion, the multi-use path and dogs, among other things. Passions were, however, maintained within the bounds of politeness.

A big welcome to our new committee members: Ian Baillie & Peter Mainwaring.

Balsam Bash - Sunday 14 June

The annual Day of Violence against Balsam was attended by just over a dozen of us and whole tribes of the noxious plant were assaulted and done to dusty death.

We made the mistake of scheduling it for the morning, when too many potential combatants are still abed. By 2, the Carrs was pulsating with people and it is some of those that we must arrange to join us next year.

New Benches

As one of its last acts of beneficence this March, Macclesfield Borough Council replaced the four delapidated picnic tables on the south side of the river near the white bridge (itself due for demolition). Despite their natural appearance, the tables are plastic from tabletop to foot, and recycled plastic at that - virtue + durability.

Carrs cleaned up

Sunday, 8th March. The weather was treacherous, luring us out with sunshine and fair skies only to pounce, once we were exposed and helpless in the park, with a biting wind and freezing rain. But we'd come in force and did not back down. Well, we couldn't, not in front of the children. Fifteen of them, the Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers. Not to mention the rangers (always good in a fight).

 

 

 

 

 

So, thirty-nine in all, we cleaned up the Carrs ready for the summer invasions. There is talk of mounting this defense against the rising tide of litter more frequently. But more of that later.

The photo on the right, and that below, show the planting of some willows. This is an attempt to bind the banks more tightly so that the Bollin does not wear them away too quickly.

 

 

AGM and Nature Walk

Sunday, 28 September. It was a big day down by the river. The Friends of the Carrs said hello to some new friends and farewell to an old and dear one.

The Nature Walk lured a select band to the Carrs to hear Ranger Martin James point out all that is weird and wonderful about our park while the AGM that followed welcomed two new members to the committee and said goodbye to its founding chairman, Ian White.

The themes of Ranger Martin James' introduction to the wonders of the Carrs were the variety of habitats packed into that little space and the invaders that threaten it.

The Carrs is unique in its combination of parkland, river, wetland and woods. Yet it is menaced by the non-native species that are wreaking havoc all over England: Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and the American Signal Crayfish.

The balsam we have started to deal with, though it is rampant both up and downriver from the Carrs. Japanese Knotweed, however, as an enemy is in the superpower league. To judge from Martin's description, we'll need the sort of R&D that goes into a missile program in order to deal with it. The American Signal Crayfish is twice the size of our native species, which it is decimating (why are the foreigners always bigger and more efficient killers?).

Our retiring chairman, Ian White, was one of the group that set up the Friends of the Carrs in 2006 to help Macclesfield Borough Council look after and improve the park. Since then, he has never come short in enthusiasm and commitment and has had enough ideas to keep the Council's workers busy until the next decade. He has been a great leader and the Friends will sorely miss him.

Fortunately, the man who will step into his shoes will not disappear inside them. Councillor Colin Shepherd was unanimously elected immediately after the AGM, thus averting the prospect of a power vacuum, the danger of which all of us with experience of superpower, and neighbourhood, politics can attest.

The photo shows Ian (centre) with some people he found in the playground.

Balsam bashed!

Sunday, 22 June. The roll-call of bashers did not exceed 10, but what they lacked in mass, they made up for in the efficiency of their violence. With two rangers from Macc Council to hand out equipment, advice and leadership, the squads made a beeline to the most succulent clumps of balsam, mostly down near Twinnies Bridge and wreaked havoc for a couple of hours.

It is heartening to report that there was very little to be done in the stretch between the first two bridges thanks to last year's bash. We are making a difference.

In the photograph top-left, 5 friendly bashers. The gentleman second from the left (holding the limp body of a vanquished foe) came all the way from Macclesfield to help out. Big Thanks!

I like the other photograph (below) showing two of the bashers from another angle because it gives the quite mistaken impression of a jungle and of little humanity crawling through its overpowering presence continually at risk of being swallowed up by it. As no doubt shall one day come to pass - if we don't keep the balsam down.

Nature Day a Winner!

It was a great day. Marvellous stalls, fascinating activities with knowledgeable people, and the sun came, too. Have a look at the Nature Day Special.

(The photographer has asked me to pass on his apologies for being so distracted by the river dippers and Professor Handley that he missed all the other activities and didn't get any decent shots of the stalls and their keepers either. Complete lack of professional discipline. The Friends will have words with him!)

River Clean Up

A bright Spring day encouraged a good turn out for the annual clear-up of the River Bollin. The group were kitted out with gloves, tongs and bright yellow tabards and, guided by rangers Emma and Martin, set about tidying up the Carrs with gusto. Those equipped with wellies waded into the river while others braved the brambles to retrieve cans and bottles deposited there. Two skips were filled with rubbish including 5 shopping trolleys, a wheelbarrow and an inflatable boat with a hole in it! Many thanks to everyone who took part.

The photo shows Neil Savage, who brought along some children to pick up after him.

AGM / Bulb planting

Sunday, 14th September 2007. The second Annual General Meeting of the Friends of The Carrs saw the committee re-elected and two new members added. Ratification of the Constitution was postponed so that the MBC might advise on an additional section to deal with the winding up of the FOTC, should it ever arise. There is also the uncertain future of the MBC itself. Consequently, the Constitution remains in draft form until these questions are resolved. The next AGM was scheduled for Sunday, 28th September, 2008.

It should also be added that bulbs were planted before the meeting in order that the day should encompass physical, as well as mental, pleasures. However, the aged members of the committee were not able to sink anywhere near the numbers of daffodils-to-be, and had to call on more youthful energy. So, on the morning of Tuesday, the 14th of November, Gorsey Bank Primary School was call out en masse to lend a hand. The photo above shows three of them with Cllr Colin Shepherd; they consented to smile despite his refusal to share the shovel.

Balsam Bash

Sunday 17th June. Rangers Martin James and Christine Robinson led the bashers on the rampage. Reinforcements were provided by Wilmslow 4th Cubs, 9 of whom earned their lunch with energetic campaigning.

Most of the work was done between the first and second bridges on both sides of the river. The extent of the infestation only becomes obvious as you start clearing it. Some of the patches were enormous and entirely devoid of any other plant save the balsam. Though there is still work to be done on the western bank, next year should prove that our work was effective. More information about Himalayan Balsam.

On the right, happy balsam bashers with ranger Christine Robinson.

River Walk

Sunday 10th June. Rangers Brian Hallworth and Dan Coates accompanied 15 of us along the length of the Bollin as it flows through The Carrs pointing out the features of the river, the life that increasingly flourishes in it and alongside it. We learned about the good done by the streamer weed (no, I'd never heard of it either) to the river and by nettles to the human body (Brian's authority: his Nanna) and the evil wrought by Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.

They confirmed that, yes, the river is getting cleaner, so much so that rainbow trout have been glimpsed in some stretches. (Mind you, there was no mention of which stretches - Dan's fisherman's discretion.) We ended up, definitely better informed, on the new footbridge near Twinnies Bridge where Brian kindly pointed to where the river is.

Clean up on St Olaf's path

On Sunday, 4th of March, the Friends and Macclesfield Borough Council pitched in to clear the path under St Olaf's. Overgrown and crossed by fallen branches, the path has been used less and less recently - it was running the risk of disappearing if neglected any longer.

Despite a reversion to winter bleakness and rain, 15 people lent a hand and in the space of two hours made the path navigable again and signposted it from both ends. Even two children were persuaded to turned up, though it is not known if by means of coercion or reward.