It was great see so many friends old and new turn up this Saturday
for the Opening celebrations of St Michael's Flags and Angel Meadow
park. It was pretty mild weather around 11am when we all gathered at
the Style Street entrance and listened to Sophie Armstrong our
Groundwork Link Officer, introduce us to the ongoing works within
the park.

Richard Clark, the groundwork architect was on hand to answer
questions and Cathy Hartley, the Irk Valley Project Officer
interjected with details of the proposed linkage between our park
and the others that lined the Irk river valley.

Gradually the group of over 35 people shuffled around the site
inspecting the new and proposed features that made up the new
developments. This included:

· The gravestones that we laid out in an L shaped where St
Michael's Church would have once stood. Richard suggested that
poppy & forget-me-not perennials could be sown in the cracks.
Groundwork had chosen the best un-cracked flagstone to display,
however, as there was an abundance of other flags some broken or
scarred it was suggested that these would be buried in the park.

· The new paths that stretched around the site. Richard
pointed to the fact that the top most layer had yet to be laid –
which when completed would give a golden colour texture. Most of the
paths were in place but some would have to be laid at the end of the
development work so that heavy plant machinery would not damage it.

· The lawn area, which had a fresh layer of topsoil, spread
thinly over the floor of Angel Meadow. This would be seeded in
January that would result in a summer lawn area.

Finally we gathered next to the dividing wall, which splits St
Michael's from Angel Meadow. Here the Friends group had purchased
a sapling tree – a horse chestnut. As the park used to be a
playground we hope that in future years the tree will bear conkers
thus attracting kids to come and play in the park.

Although the tree had already been planted (Safe and Health
issues?!) the FOAM committee Bronwyn Riley and I; Groundwork Sophie,
Cathy and Labour Cllr Jim Battle posed for the cameras.

I read a brief speech thanking everyone for their support of which I
received a round of applause. Next Jim took to the stage and
marvelled at how much had been achieved through working together
with the community and the council.

Then we headed up for to the Marble Arch Pub for a festive buffet
lunch and a glass of wine (provided by Groundwork) to chat and
discuss future plans.

Bulb Planting on Sunday 05-DEC-04

Thanks to everyone who turned up – we planted over 1,500 croci
and snowdrop bulbs along the top embankment (under the trees)
adjacent to Old Mount Street.

Photo's of Opening Ceremony and Bulb Planting

Please find in the on this website in the folder:
Photos --> December 2004

Regards,
Mike Wingfield
Chairman of Friends group