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Events in the Park

Countryside Day 2009

This year, Countryside Day will be on Sunday September 13th, 1pm to 5pm.

The highlight of the afternoon will be a display of Birds of Prey from Blakemere at 2pm. The birds will be staying on after the display so you will have a chance to have a close look at them and talk to their trainer.

We will have a wood turner demonstrating his craft and showing us how charcoal is made.

Come by bicycle if you can and support Chester's cycling campaign.

You will not be able to miss Heart FM, our local radio station.

There will also be pond dipping, a scavenger hunt, RSPB, refreshments - including ice cream and a BBQ, and the Friends of Caldy Nature Park stall.

See you there!

Britain In Bloom 2009

As part of the Britain in Bloom celebrations the Friends of Caldy Nature Park would like to invite parents and children to two events in the park. We hope you can make it.

Tuesday 21st July - Willow Wheel making workshop

-: last minute change of venue :-

Because of the forecast bad weather on Tuesday 21 July, the Willow Weaving has been moved indoors to the Caldy Valley Centre. The Centre is on Caldy Valley Road between Sainsbury's and the Whichurch Road roundabout.

-: last minute change of venue :-

Come down to the nature park during the afternoon and help us make giant withy wheels to decorate the park ready for our Petal Power Picnic. We will be there from 2-4pm on the meadow by the car park. We look forward to seeing you there!

Tuesday 4th August - Petal Power Picnic

Bring your bike and your picnic down to the park from 12-2pm. Meet us at the tend by the car park to collect a cycling route around the nature park. Go for a cycle, join in the treaure hunt, come back to the tent for a well-earned drink and then have your picnic next to the new sculpture.

Regular events

Regular events take place in the nature park. They are publicised on the noticeboards at the entrance to the park by Celandine Close and by the car park on Caldy Valley Road.

Members of Friends of Caldy Nature Park receive advance notice in the newsletter, and these pages also provide advance information. All are welcome to attend. Here is a taste of what you can expect.

Please note that we no longer recycle Christmas trees. The City Council will collect your tree if you put it out with your brown bin - if it is taller than 6ft just cut it up a bit!

The Annual Friends Dinner takes place at Caldy Valley Centre in January or early February, followed by a talk from a guest speaker. This year's dinner will be on Saturday, 7 February. Bring along your own wine or beer, while tea, coffee and soft drinks are included in the price.

Treasure Hunt and Duck Race Run in conjunction with the Chester Watch group, this is a great favourite normally held on the Tuesday after Easter Monday. Easter eggs for all those who take part in the Treasure Hunt around the valley and prizes for the winners of the Duck Races! We normally have two or three races down the brook from Bachelors Bridge to the wooden bridge to Huntington.

Wildflower Walks Martyn Stead leads these walks, and makes it interesting for both beginners and experts. The walks start at 7pm from the car park on the first Thursday of the month from May to August. There is a report from each walk listing the flowers seen.

Bat Walk and Barbecue The next event will take place in August 2009.

Countryside Day in September is one our most popular events. This year it will take place on Sunday 13th September. Please come along with your family, friends and neighbours to the meadow by the car park and enjoy yourselves.

Our philosophy is that it is more fun to have a go yourself rather than be shown something by an expert. You find lots of different activites set up for you to try, many of them involving crafts. You will be able to make giant bubbles, play boules, peer at pond life and poke around in compost. There is normally a special challenge to children to try various activities with a certificate if they do enough of them. The 'Friends' have a book stall and a plant stall. There are refreshments and portable toilets.

Can you help? Contributions of plants, cakes or books are always wecome. We could do with some cover, from the sun we hope - but possibly the rain, so if you have a gazebo you could lend us for the day that would help. The children will be having fun with junk, so over the next few weeks could you save your cereal and other boxes, toilet rolls and anything shiny or coloured. You will be amazed what children can do with some glue and a stapler.

2001 was a special occasion as we celebrated our first ten years. We also have reports from 2005 and 2006 which had a 'bird' theme.

The Annual Meeting also normally takes place in September. Over the years, we have played down the formal side of this meeting and it has become an enjoyable social occasion with an interesting speaker.

For many years we had a very popular Hallowe'en Walk. It was suspended in 2008 because there was no one available to organise it. If you feel able to take up the challenge of organsing and running one in the future, please send us an email or get in touch with one of the Friends committee.

Working Party

A monthly working party normally meets on the first Wednesday of each month to undertake maintenance in the Park. New volunteers are always welcome and you do not need to book in advance, but please bring suitable clothing and footware with you.

We always need more people to help with our working parties. Tools provided and light work for those who cannot manage heavy tasks. Pam will be waiting for the phone calls - 351066.

Chester Wildlife Watch Group

The Chester Wildlife Watch group meets at Caldy Nature Park. Come and see what they get up to. There is something for all children to enjoy.

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