Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland, Blackpool
News Archive
Link to a page of photos from past events, click here
2021
December
Dog Walkers Christmas Party
On Wednesday 22th December 2021 the Friends of Stanley Park Dog Walkers Club had their Christmas Party in the Visitor Centre.
Photos courtesy: Elizabeth Gomm
Christmas Carols on Stanley Park Blackpool
On Sunday 19th December 2021 a festival of Carol Singing was led by Junction4 Productions Choir in support of Blue Skies Hospital Fund at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and supported by volunteers from the Friends of Stanley Park. There was a large turn out and £650 was collected at the event for Blue Skies Hospital Fund. Thankyou to all who came, an uplifting time for all.
Photos by Elizabeth Gomm:
Christmas Dinner at the Carousel Hotel
On Thursday 16th December 2021 we held our annual Christmas Dinner at the Carousel Hotel on South Shore. A wonderful time was held by all, here are a few of the photos. More are on Facebook.
Carol Singing raises £650
£650 was raised at the Carols in the Park event on Sunday 19th December for Blue Skies Hospital Fund at Blackpool Victoria. A brilliant achievement for just a couple of hours and many thanks to everyone for supporting the Blue Skies fund and making a great atmosphere. Thanks to the wonderful junction 4 productions choir and for the Friends of Stanley Park volunteers.
Christmas Carols at Stanley Park
1pm Sunday 19th December 2021
Please note the event will now be held on the steps in front of the Art Deco Cafe and the cafe window will be open to purchase refreshments.
The choir for the event will be Junction4 Productions, formerly Lytham Amateur Operatic Society.
The ever popular sing along Christmas Carols at the bandstand for all the family. Come to Stanley Park and join in. Wear clothing suitable for the weather.
All donations collected will go to Blue Skies Hospital Fund at Blackpool Victoria to improve patient care in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
Photos from the Christmas Fair 4/5th December 2021
Photos from dancing the 'Blackpool Way' 20th November 2021
Christmas Fair on Stanley Park 2021
Saturday and Sunday 4th and 5th December 2021 in the Visitor Centre
Opens from 11am to 3pm with Santa arriving at Noon until 2.30pm both days.
Christmas Lunch
We are holding our Christmas lunch on Thursday 16th December with a start time of 12.30 for 1pm. Please drop off your meal choices along with your payment at the Visitor Centre when you can. Copies of the menu/ booking form are now available at the Visitor Centre
November
Avian Flu Warning from Blackpool Council
Please note the Avian Flu Warning below from Blackpool Council:
Important information
STANLEY PARK
Unfortunately three swans have sadly died after showing symptoms of what we suspect to be avian flu.
As a precautionary measure we have cordoned off access to the lake and notified DEFRA.
We will continue to monitor the other birds on the lake and ensure they are fed.
Stanley Park is still open for everyone to enjoy but please respect the cordon and do not go near the edge of the lake.
It is important that people do not pick up any sick or dead birds to avoid spreading the virus, which can affect humans in rare cases.
There are currently specific rules in the place across the UK for any bird owners;
Link to Fields in Trust website
Message about the Craft Club
5th November 2021
The craft club meets in Stanley Park Visitor Centre on Tuesdays between 10am and 3pm.
Come along and enjoy friendly company and chat. We would love to see some new ideas and materials.
If you have a craft you can share with others, that would be ideal, but not necessary.
Monthly Meeting Saturday 20th November, 2021
The next meeting is on Saturday 13th November 2021 2pm to 4pm with guest speaker from Showtown who will guide us to master the new dance for the opening ceremony of Showtown.
At the Visitor Centre.
October
Halloween Weekend
at Stanley Park Visitor Centre
Saturday and Sunday 30th and 31st October from 10.30am to 4pm both days
We are delighted to report that our Halloween weekend saw us take £1200.
That is an amazing sum of money given the appalling weather over the weekend. I would like to say thank you to everyone who volunteered, who attended, who baked and who donated prizes or who contributed to the event in any way. The Park is indebted to you for your fantastic support. It just proves what we can achieve as a voluntary group and so continue the success of the organisation from when the Friends first started.
We have our Halloween weekend on Saturday and Sunday 30th and 31st October from 10.30am to 4pm on both days.
We will have a pumpkin carving competition (with pumpkins available for sale). Carved pumpkins to be
given to the judges by 4pm Saturday.
Pumpkin awards announced Sunday at 1pm.
Crafts for the children including making witches hats and other spooky and scary Halloween objects and decorations.
The children’s fancy dress competition will start at 1pm on Sunday.
We will also have both a bottle tombola and a general tombola along with other stalls.
We have a number of games to entertain you such as “get your eye into the glass”, Witches Hoopla and Superhero Beanbag Bash.
Ghostly Treasure Hunt in the Park during the day (this replaces the Ghost Walk due to safety concerns).
There will be tea and cakes for sale across both days.
All money raised at the event will go to funding new projects in the Park. Please ask your friends and neighbours and their children and grandchildren to come along and support their local park.
Fun at the Dog Club
Every Wednesday we have our dog club meetings at the Visitor Centre.
The Wednesday before Halloween was special.
Monthly Meeting October 16th 2021
Saturday 16th October 2021 2pm to 4pm. Monthly Meeting with guest speaker Keith Myerscough. The talk will be 'Blackpool's Playful Crowds'. At the Visitor Centre.
'During the second-half of the nineteenth century Blackpool became the favourite leisure destination for those seeking Health, Pleasure, and Recreation. Lancashire’s labouring classes flocked to Blackpool in their masses, playing hard and spending freely. It was a new breed of leisure entrepreneur that catered for the needs of the playful crowds'.
......
September
Macmillan Coffee Weekend
£1059.50 was raised. A brilliant result, thankyou to everyone who came
The event was held on Saturday and Sunday 25th/26th September 10.30am to 2.30pm in the Visitor Centre with proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Thanks to all who came and all who helped. Including the bakers, the game keepers, the stall holders, the tea and coffee makers. All those who contributed prizes.
Photos from the Event, see our Facebook page for more.
The Cake stall:
The coffee drinkers:
The sheepdog that won a sheep:
We're pleased to announce:
The Visitor Centre will be open from Tuesday 7th September.
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm. Information about the park. Staffed by volunteers from the Friends of Stanley Park.
Craft Club Tuesday 7th Sept 10am to 3pm, weekly.
Dog Club Wednesday 8th Sept 10am to 3pm, weekly.
New club members welcome.
Public Exhibition by the Blackpool Boys and Girls Club, 'The Joker in Me'.
Tuesday 7th Sept to Sunday 19th Sept 10-3. Giving young people the opportunity to explore their evolving attitudes to life, with its joys, trials and complexities.
Saturday 18th September 2021 2pm to 4pm. Monthly Meeting with guest speaker Dave Blacker from the Boys and Girls Club. (Dave will be staging an exhibition in the Visitor Centre from Tuesday 7th Sept to Monday 20th Sept, 10.30am to 3pm.)
Wednesday 22nd September to Sunday 26th October is the Blackpool Civic Trust Photograph and Art Competition based on a theme 'Celebrating our Seaside Heritage Past and Present'. Please send in your entries see the Blackpool Civic Trust website click here
Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th September Macmillan Coffee Morning with cakes and family fun. 10.30
Re-opening of the Craft Club 7th September 2021:
Re-opening of the Dog Walkers Club 8th September 2021:
August
Saturday 18th September 2021 2pm to 4pm. Monthly Meeting with guest speaker Dave Blacker from the Boys and Girls Club. (Dave will be staging an exhibition in the Visitor Centre from Tuesday 7th Sept to Monday 20th Sept, 10.30am to 3pm.)
Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th September Macmillan Coffee Morning with cakes and family fun. 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Wednesday 22nd September to Sunday 26th October is the Blackpool Civic Trust Photograph and Art Competition based on a theme 'Celebrating our Seaside Heritage Past and Present'. Please send in your entries see the Blackpool Civic Trust website click here
Saturday 16th October 2pm to 4pm, Monthly Meeting with guest speaker from the Showtown, Blackpool Museum Project.
Every Monday and Thursday the Gardening Group meet in the park to work on the floral displays.
The Dog and the Craft Group hope to start in early September subject to agreement with the Council.
June
Stanley Park Bandstand Shows 2021 Cancelled
Following discussions with Blackpool Council it has been decided there will be no bandstand shows in 2021 due to the risks and uncertainties of the Covid pandemic.
Emergency Phone Numbers on Stanley Park Blackpool
If you need emergency assistance or notice anti-social behaviour on the park please use the table below to find the best contact number.
Requirement |
Example |
Emergency, immediate threat to person or property |
Witnessing a break-in, Fire Call 999 Please inform the Parks team by emailing the log number and details to |
Illegal activity not requiring immediate police attention |
Large group on the park, damage already caused Call 101 and obtain log number. Email log number to |
Stanley Park Floral Clock
A tribute to the NHS with the planting of the Floral Clock on Stanley Park with a NHS butterfly. The gardeners have worked hard planting it this week, what a great job. The clock hands will be fitted in a week or two when the plants get settled in.
Stanley Park Veteran's Walk Dedications
Elaine Smith reports: On Tuesday 1st June 2021 Joyce Street (Vice Chairman) and myself had the very pleasant job of hosting the Dedication and unveiling of the last three trees on Veterans Walk. The trees were dedicated to the NHS, the Palatine Rotary Blood Bike and the Friends of Stanley Park.
It was a short ceremony with only eight people plus the Gazette photographer there. Two for each tree - Joyce & I for the Friends, Chairman Terry Harrison & Mark, the motor bike rider, for Palatine Rotary, and Victoria Hospital Medical Director, Dr Jim Gardner & Peter Murphy, Director of Nursing represented the NHS. Also present was the Deputy Lord Lieutenant John Barnett & his wife.
It was disappointing that we couldn't invite everyone and have the usual crowd there but I took advice from both Rotary & NHS and later discovered that had we had a crowd the the Deputy Lord Lieutenant would not have been allowed to come! It is so easy to forget that Covid still rules, isn't it? We couldn't wait until Covid was completely over (if it will ever be) as Terry soon finishes his term of office and it was he who had got such a generous donation from Palatine Rotary to help the Friends pay for the trees and plaques.
April
Video #GetBlackpoolBack from Blackpool Council's 'Covid in the Community Team.
Former Blackpool striker Derek Spence is backing the #GetBlackpoolBack campaign.
The popular figure, who had two playing spells with the Seasiders and later went on to work in the community shares his COVID-19 vaccination experience.
To Watch the video, click the link below >
March
Lake re-opened after Bird Flu 5th March 2021
The park lake was cordoned off due to Bird Flu from 23rd February 2021 but is now re-opened.
Covid Lockdown Mental Health Advice and FAQs
Read the Frequently Asked Question click here
January
Friends of Stanley Park News 30th January 2021
Membership and New Equipment on the park:
All members who joined in 2020 will have a free year in 2021. We feel that in 2020, apart from emails, you didn't get anything for your money except a mask. Our year doesn't start until April but anyone who joins from February 1st gets an extra two months membership free of charge! It is still only £10 per year. Click here to download the membership form.
We are grateful to Councillors Debbie Coleman and Andrew Stansfield who have already donated for two defibrillators that are awaiting placement in the park. They have generously given another donation from their budget. This is to be used on the Visitor Centre roof which last week's storm made leak again, a new swing for disabled children in their playground and towards the renovation of the Pavilion when the new skateboard park eventually is established. On top of all this they are also donating a bench in memory of Dave Burns. How about that for generosity?
On Monday at 10.30 am we are starting our Zoom Keep Fit meetings for those of us who need sit down a lot!
Blackpool Winter Gardens Mass Covid Vaccination Centre now open
If you've been invited the entrance is opposite Debenhams and there is one hour free car parking on a special section of Topping Street Car Park.
2019
Fields in Trust Best Park in the UK - Stanley Park Blackpool
The announcement September 2019:
Link to Fields in Trust website
Fields in Trust champions and supports our parks and green spaces by protecting them for people to enjoy in perpetuity. Because once lost, they are lost forever.
Facebook Pages
Friends of Stanley Park has a Facebook page with our latest news. Click here
Updated: 14th February, 2022