Friends of Alexandra Park Whalley Range

We are dedicated to improving public facilities within Alexandra Park.

Our Achievements in 2024:

• Funded the installation of two age-friendly benches outside the Café.
• Installed a new slide for the under-3s in the Children’s Playground.
• Opened the Park Information & Heritage Centre for public visits on 60 occasions, thanks to our volunteers.
• Launched a Gardening Group to renovate and replant several flower beds.
• Completed the setup of the Woodland Glade Tree classroom.

Our Plans for 2025:

• Clear the Lake and its banks of litter and waste.
• Move floating timber to the island to enhance the habitat.
• Improve facilities for feeding waterfowl on the Lake.
• Restore eroded Lake banks and replant suitable vegetation.
• Introduce new habitat types in the Lake and throughout the Park.
• Organise a variety of community engagement activities within the Park.

On Saturday 28th February we are planning to have a Friends Work Group carrying out timber clearance and maintenance work at the Lake.  Come to the western lakeside, by Wellington Rd gate at 10.30 am.   We will need at least two people willing to pull on waders and work in the lake (staying close to the bank) and several more people working outside the safety fence carrying away the pieces of timber cleared from the lake into the nearby woodland.  There will also be work for litter pickers.  Wear old clothes and stout footwear.  Gloves and Hi-vis will be provided.

If you would like to come to this activity, please reply to this email and also let me know if you are willing to work in waders.  It would be useful to set up a What's App group to help organise this Work Group, so I'll include you if you give me your mobile number.  If you want to take part in Work Group activities, but don't want to join the WA group, that's fine as I will continue to contact you by email.

On Sunday March 8th there will be an activity celebrating International Women's Day.  Things will be happening both at Chorlton Lodge and in and around Café Bembé from 12 noon to 4.00 pm. More details will follow in due course, when the publicity campaign starts in a few days.

On Saturday 14th March we are planning another Friends Work Group this time working in the woodland along the Lime Walk.  We will be moving logs and starting to make dry hedges to try and reduce the number of paths into the woodland.  We'll meet at 10.30 am as usual.  More details will be sent out shortly before this activity.

On Saturday 28th March we hope to hold a public activity, in collaboration with the Park Team, for GB Spring Clean Day.  There will be litter picking opportunities and we will also be holding a Lake Bird Education activity to encourage park users to use the new Feeding Zone rather than the tarmac !  

How do I join in?

For more information:

• Just turn up at one of the advertised events.
• Join our mailing list to receive regular details of what’s happening.
• Email a request to join to friendsofalexandraparkmanchest@gmail.com.
• Visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/AlexParkMCR.
• Instagram: @AlexParkMCR.
• Come to one of our Forum Meetings where we talk about what matters in the Park.
• These Forums are advertised in advance - keep a watch out.
• Come to our Annual General Meeting each December.