Yearbook 2011

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Acknowledgements:The Friends of the Moor would like to thankPeter SharrattKnutsford District Scout GroupsCheshire Wildlife TrustKnutsford Ornithological SocietyKnutsford and District LionsThe Knutsford GuardianCheshire East Counciland everyone else who contributed to this yearbook.

Copyright:Fat Birds™ is a trademark of Patricia Lee Contemporary Mosaic and Glass Art

January

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Sunday 30Bird WatchThe Knutsford Ornithological Society andthe Friends of the Moor met on the Moorto take part in the RSPB Big Garden BirdWatch. We split into three groups andwith the help and expertise of Tony Usherand Derek Pike from the KnutsfordOrnithological Society we noted 258birds in the required hour. It was a coldday, but because of the still conditions itwas perfect for spotting birds. The resultswere sent to the RSPB.

Monday 31COFFEE MORNINGIt was a busy two days for the FOTM with the Coffee Morning being held at the Heritage Centrethe following day between 11 am and 1 pm. The Town Mayor Cllr Peter Coan and Cllr JanNicholson attended together with the Deputy Mayor Cllr Stewart Gardiner, who represents theTown Council at the FOTM Meetings. CE Cllr. Olivia Hunter, who also attends our meetings, cameto give a helping hand. A sum of £177.06 was made from the event which will be used towardsactivities on the Moor and future events.

February

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Saturday 26LITTER PICKThe weather cleared for the FOTMLitter Pick on 26 February. Twelvebags of litter were collectedincluding bottles and a container ofbroken glass which was taken to thetip.Helping five committee memberswere CE Cllr Olivia Hunter, TC CllrStewart Gardiner, Pat Newton (wifeof the Treasurer), Peter Sharratt(who took some excellentphotographs) and coming laterJulian Brooke, a past chairman ofFOTM. Everyone had a feeling ofachievement and communityinvolvement, particularly whenthanked by members of the public.

March

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Sunday 6Pancake RaceThe sun came out to shine on everyone takingpart and helping with the Pancake Race onthe Moor. The Knutsford Heritage Centre andthe FOTM had come together to organise therace with the help of the Lions as Marshals.The course was set out at 9.45 am andregistration began at the Heritage Centre at10 am. The British Red Cross and the Policeattended the event. The Knutsford MayQueen, Saskia Pennington, gave the prizes tothe children and CE Cllr Olivia Hunter gavethe prizes to the adults. Knutsford Mayor,Peter Coan, joined in a light hearted race withthe Lions. This was a fun event enjoyed by all.

April

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Sunday 10ROTARY CLUB JOGSunday 10 April was a fine dayfor the Rotary Club SponsoredJog around the Moor.

Monday 25CWT RoadshowThe CWT Wildlife Watch Roadshow took placeon Easter Monday to promote CWT membershipand to start up a Knutsford Club for children andyoung people. FOTM helped by advertising theevent, litter picking, offering help during theday and taking photographs. A marquee was setup near the children’s play area with stallsmaking bat and butterfly hats and dragonflieson sticks. There was also face painting and astall with tanks of tadpoles and newts and allkinds of insects and a stall selling gifts and birdfeeders in all shapes and sizes. Experts were onhand to answer questions from the children whohad been brought down to the Moor on a sunnyday.

May

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Wednesday 4AGMThe FOTM AGM took place onWednesday 4 May when theChairman, Vivien Davies, theSecretary, Jan McCappin, and theTreasurer, Robert Newton, were allre-elected. The Chairman opened themeeting by thanking all those whohad attended meetings during theyear and who had helped at events,including Town Councillor StewartGardiner, CE Councillor OliviaHunter, PCSO Greg Bithell and CECOfficer Kathy Swindells. TheChairman then went through theevents that had taken place on theMoor during the year.

Monday 30Lions Street FairOn 30 May it was the Lions Street Fair inKnutsford and the FOTM had their usual stallwith the string pull game for children andselling bric-a-brac. It was a very wet daybut the rain did nothing to dampen thespirits of everyone taking part and thosepeople who had braved the weather toattend. There was a steady flow of peoplethroughout the day and the children enjoyedthe string pull game as much as ever.

Chairman, Vivien Davies

Treasurer, Robert Newton

June/July

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Friday 3 JuneSCULPTURES UNVEILEDBy June both Belle and Bonny,the Fat Birds, had beenrepaired and returned to theMoor. On Friday 3 June therewas an unveiling celebration bythe Mayor, Stewart Gardiner,for the Fat Birds and asculpture by RichardWainwright called ‘Within’ thathad appeared at the RHS Showin 2010.Also attending were Cllrs Janand Clive Nicholson, CECOfficer Kathy Swindells,Inspector Steve Griffiths, SgtAndy Miller, sculptor RichardWainwright and the Chairman,Secretary, and Treasurer ofthe FOTM.

Saturday 16 JulyLongridge FundayOn Saturday 16 July the Friends of theMoor supported the Longridge Fundayby having a stall providing a string pullcompetition mainly for children,although adults also seemed to enjoythe anticipation. The stall was in aid offund raising for FOTM. Mixed weathermeant a slow start but the event waswell supported in the afternoon. Anenjoyable day for all.

August

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Jane Cartmel and her friends manned thecraft table and helped children makepaper flowers, caterpillars etc. Paperchains were also made, and the childrenwore them to have their photographtaken sitting in the Mayor’s Chair whichwas provided by Knutsford Town Council.A stand containing information about theTown Council was manned by councillors.

Cllr. Olivia Hunter ran a successful Tuck Shop at veryreasonable prices. CEC Play Co-ordinator Yvonne Ryderand her assistant, Ash, brought Play Equipment for thechildren and provided Face Painting. The Face Paintingwas very popular and they were kept busy allafternoon.The Lions were a great help to the FOTM , erectingequipment and organising games with the children.CEC Officer Kathy Swindells came to help and took anumber of photographs. The event was free of chargeand an estimated 200+ people attended. Everyoneenjoyed the event and are eager to take part nextyear.

Wednesday 3National Play DayThe sun shone brightly on us on Wednesday 3 Augustfor the National Play Day which was opened by theMayor of Knutsford Cllr. Stewart Gardiner. Despitebeing called out before the event both the Policeand Fire Brigade attended with their vehicles andwere very popular. The First Responders yet againprovided our First Aid. The library team read storiesto the children and helped them make badges.

September

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Thursday 8Green Flag RaisingThe Green Flag Raising took place onThursday 8 September to celebrateachieving the Green Flag Award for thethird year running. Bernadetteaccompanied Wayne and Gary fromthe Stanley Centre to the event inorder to join in the celebrations as athank you for the Centre’s help withlitter picking. The Chairman,Secretary and Treasurer of the Friendsof the Moor also welcomed the TownMayor Cllr. Stewart Gardiner and CECllr Olivia Hunter on what turned outto be a lovely sunny day for the eventand picnic.

Tuesday 27BEAVER SCOUTSThe Chairman of the Friends ofthe Moor, Vivien Davies, andSecretary, Jan McCappin, metwith Jane Lovett and the 5thKnutsford Beaver Scouts at 6 pmon the Moor. The Friends wereasked to explain to the Beavers,who were between 6 and 7 yearsold, the work of the FOTM andhow important it is not to droplitter. The Beavers then took partin a quiz and litter pick beforebeing allowed to play in the PlayArea.

October

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

Monday 3Meeting with BeaversThe Chairman and Secretary met with CatherineFirth and another group of the 5th KnutsfordBeavers at 6 pm on the Moor, to explain to themthe work of the FOTM and the importance of notleaving litter. The children were veryenthusiastic and eager to ask questions.

Wednesday 19MORE BULB PLANTINGThe FOTM met with a group of childrenfrom the 1st Beaver Group, their LeaderMrs Heidi Waite and a number of parentsto plant bulbs near the Scout Hut. It wasa bitterly cold day, but the children didnot seem to mind, busying themselvesdigging holes to plant bulbs supplied byCheshire East. Kathy Swindells of CEalso helped with the planting bringingalong trowels, gloves and 2,000 BluePearl and Tricolour Crocus Bulbs, plus90 Anemone bulbs. The children andparents will be able to enjoy the fruitsof their work in the spring when thearea should be a mass of colour.

Friday 14Bulb plantingThe Mayor of Knutsford, Councillor StewartGardiner, joined the FOTM, the Lions and CECstaff to plant bulbs on the Moor.An assortment of Crocus, Anemones and Daffodilswas planted, 2,200 bulbs in all. Besides theMayor, the President of the Lions, Mike Goldman,helped together with David Lyon, anothermember of the Lions. Chris Munro of Streetsceneand Kathy Swindells of CEC Greenspace, alsocame to help and supervise. The Chairman,Secretary, Treasurer and members of the FOTMCharles Watson and Peter Russell were gratefulfor the help given, on what turned out to be agood day for digging holes after the recent rain.

November/December

YEARBOOK OF THE MOOR 2011

The Moor is situated at the very heart of thetown of Knutsford. It is bordered by a wildlifearea known locally as the ‘Moor Pool’ whichis a SSSI and RAMSAR site. The Green Flagjudges often comment on how lucky we areto have such a lovely view from the park.

Friday 2 DecemberReindeer on the MoorThe FOTM helped with the housing of thereindeer which drew Santa’s sleigh for theswitch on of the Christmas lights on FridayDecember 2nd. We kept a space available forthe reindeer’s vehicle, unlocked the gates sothat the reindeer could be tethered on theMoor, helped by holding two of the reindeerduring the set up of the sleigh and marshalledthe area. We then made sure the gates werelocked after Santa and his sleigh left for theparade through the town, a fitting end to ouryear.

The Moor Pool is managed by theCheshire Wildlife Trust who say on theirwebsite:Knutsford MoorOne of the largest areas of fen and reedin the country, consisting of open water,reedswamp, tall fen and willow carr.Plant species of interest include marshfern, cowbane, Cyperus sedge and woodhorsetail.