Latest News
Last updated 15th January 2012
Hope everyone had a great New Year
FODP held a Faith Supper for our Christmas Celebrations on 8th December 2011.
Very enjoyable with lots of lovely food!!
FODP members Doug, "Glamour Puss" Linda, and Colin enjoying the
Christmas festivities!
Friends Celebrate 10 years together
The 5 founder members of FODP celebrated their 10 years together with a meal at
The Red Lion Plawsworth on 23rd November 2011.
Well worth a visit! Beautiful food and a great atmosphere!
SUNDERLAND IN BLOOM
Members of FODP Committee attended an Awards ceremony
at Roker Hotel on 17th November 2011 where we were proud to receive an Award of Merit .
Congratulations to everyone presented with an award-it was evident there has been a lot of hard work to achieve such beautiful displays and gardens.
SECRET GARDEN EVENT
On 25th October 2011
1-3 in Walled Garden
The theme for this event was based on helping Miss Doxford's gardeners prepare for a party at Doxford House. Children helped Bert the gardener gather fruit in the Walled garden and deliver it down the wheelbarrow path to Doxford House with stories and activities on the way.
Bert (Helen from Groundworks) the gardener.
Storyteller Chris Bostock joined us for a highly entertaining afternoon in the park with tales of gardeners, fairies, trolls
...and so much more!
Thank you Chris for a truly enjoyable and fun time!
Click on the picture below to see more photographs from this event.
Northumbria In Bloom Success!
Awards Ceremony
This non-competitive category of Britain in Bloom is aimed at smaller volunteer-led community groups who are greening up their local environment.
Celebrations were held on 4th October 2011 at Durham Town Hall,
a truly impressive venue!
There are five levels of achievement:
Level 1 Establishing 0 - 35 points
Level 2 Improving 36 - 52 points
Level 3 Developing 53 - 68 points
Level 4 Thriving 69 - 85 points
Level 5 Outstanding 86 - 100 points
FODP are delighted to be presented with a "Thriving" award, thank you to everyone that helped make this possible.
We would also like to congratulate all the other participants, it was wonderful to see so many worthwhile and successful projects!
FODP Members left to right:
Elaine Nicholson, Linda Wilkinson, Ann Barksby
FODP MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Following the resignation of F.O.D.P Chairman,the Management Committee have taken the necessary steps to secure the position and ensure the day to day running of F.O.D.P. for the foreseeable future.
The following members have assumed positions Pro-Temp until subsequent elections at the next AGM.
Mrs Elaine Nicholson is Acting Secretary
Mr Douglas Smith is Assistant Secretary
CURRENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
VICE CHAIRMAN
Colin Barksby
TREASURER
Ann Barksby
ACTING SECRETARY
Elaine N|icholson
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Douglas Smith
ARCHIVIST
Elaine Nicholson
HISTORIAN
Douglas Smith
WEBMASTER
Elaine Nicholson
CO-OPTED MEMBER (no voting rights)
Councillor Betty :Gibson
Contact FODP
Click on this link for contact details
Love Where You Live Campaign
As part of the Love Where You Live Campaign, there will be a litter pick in doxford Park on Monday 19th September at 1pm. Please come along and support us.
For further information contact FODP
archivist@doxfordpark.org.uk
The SECRET GARDEN
BIG EVENT POSTPONED
Sadly due to the particularly bad weather we have had to postpone The Big Event due to be held from 1-4 26th August 2011
We held a sports and games event in the Walled Garden area on 10th August and were delighted to see the Parks Department have been busy weeding and planting lately.
They have tidied up the raised bed in the Walled garden and have been planting in the gabions behind Morrisons.
Look! We have fruit growing.....
...and water in the Lake after the sluice gate was mended!
Now if we can just have some sunshine for our summer events.......please!
On Friday 17th & Monday 20th June 2011 the Gabions (wire gages) were placed and filled ready for planting in the cleaned out inlet between the bridge and the rear of Morrisons Store at the south end of the park.
The water had to be pumped out before the gabions could be placed.
We are intending to have reeds etc planted here to help filter the water and keep it clean, the Gabions are used to prevent the plants from being swept away.
We have water again!
It has been agreed to seek pricing and a funder to meet the extra cost, to replace the 'Safety Fencing' to also encompass the planned shrubbery at this site, a much larger area than is enclosed at present.
On Friday the 17th June 2011 a large Willow that was in a dangerous condition near the north end of the lake was pruned, with the wood chippings being spread onto a nearby pathway.
A job well done! Thank you lads!
Keep checking the events page as we are busy planning new events for the summer.
14th June 2011
Click on the above link for a slide show of the event
Doxford Park toddler group joined us for a Teddy Bear themed toddle in the park.
The sun shone beautifully and everyone had a great time!
We would like to thank all of you that completed and returned our questionaire in the Spring of 2010. The main reason for this consultation was to provide evidence of what the Community wanted to see developed in Doxford Park.
Click on the above link for the full PDF report.
We used the results of this report as evidence in an application to COMMUNITY SPACES for a grant of £45,000 to help us solve the pollution problems in the lake. The application was accepted in January 2011 and we are now in the assessment period. If successful, the above grant , along with a further £35,000 of funding provided by Sunderland City Council will allow us to improve the lake and surrounding area.
Other grants are being applied for, so that we can further enhance the area surrounding the lake.
Update June 2011
We are trying hard to solve the pollution problems.....
15th June 2011
We were fortunate that FODP Vice Chairman Colin Barksby was in the park and quickly grabbed his camera to catch these great images of work in progress- we were amazed at how deep this area is! Click on the photo link below to see some more images.
"The section between the bridge and the inlet behind Morrisons store has been dredged today. It is estimated that 60 to 80 tons of debris to a depth of at least a metre has been removed. It turns out that this section is fully lined with concrete, tapering in width from the bridge, back towards the store. We intend to landscape and replant this area within the next few weeks.
The main Lake is not refilling as we had hoped because the Sluice Gate is no longer watertight following the removal of the silt and has had to be dismantled to be taken for repair. ( more unforeseen cost ). In the meantime a small Dam has been constructed to hold back some water."
Colin Barksby Vice Chairman
Fortunately the ducks have still found a little water and a place to rest while we're busy!
Below: The rockery and lake side in 2004
The same area has been cleaned up 2011
We will keep you informed of our progress so please keep checking the website.
Friends Successful in Sunderland in Bloom Again !
The FODP were again successful in Sunderland City in Bloom Competition 2010, we were awarded an 'Award of Merit' in 'The best Community Project'. This is the fourth year in succession that we have been awarded a trophy. In 2007 and 2008 we won the award and received silverware then in 2009 and 2010 we received merit awards.
The FODP Chair, Mr Tom Cranston said "It is a great achievement for us to be given this award. We work hard throughout each year working with local schools and communty groups, to both educate and improve the park. I would like to thank the members of the group for their support, hard work and commitment over the last nine years."
