Killer Swan

Not a lot happening this week but we do have a killer swan on our hands. Witness reported the swan grabbed one of the geese by the neck and dragged it under the ice and the swan came back up but the goose didnt. So we now have one swan and one goose left. The gooses body was later recovered.

There has been some destruction of the lake walls as you can see above as kids tear off the bricks to throw into the lake. School hols are great arnt they.

 

The two white ducks are still with use and look as if they have had a bath as they are all nice and clean

Children In Danger

People in the Queens Park were horrified today as children played on the frozen lake. As you can see above they were walking right across the lake and one was a young child. The Police were called and they rushed to get them off the lake before they fell in. They than took their names and were going around to the parents to advise them of the dangers. This has been happening all week with people of all ages doing these stupid things like smashing the ice they are standing on with bricks bikes etc.

Parent warn your children of the dangers of open water not only of the park. If any had fell in they could be dead very quick if they slipped under the ice and low temperature could prove fatal. If anyone witness this stupid behaviour then call the Police before a child dies. They have been pulling stones off the wall and throwing them onto the ice as well. All the money spent cleaning the lake and its getting full of rubbish.

This leads on to another story this week that the final warden has now been given 6 weeks notice so it would appear that we will have no one protecting our 7m park soon.

Coronation Walk  has been cleaned this week by the gardeners and though not perfect its now a usable path at last.

I managed to find some more memorial plaques this week in the bench grave yard so we now have them all. There are some in the office I believe from seats that have gone so I will try and get those so these people can be remembered. If you have any info on the people on these please let us know

Remembrance plaques

There is not really anything happening in the park the lake has been frozen over and today the yobs have been throwing all the dustbins into the lake along with anything else they can find..

While it was nothing else was happening I took the opportunity of taking pictures of all the plaques on benches in the park. These of coarse were once someone's loved ones who wanted them remembered for ever but with vandals and old age they are being lost so now they are saved in another format.

If anyone has any info on any of the families on them please let us know as most are unknown. You may need to double click on the pictures to see them full screen to read them all.

New woodland path

The gardens have done a good job and created a new woodland walk by the lake near the golf coarse end. The path has been there all the time but over grown and most people wouldnt know it was there but now its all been redone and the bush given a hair cut. It will look nice once the new growth starts.

some up and coming events for the park are

Queens Park Crewe
Bird Box Making with the Countryside Ranger Service — Tuesday, February 14 at 11:00am at Queen's Park.

Queens Park Crewe
Navigation Course for Walkers by the Countryside Ranger Service — Tuesday, March 20 at 7:00pm at Queen's Park.

Queens Park Crewe
Home Start Walk — Sunday, March 18 at 10:30am at Queen's Park.

The swans have had us guessing this week. We had the new one arrive but this week one of the old pair went missing for 2 days but it has now come back so there are still the three on the lake. Maybe he had been for a day out.

Everyone's favourite duck the Mandarin is still with us and getting tamer all the time and fighting back against other duck who tend to pick on him

New Swan arrives

This week on Monday a new swan arrived at the Queens Park its unusual for a single swan to come but its turned up and stayed all week. The swans seem to get on ok we thought there may have been a fight but as you can see they swim together ok.

Its surprising how tame these swans and ducks are they come very close even when I have MAX my dog with me and dont seem to bother about dogs or people that is if the dogs are on the lead as they should be.

We have had the normal yobish behaviour again this week as they decided to throw the life belt into the lake along with tree branches. If someone get into trouble no one can help as the life belt cant be thrown.

 

The first wedding reception has been booked for this year in July in the Lakeside pavilion - we wish the happy couple good luck with their arrangements. Anyone wishing for function details should contact Karen on 07724 802053

Sad day this week as we pay repsects to Mrs Farmer who lived in the East Lodge for many years (married to Mr Colin Farmer who did so much for the Parks and Cemeteries),

New out door classroom

An exciting project got underway this week with local children using the Queens Park as a classroom. With the help of the Friends of Queens Park children learnt a lot of skills in a real environment. It covered everything from measuring the clock tower, how to find north, centrifugal force  and how it effects the play area, wild life and much more. Some of the activities and work sheets are here.

The children seem to like the fun element of learning outside as it was a nice sunny day and its hoped there will be a lot more use of the park.

About the only part of the park fenced off now is the boat jetty but these people didnt take the hint they broke down the barrier and took very young children right on the waters edge to get around the barrier which is there for their safety.

 

The Grey wagtail was spotted on the lodge roof this week

The grey wagtail is more colourful than its name suggests with slate grey upper parts and distinctive lemon yellow under-tail. Its tail is noticeably longer than those of pied and yellow wagtails. They have gradually increased their range in the past 150 years and in the UK have expanded into the English lowlands from the northern and western uplands. They are badly affected by harsh winters, and because of recent moderate declines it is an Amber List species.

Where to see them

Found over most of the UK, with the exception of the Northern and western isles of Scotland. Likes fast flowing rivers in summer their greatest densities are in the hills of England, Scotland and Wales. In winter they can be seen around farmyards and lowland streams, even in city centres. Scarce in central and eastern England in summer and from upland areas in winter.

The coot took time out to sun bath this week we dont very often see them on the paths but he seemed to like the sunny weather

Timber

The start of another year and there isnt much happening. The gardeners are buzzy gelling trees and cut back bushes  the picture above is south side but they are also working on the other side creating a new walkway in the bushes which has been there but hidden with overgrown bushs.

There is a new out door classroom project  getting under way to use the park for classes for children which can include

Maths trails designed by children for children with guidance from teachers.  If the students were signed up as STEM Leaders this activity would count towards the award and could be added to students portfolio.  (The award is on 3 levels Primary Secondary and Advanced more details can be found at www.leadersward.com)

· Tree measuring How to find the height of trees using surveying equipment working out the width of a tree by measuring its circumference

· Estimating

· Shapes and sizes

· Use of trundle wheels to measure distance

· Measuring tree rings and then relating what this means in terms of growth and the weather.

· The physics of the Playground

· Biology field trips – Pond dipping, soil analysis, Mini beast hunts, Climate change and how it affects plant life, Micro climates and habitats.

· Leaf collecting and finding which trees they belong to and art work that could be associated with this work

· A tree recognition worksheet and then doing bark rubbings for art

· Design work looking at bridges and why they chose those designs and materials

· Bridges look at how built talking to a civil engineer building bridges in the classroom or outside

· Surfaces and friction

· Disabled access design project to improve facilities at the park

· Gardening project to produce a ‘blind’ area

· Design a nest box for bird/bats

· Den building  for teamwork

· Park surveying to make a map to get an insight into surveying work

· Using fitness equipment to examine the effect on the body/muscles.  Timing looking at respiration and fitness heart rates etc which gives best ‘work out’

· Engineering of building the lake and where does the river go?

It will be interesting to see how that goes and hopefully it will help children appreciate  the park in stead of wrecking it