Event to Celebrate Improvements at Great Harwood Memorial Park
The Friends of Memorial Park are delighted to announce the successful completion of a major improvement project at Great Harwood Memorial Park in Hyndburn. Following intensive activity from various local companies and groups over the past few months, the park has been transformed and was recently awarded the prestigious Green Flag, an international award recognising well-kept and managed parks.
To celebrate the investment and improvements made over the last 12 months, the Friends of Memorial Park and their partners are hosting a community event called “Picnic in the Park.” This free event will take place on 18th August, 2024 from 12 noon to 4pm, featuring a brass band, family entertainment such as face painting and woodland activities, and food and drink vendors.
The improvements, made possible thanks to National Lottery players with a £247,450 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and further support of £30,000.00 from the Lancashire Environmental Fund, and over £60,000.00 invested by Hyndburn Borough Council, include:
- Refurbishment of the war memorial
- Installation of new park railings
- Path and access improvements
- Extensive conservation work
Local community involvement has been crucial to the project’s success. St Bartholomew’s CE Primary School, the Parks department at Hyndburn Borough Council, and experts such as the Prospects Foundation (an environmental charity), local contractors, and Proffitts C.I.C. (who project managed the improvements) have all played significant roles.
The Picnic in the Park event schedule includes:
- 12 noon Grand opening of the Park’s first Forest School
- 12 noon Registration begins for the Family Treasure Hunt around the park.
- 12:45pm ReAct Academy of Theatre Arts will be presenting a short selection from their most recent youth theatre production, Frozen JR
- 1:45pm: Speeches and information about the improvements (near the war memorial)
- 2pm-4pm: Stacksteads brass band performance (with a short interval at 3pm)
Ian Wilkinson from the Friends of Memorial Park group said, “We’re thrilled to see the project come to fruition. The improvements have revitalised Memorial Park, making it an even more integral part of Great Harwood life. We’re especially proud of the community involvement throughout this process and can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at our Picnic in the Park event.”
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “It is wonderful to see this project completed and what better way to celebrate that than with a community picnic!
Conserving public parks is a priority for the Heritage Fund as we are committed to promoting environmentally sustainable heritage for everyone to access. It’s thanks to National Lottery players that we were able to award the grant for this work that has preserved the heritage of Memorial Park while making it a welcoming space for local people and visitors to enjoy for years to come.”
Councillor Kimberley Whitehead, Portfolio holder for Parks and Open Spaces at Hyndburn Borough Council, added, “The transformation of Memorial Park is a testament to what can be achieved when local authorities, community groups, and residents work together. The Green Flag Award is well-deserved recognition of these efforts, and we’re confident that the park will continue to be a cherished space for generations to come.”
The Friends of Memorial Park extend a warm invitation to all residents to join the celebration and enjoy the newly improved park. For more information about the event or how to get involved with future park activities, please visit the new Friends of Memorial Park website https://greatharwoodfomp.co.uk/
More information about the project can be found on the website below:
https://www.proffittscic.com/community-projects/great-harwood-memorial/
If you would like more general information about the project, please contact Martin Proffitt at Proffitts (CIC) on 07989928038 or communities@proffittscic.com
Ends
About Proffitts – Proffitts – Investing in Communities CIC is a venture with a fresh and lively approach to community based regeneration, neighbourhood management and green space solutions. Proffitts is committed to connecting local people with local investment and give them the opportunity to improve their own communities through involvement and understanding.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk.
About ReAct Academy of Theatre Arts
ReAct Academy of Theatre Arts will be presenting a short selection from their most recent youth theatre production, Frozen JR which was staged this July at The Grand, Clitheroe.
ReAct Academy (which established in 2010) has branches in both Hyndburn and The Ribble Valley, and are delighted to be supporting this wonderful event.