Celebrate your local park in Love Parks Week
PARKS take pride of place in our community and for one week, people are being asked to show their appreciation of local parks by celebrating national Love Parks Week, which takes place between Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 31.
Love Parks Week is a national campaign that celebrates the importance of parks and green spaces and aims to encourage people to get out and about and enjoy what their local park has to offer. The campaign is organised by parks charity, GreenSpace, and began in 2006 to raise awareness and to promote the use of parks.
Nathan Vear, head of neighbourhood improvement for North East Lincolnshire Council, said: "Love Parks Week is a great time to get involved and organise an event in your local park. It's a great way to bring attention to the parks in your area and get to know the people in your community better too.
"In the current financial climate, parks are more important than ever, as they are free to visit and provide opportunities to improve your health, relax and unwind, enjoy nature, play and have fun."
The council has invested more than £6 million in local parks over recent years by working on projects and developments such as the installation of five wooden animals carved from fallen trees and eight upgraded and new adventure play areas, as well as working with the community to identify where further improvements should be made.
Six of the area's local parks and open spaces have also been entered for Green Flag awards, that reflect their good management and maintenance.
Nathan added: "Love Parks Week will be a great celebration of the work that both the community and the council have achieved and to promote the quality of local parks."To register to hold an event during Love Parks Week, call Sue Pearson or download the 'Introduction to organising a public event' information from: www.nelincs.gov.uk/art-culture-and-leisure/events
For more information, call Sue Pearson, environmental management officer, on (01472) 325812 or email sue.pearson@nelincs.gov.uk.
For more information on Love Parks Week, including details of events happening in parks near you, go to www.loveparksweek.org.uk
Community Bites
Sorry to hear of the death of John Ross who was not only a local man through and through but did much to bring business and jobs to this area as the High Steward of Grimsby and former managing director and chairman of the famous Ross fishing empire. Many prominent figures in the area have spoken of the "debt of gratitude" the area owes to John and the family - as founding fathers of Grimsby's fishing industry, the Ross family put Grimsby on the world map and in the world's shop freezers too.
Top Gear - the BBC's ever-popular motor show has been filming locally with Jeremy Clarkson and James May seen in the county, at Grimsby harbour and at other locations in the area. You see, even Clarkson cannot resist the lure of Cleethorpes.
Thar' she blows! The 15th jaw bones which were part of a 75th whale stranded at Spurn Point in the 1800s have been taken out of storage and are now at The Jungle Zoo being prepared to go on display. Jungle co-owner Craig Gledhill said: "They are incredibly heavy - you would have to be a whale to carry them around!"
Great start to the season at Cleethorpes and the surrounding area. The warm weather has brought both holidaymakers and visitors to the area in their thousands and bookings for holidays later this year are looking excellent. The great British seaside holiday has bounced back and Cleethorpes is right up there among the most popular.
Brief new attraction. Yes, visitors to Cleethorpes stood quietly by and watched with fascination as a bold fox unashamedly sunbathed on the grass near the dunes at the back of Cleethorpes Leisure Centre. The large male fox was aware of being watched but took no notice as long as nobody stepped too close. By the way, in the same area if you see ducks on the edge of the sea dipping their heads into the water to nibble at seaweed, you are not seeing things. They really do that.
Cleethorpes Pier is alive and well.
One of the delights of the 2011 season has seen Cleethorpes Pier busy during the day. The Pier is still a key part on the resort's nightlife but these days there are children's rides, cafes and ice cream back on the pier during the day and that family feel has returned. That's great.
New life for Wonderland. The former indoor and outdoor funfair we all know and love as Wonderland is possibly heading for a new lease of life. For many years it has been a great market attractionn although it has been up for sale recently and possibly a little run down. If rumours come to fruition we could see Wonderland being restored as a venue for fun fairs, markets, exhibitions and shows. That would be great news for the North Promenade.
Your news. If you have something to tell us or an event coming up, then let us know. Send us some information to beelinemedia@gmail.com or phone 01472 399866.
Terry puts the T in CleeThorpes!
Meet Terry Procter who not only has the best crazy golf on the east coast but also makes sure that you are never far away from a nice cup of tea and a fantastic ice cream - not bad for a bloke who once travelled the world as a skilled welder.
"I am a local lad, I was born in Grimsby," said Terry with pride. "My wife, Julie, is from Cleethorpes so we know the area well and we have seen many of the regular visitors come here as children grow up, get married and then bring their own children. It is really nice to see because there are many people who are loyal to Cleethorpes even though they live some distance away."
Terry began his working life as a welder and his skill led to him being in demand in various parts of the world.
"It was a great experience, the world is such a wonderful place but I think when I was working in a very cold Russia it suddenly occured me that while the work was enjoyable and the money was good, I really missed being permanently at home in Grimsby and Cleethorpes so I decided to start a new life."
That new life began with a crazy golf in the Pier Gardens. Not long afterwards came Julie's cafe kiosk. Terry had the opportunity to buy it and today it is one of the best in the resort. Terry still runs the Pier Gardens crazy golf and putting green and the more spectacular Oddballs Crazy Golf next to his kiosk on the Promenade. Further along the road near the Lifeboat Station is Jade's Ice Cream Parlour which is also part of the family business and a must for ice cream lovers.
So it can truly be said that Terry puts the "tee" or "tea" in CleeThorpes.
"I love the place and coming back from my travels to stay here was the best decision I ever made - apart from getting married of course," said Terry. "Cleethorpes has so much to offer whether you are a visitor, a resident or a businessman or woman. I think a lot of people who have never been here underestimate its beauty. On a nice day it is a real picture with lovely beaches, a great part of the North Sea, views, the traditional pier, the gardens, it's just a brilliant place to be. Even in the winter Cleethorpes never loses its character.
"We have quite a lot of events on here but I think we could have even more. I am a great believer in lots of entertainment and really big events. I am looking forward to seeing the proposed air show. From what I hear, it should be a real spectacle."
Terry is no stranger to organising events and has promoted many music events in the resort including a slightly bizarre one when he had local band The Lowdown, performing on the roof of Jade's Ice Cream.
"The lads practised in the back and I have always felt that we need to support the local bands so we put them on the roof to play one afternoon, threw in a barbecue and its was a great gig. They were excellent the people flocked to hear them. That's the sort of thing I like to do and it is the sort of thing Cleethorpes is good at."
One of Terry's great delights is meeting the regular visitors who travel to Cleethorpes each year and often several times each year.
"They become friends and to be honest I often know who is coming and which week even before they get here because they are so regular. The people who come to this resort come determined to enjoy themselves and make sure their children have a great time. Some of them don't have a lot of money but they spend wisely and thoroughly enjoy their visit. You don't have to be a millionaire to have a good time in Cleethorpes, though millionaires are always welcome of course. "
Terry Procter is a man who clearly enjoys his work and enjoys Cleethorpes. To think it all started with a cup of tea.
Your news. If you have something to tell us or an event coming up, then let us know. Send us some information to beelinemedia@gmail.com or phone 01472 399866.
