Giant Picnic Opens First New Park in 40 Years

15 June 2016

REVELLERS didn’t let the wet weather rain on their parade when they celebrated the official opening of the borough’s first new park in more than 40 years.

The free event, which took place on Sunday, June 12, saw a plaque unveiled to open St Catherine’s Park in Lostock Hall.

Residents, visitors and civic leaders joined together to celebrate the new ornamental gateway as well as a new historic WWI-style Inglis bridge, which was re-cast from one of the world’s only surviving example.

Visitors brought along picnics and soaked up the sounds of local live bands and musicians. They even raised a toast to HM the Queen to mark her 90th birthday. 

Mayor of South Ribble, Councillor Linda Woollard officially unveiled the plaque alongside Vice Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire Colonel Alan Jolley.

The Mayor said: “I think everyone can agree that St Catherine’s Park is a wonderful new public amenity for both residents and visitors to South Ribble.

“There has been a tremendous amount of hard work not only from the council, but also partners and local businesses who have come together to make all of this possible.

“A genuine partnership has brought resources together from the council and St Catherine’s Hospice has enabled both pieces of land to come together so that we now have something which is unique to South Ribble.”

The new park features a sensory garden, wild bluebell wood, wetlands area and nature trail. New footpaths have been created across the open space to ensure the park is accessible to wheelchair users and prams.

New signs have been created by staff and inmates at Wymott Prison and more than 500 saplings and bluebell bulbs have been planted after being supplied by The Woodland Trust. 

Help also came from BTEC Horticulture students at Lostock Hall Academy and service users from Brothers of Charity.

A peace garden and war memorial to commemorate the 686 men who gave their lives in the First World War, sits at the west end of the park, and was officially opened to the public in November. 

Councillor Phil Smith, South Ribble Borough Council cabinet member for Regeneration and Leisure, said: “This new park is the first of our Central Parks to be created and will mean that this green space is protected for future generations. Our children and grandchildren will enjoy this new park for years to come.

“The park is a fantastic open space, great for health walks, off-road cycling or just a stroll through the wild bluebell meadow.

“We are investing in the future of South Ribble through the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal to boost people’s quality of life by improving our communities and providing high-quality green spaces for people to enjoy.” 

St Catherine’s Hospice chief executive Stephen Greenhalgh said: “It was lovely to see families exploring the different areas of St Catherine’s Park, despite the showers!

“People enjoyed looking around the hospice grounds, including our sensory garden, wetland and woodland area and The Mill café, as well as the extension of the parkland and new features such as the ornamental gateway, Inglis bridge, war memorial and peace garden.

“We’d like to thank South Ribble Borough Council for organising this event, enabling us to welcome the community in to our grounds to see for themselves what St Catherine’s is like.” 

The park is the first to be delivered as part of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal – a £430m scheme to create up to 20,000 new jobs, new homes and upgrade transport links over the next decade. 

County Councillor Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: "This wonderful new park and bridge is part of our City Deal, which aims to make this one of the fastest growing and commercially dynamic locations in the UK over the next decade.

"We're also improving the area by making it a more attractive place for people to live and work. Alongside new roads and transport links to help people get around, we're improving the public spaces close to where people live. City Deal is already transforming the Preston and South Ribble area by creating new jobs and homes.

"It's especially poignant that the bridge recognises 100 years since World War One and the dedication of previous generations, while improving the area to benefit generations for years to come."

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