Ellington Park really is the perfect place to be during the fine summer months: to just relax and enjoy the beautiful space, play in the children’s areas, walk through the wildlife area, browse at the bookshop (which is open now until October – Saturday and Wednesday 12noon – 4pm, weather permitting), or take refreshments at the café (open Tuesday – Sunday 10am - 4pm).
We were so pleased that one of the
Ramsgate Ravens stopped off on the trail to visit us. As part of The Ramsgate Cultural Programme eight raven sculptures were decorated with designs by local youth organisations and located about the town. Have you seen them all yet? Ours is called ‘Wildflower’ and was designed by Liberty Training whose students regularly help in the park and the café.
Working with the Open Spaces Team at Thanet District Council, we have been able to provide funds for some new equipment in the children’s area - two ‘springers’, made from sustainable Robinia wood, which have now been installed and being enjoyed by younger children.
There are other areas in the park including the old children’s area, the garden space next to the café and the ongoing development of the wildlife area that we are also in discussion about.
Look out for Bumb-Elli Bee!
A group of our volunteers have formed
The Elli Park Players and co-ordinated by a local historian who has researched, written and even made the costumes, have devised a costumed walk about the history of the park introducing many characters associated with it during the ages.
Please look out for details of the dates and booking information for the walks and presentations.
We hope that many of you have attended and enjoyed the various events put on in the park so far this year by the Friends, the Café team and other local organisations including Power of Women Family Day, Easter Trail, May Fayre,
Pan European Choir with singers coming from several countries to perform on the bandstand, Picnic in the Park, Young Minds Wellness information and support day and the ever popular Festival of Sound.
The next event is part of English Heritage’s Open Days, and we will be in the park on Sunday September 8, 11am - 3pm, sharing information about the history and heritage of the park with a chance to meet our costumed characters.
All events are free to enter and everyone is welcome!
This year the miniature steam railway had to close for some essential repairs and we hope that these have now been completed and the trains are running again. For more information, please contact Ramsgate and District Model Engineering Club at
www.radmec.co.uk
As always, none of this is possible without the hard work of an amazing group of volunteers who work in the park, bookshop, café, at events and behind the scenes and we have some young people’s groups who have kindly done litter picking and planting from Priory Infants School Eco-Team, Liberty Training and Pie Factory plus many doing their Duke of Edinburgh awards.
A HUGE thank-you to everyone for helping to make Ellington Park the beautiful, welcoming place it is!
For further information or
to get involved please contact us on
friendsofellingtonpark@gmail.com or see our Facebook pages and website:
www.ellingtonpark.org.uk
For the café see their Facebook page or website:
www.ellingtoncafe.co.uk
Written by:
The Friends of Ellington Park CIO