Come on down to Meersbrook Park Users Trust's Community Sports Day, this Saturday 10th September from 1pm- 4pm. Celebrating the completion of this popular restoration project, there will be a chance for people to come and see the new facility and have a go at basketball, netball, tennis and football. The pavilion will be open for young children to play in and there will be free refreshments.

This project was made possible thanks to the hard work of the Meersbrook Park Users Trust, with support from Parks and Countryside Officers and of course all the local residents who helped with the fundraising events. The funds for this came from the Big Lottery's Community Spaces fund, Sheffield City Council's S106 from the South Community Assembly and of course all the fundraising events held over the past 4 years by MPUT- so a big thanks to everyone for helping to make this possible!

Although the MUGA is now complete, there are some more improvements still to be completed, including a new picnic area with bins and seats near the facility, a new noticeboard telling people how and when they can book the MUGA and some new trees to be planted at this year's Tree Day in October. I hope we can get all of this completed this autumn.

The event is open to everyone and it would be great to see you there!

For queries about the event please email becca.varley@btinternet.com
For queries about the improvements happening in Meersbrook Park, please contact me on 0114 2053976

Council repairs wall on Meersbrook Park Tennis Courts

After much campaigning and lobbying of the council by Meersbrook Park Users Trust (MPUT), we are delighted that the retaining wall in the tennis courts has now been completely rebuilt by Sheffield City Council (SCC) at their expense.

The Council’s original plan to address the dangerous wall was simply to slope the bank, remove the fences and leave the tennis courts to become derelict. However, after receiving our petition, which had over 500 signatures on, the council realised the importance of this local sporting facility to the community and agreed to fix the wall so that the tennis courts could continue to be used.

MPUT are still working hard with SCC to raise funds to completely regenerate the tennis courts into a Mulit-Use-Games Area, with a new surface and fence.

Many thanks to everyone who signed the petition to get this important work underway. If you are interested in helping to fundraise to rebuild the tennis courts, please email us with your contact details and we will get in touch.

What is the award we are trying to win? The trim it all back, attack and evict the wild-life, uproot natural play areas for our children. My son just said, "That use to be our favourite play area". "Why are you chopping down our trees, it's making us really sad?"

Why, after 12 years of neglect (bar the odd bench & tree), have the Council been pouring money into new & revamped beds, massive clearances & a never used (apart from the local delinquents) picnic area in the park? Prior to the last 9 months, it has apparently left 'au naturel' (bar cutting the grass) for the wildlife. Couldn't be because of some high flying administrator moving into the offices could it? Would they be trying for some farty award or other, or just want to pretend its their own garden? Spare us Council Tax payers please. I would not be surprised as recently I was shocked to learn that there were council staff LIVING in Bishops House until 1974 - which is pretty recent given it is c500 years old.

There is a meeting at St Paul's Centre on Norton Lees Lane on Thursday 25 February at 7pm about Bishop's House, please come if you can. Have you written to your councillor/MP/councillor Sylvia Dunkley (culture), Nick Dodds Museum Trust yet?

MPUT says Keep Bishop's House Museum open at week ends.
The Museums Trust is about to review opening hours and could close the Bishop's House except to school groups.
Visit the Bishop's House this week end to show your support, there is a special tour on Saturday 13 February at 2pm.

Practical Gardening Class in the Walled garden, run by the WEA. Starting Friday 27 February at 9.30am-11.30am for five weeks, £27.50, free for anyone on means tested benefits, registration fee for all £1.50.
Come along and join in.

Open Garden on the second Sunday in the month, 1pm-4pm. Come and enjoy the garden, maybe help with some gardening.

The garden needs more volunteer gardeners, we meet on Mondays at 11am-3pm. We care for the Japanese garden, the South America house and the herb garden. Tools and cups of tea provided, bring your own sandwiches, gloves and secateurs. And warm clothes!

Users trust meetings are in the Pavilion at 7pm every 2 months
2009
Jan/March/May/July/Sept/Nov