Welcome to the second Fairfield e-News Bulletin. It’s a short summary of what has happened over the previous two months along with news about upcoming events and activities.
Upcoming event
Apple Day cancelled
Sadly due to the forecast high winds and rain this year’s Apple Day, planned for Saturday 4 October, will have to be cancelled. The weather is not much better on Sunday and we fear the gazebos might fly away! We are really sorry.
BBC winners!
As you might have already heard, the Fairfield Association was the winner of the Green Award at the BBC Make a Difference Awards for Lancashire. The award wasn’t just for what has been done over the last year, but over the last 30 years, so many thanks to everyone.
At the time of writing, BBC Lancashire had yet to publish the news on its own website, but Burnley Council, where the event was hosted, has a report along with photographs of the event.
Fairfield Association AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Fairfield Association took place on Tuesday 23 September at the Storey. Full minutes of the meeting are available online.
Chair’s report
A successful year
Andrew Brennand highlighted the various successful events that have been run over the last year, noted that we had 40 new members and described the new projects that are currently underway or being planned.
Becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
One important future change he outlined was the plan to amend the constitution of the Fairfield Association from a standard Charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). CIOs are registered and regulated by the Charity Commission and continue to operate under charity law. The change will enable the Fairfield Association to own land and assets in its own right future proofing what we have built together.
Special thanks
Andrew also gave special thanks to Mick Short who is standing down as a trustee after thirty years service.
You can read the full Chair’s report in the AGM minutes.
Treasurer’s report
Treasurer Jane Parker’s full report with detailed accounts can be read online.
FFOG report
Sue Nieduszynska’s report for the Fauna, Flora and Orchard Sub-Group (FFOG) covering the work on the Nature Reserve and Orchard is also online.
Nature Reserve and Orchard updates
Lucy Brook restoration
As mentioned in the previous e-news bulletin, the Fairfield Association is planning to create a wetland corridor alongside the existing course of Lucy Brook with extra ponds and channels linked to the brook, a series of small woody dams and the seeding and planting of wetland herbs and shrubs.
We invited comments on the proposal and had more than 200 overwhelmingly positive comments. You can read all the different comments on the Lucy Brook Restoration webpage.
A funding application to Lancashire Environment Fund was submitted in September and we should find out whether we have been successful before Christmas. If we are successful work by Lancashire Wildlife Trust would start in the spring.
Magazine article
In the latest edition of THRIVE North Lancashire Magazine, Anne Greenwood and Tom Webster tell the story of our community orchard. The magazine is available to read for free online.
Cyclists
Although cycling is not permitted on the footpaths through the Nature Reserve and Orchard, Google Maps had shown the paths as cycle routes. After a lengthy process, Google have eventually changed the designation of the paths to “walk with your bike”. Given how Google operate, this is probably the best that can be hoped for at the moment.
iNaturalist
To encourage more people in Lancaster to use iNaturalist, the free app and website for recording and sharing wildlife and plant observations, we have been working with Lancaster District Green Spaces to help different local groups and spaces set up their own iNaturalist projects. So far there are six local spaces involved, including Greaves Park, The Storey Gardens and Aldcliffe Road Triangle.
You can see the projects, which together have logged 820 species, at Lancaster District Green Spaces on iNaturalist.
Playground
The replacement of all the benches in the playground is going ahead and should be completed sometime during the winter.
Cycle Hub
Planning permission has been approved for installation of the second bike hangar, tool stand and pump, along with three ‘toast rack’-style bike stands for short-term use. They should be installed before Christmas as part of the Fairfield Cycle Hub at the bottom of Wingate Saul Road. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list for a space, please email
Other projects
Fairfield memories
Adrienne Wallman is applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to support ‘Twenty Five Years of Fairfield Memories’. This project aims to record people’s stories and memories of all the Fairfield sites, including the Orchard, playground, Aldcliffe Road Triangle, and Pony Wood. If you are able to contribute comments on how you use these spaces and why they are important to you, please email .
Audio trail
Work has commenced on the preliminary stages of a QR code trail where walkers will be able to listen to audio clips describing various locations around the Nature Reserve and Orchard.
Fairfield calendar
We will be producing a calendar again this year as a fundraiser and a celebration of the Fairfield green spaces. Please support us by emailing your photos (landscape format 300 ppi., around 3507 x 2480 pixels) to .
Calendars will be available at the Green Christmas Fair on Saturday 22 November at St Thomas’s Church. Details of how to buy from us directly will also be shared later in the autumn.
Recent events
Triangle Summer Fair
There was a great turnout for the Aldcliffe Road Triangle Summer Fair in August, which raised nearly £700 for the upkeep of the space. We hope to have another one next year.
There is an online gallery of photographs from the event along with a short video.
Future events
Carol singing
Carol singing will take place on Christmas Eve. Meet outside Edenbreck Farmhouse at 5pm — all are welcome!
Volunteer work party sessions
- These take place every Wednesday between 9:30am and 1pm.
- There are also Saturday sessions once a month. Next ones are 11 October and 8 November between 10am and 1pm.
- Everyone is welcome. Just let Rebekah know beforehand if you plan to come by emailing
Print newsletter
Our autumn newsletter was recently delivered to 2000 houses in the area. Many thanks to Katherine Woodfine, who edited it, Veronica Dunne, who organised the distribution, and everyone who delivered it.
Meetings
Monthly meeting
The next meeting will take place at 7:30pm on Tuesday 21 October at the Tite & Locke. Everyone is welcome.
More details
You can always find more information about what is going on in the Current Meeting Information section of the website which has agendas and minutes for all recent meetings.
The online calendar contains dates and times for all meetings, volunteer sessions, special events and Triangle activities.