South West In Bloom

“It’s Your Neighbourhood”

Young’s ParkPaignton

CONTENTSIntroduction 1

Flower Beds 2

Green Flag Success 3

This Year’s Awards 4

YPP Bandstand 5

Jubilee Events 6

Dipping Pond 7

Wild Fowl Conservation Area 8

Wildfowl Update 9

Interpretation Boards 10

Moth Survey and CCTV 11

Social Events 12

Newspaper Reports 13

Acknowledgements 14

Page

Young's Park People are a democratic, voluntary group, dedicated tocaring for, and cherishing Young's Park in Goodrington in Paignton.

Formed on 1st May 2007, by park users, locals, holiday visitorsand traders, who decided it was time to bring the beauty back to thishistoric, unique park, by the sea.

· To return Young's Park and Goodrington Promenade to its former glory.· To plant and maintain flower beds, bringing colour into the park.· To achieve Green Flag status for the park.· Liaise with the local parks department to ensure this natural asset is preserved

Since it’s conception this voluntary group of like minded people who have taken thewelfare of this beautiful park to heart.With the co-operation of the local council, we have taken over the care and dailymaintenance of the majority of the flower beds.The great news in 2010 was gaining the prized “Green Flag” awards for the park andraised the profile for the benefit of all.We also wish to preserve and protect the park and wild fowl area for generationsto come.

Mission Statement

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Young’s Park People

Introduction

Flower Beds

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YPP formed in May 2007 because of the lack of care, maintenance, andcolour in the park’s flower beds. Due to limited finances the councilwere unable to look after the established beds never mind reinstatingthe derelict ones. So Young’s Park People took action, with thesupport of the council and transformed the flowerbeds back to theirformer glory. Today they still plant out and maintain the majority of thepark’s beds. Paying for new plants out of their 100+ strong membershipsubscriptions.

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Green Flag Success for 3rd year!

You will probably have seen the new 2012/2013 Green Flag flying in Young’s Park.The park was visited by a “mystery” judges this year and the announcement ofsuccessful parks was made on the 17th July. For the third year running Young’s Parkhas been awarded Green Flag status with very positive feed back from the judges.This status has only been achieved by everyone working together. Richard Taylor, ofTorbay Council, wrote the Management plan for the park and keeps this updated. Healso attends all YPP’s committee meetings to discuss ideas, problems, etc. and offeradvice where he can. Tor2 gardener, Ray, take a real pride in his work; this hasplayed a huge part in the park being awarded a third Green Flag. Ray is also a greathelp to YPP offering advice on plants which stand the best chance of surviving in thesalty, sandy and often stormy conditions of this exposed parkland. The cleansingdepartment, who pick up litter (and much more!) also work hard to keep the parklitter free. Cut backs in all departments of the Council and Tor2 make everyone’s jobmore difficult, so to have retained the Green Flag status is a real achievement.Community involvement is something the judges look for when judging, so the factthat YPP organise ‘Band in the Park’ events, tend a number of the flower beds, gainLottery funding for the park, etc. all helps with the overall judging score.

Supporting groupsAlthough this award has been one of YPP’s primary goals, itwould not have been possible on our own. Without the hugesupport and hard work from various council officers, the council gardeners, parktraders and other groups this award just wouldn’t have happened. So a big thankyou to all concerned.

Last year’s Green Flag being shown off by Torbay Concert Brass and Ray & Bob from Tor2

This Year’s Awards

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Young’s Park People were again very successful at the South West inBloom judging in 2011. At the award ceremony held in Newquay, theyachieved for a 4th year running, an ‘Outstanding’ in the It’s YourNeighbourhood Awards. This is the highest possible award in this section.They were also awarded the Tor2 Environment project Silver medal. Thegreatly coveted Green Flag Award rounded off a fantastic year forYoung’s Park Paignton.

In October 2011 committee member Carol Fieldattended a presentation evening held atPaignton Zoo. This Award ceremony wassponsored by Sutton Seeds, Riviera FM and Tor2.We were honoured to be awarded a silvermedal for our Community Environment Projectentry 2011

Third Year Running

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YPP Bandstand

Bandstand MarathonOn the 25th September 2011 the Tremors preformedin the YPP Bandstand as part of a national ‘BandstandMarathon’ event. Over 100 people were entertained forfree and even the sun shone! The organisers SuperAct had planned for everybandstand in the country, that’s 500 of them, to be used at the same time,on the same day. This is inspired by the London Olympics 2012. This eventwill be repeated at 2pm on Sunday 9th September 2012.

GRAND OPENING CEREMONYWednesday 6th July 2011

6.00 PM Katy & Dan Stokes (Keyboard & Vocals)

7.00 PM Official opening by the Mayor of Torbay - Gordon Oliver Esq.7.30 PM Torbay Concert Brass

Please come and support the opening of thismarvellous new feature in Young’s Park .Bring a picnic and chairs and enjoy the freeentertainment ~ brought to you by...................

On the 6th July last year Torbay’s Mayor braved theelements and very kindly opened the YPP Bandstand inYoung’s Park.Despite the weather there was a good turn-out and thefirst performers were young local talent Katy and DanStokes. Later Torbay Concert Brass played populartunes from the “shows”.

Gordon Oliver ~ Mayor of TorbayCutting the ribbon

Friday Night LightsFriday 20th July 1.45pm - 2.45pm

Totnes Brass BandThursday 26th July 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Jumping Out - Jazz DuoFriday 27th July 12 noon - 2.00pm

Torbay Concert BrassWednesday 1st August 7.30pm - 9.00pm

Spectrum MusicSunday 5th August 2.00pm- 4.00pm

Music In The Air - in aid of Devon Air AmbulanceSaturday 18th August 2.00pm

Three Bags FullThursday 23rd August 2.00pmTorbay Concert BrassWednesday 29th Aug 7.30pm - 9.00pm

Torbay Concert BrassWednesday 5h Sept 7.30pm - 9.00pm

Bandstand Marathon - featuring Hamer & IsaacsSun 9th September - 1pm - 5pm

Sammy The Seahorse - children's songs and dances Every Sunday 2.00 - 2.30pm (except 5th Aug)

YPP Bandstand Jubilee Event9

Young’s Park People held a two day music festival to celebrate the Queen’s DiamondJubilee in June 2012. Although the weather was very unkind to us on Sunday the 3rdJune ~ the Monday was terrific.Artists included the Reception class of Hayes Road School, young local talent fromSouth Devon College , St George’s Church and a Gypsy Swing Band!

Hamer & Isaacs

Cydney Brown

Sammy the Seahorse + Hayes Road School

Friday Night Lights

Reception ClassHayes RoadCatherine FeriTorbay Concert Brass

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Dipping pond

Volunteers have been busy in the conservation area during autumn andwinter.The new dipping platform is now in place; this was built by Igomangowith lottery funding of £9000, secured last year. Heritage Landscapeswere brought in to do the footing and then Igomango volunteers com-pleted the building of this short boardwalk extension and platform.We are now awaiting delivery of an interpretive handrail which will havecarvings showing the view from the platform and local wildlife.We are in the process of liaising with Torbay Coast and Countryside Trustto arrange pond dipping activities from this new platform.

Footing in

Finished platform

Bespoke interpretivehandrail

Wild Fowl Conservation AreaYoung’s Park People are very fortunate to have enlisted the help of IgoMangoand Princes Trust volunteers in managing this conservation area.

Reducing the number of invasive species, and keeping the water flowingare the main aims, but this needs to carried out with as little disturbanceas possible to the natural fauna and flora within this area.

The freezing weather in December had broken up the ground in someplaces, changing the direction of water flow. The waterfowl certainly lovethe new muddier conditions this has resulted in!

Helpers from igoMango, Princes’ Trust & YPP

A “field” of rare marsh orchids

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Broad-Bodied Chaser Dragonflytaken 25th May 2012

We are pleased to announce that SEVEN cygnets hatchedin early May. All have survived to date even the “odd”white cygnet. There were also two batches of 14 ducklingshatched but same as last year, all were taken within a fewdays by the predators ~ rats and gulls. We have tried toeducate the public to only feed the birds in the park itselfand not in the Wildfowl Area. Hopefully there is still timefor more ducklings this year. There have been sighting of 5coot chicks in mid July. Fingers crossed!!

Lets hope they get a better survival rate in future.A big thank you, also for those people who have kindlychanged their feeding of the birds routine, from theconservation area to the open park.

Wildfowl update 2012

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Easter Sunday 2012

Cob on her nest April 2012

Seven excellent bespokeInterpretation Boards havebeen erected in the WildFowl Area.Information about...........

v Butterfliesv Dragonfliesv Birdsv Frogsv Treesv Plantsv Insectsv Maps & much more!

Interpretation Boards

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New for 2012

Part of our Lottery funding was allocated for Close CircuitTelevision Cameras to be installed in Young’s Park.The main reason for this was to protect the area in general,but the swans in particular. For the 4 previous years our pairof beautiful Mute Swans had not produced any cygnets.In 2008 there was evidence that the eggs had beentampered with! Due to lack of evidence nothing happened.

Unfortunately their have been reports this year of dogs worryingthe swans and their cygnets. Some irresponsible dogs ownersunfortunately cannot control their pets. The CC TV is alwaysmonitoring the situation and will of cause be of assistance toany possible prosecution.

Now in 2012 the CC TV will be used to also ‘keep an eye’ on the new Bandstand.The performance area has an Infra-red Light that is activated by a Dusk to Dawn photo-electric cell. This enables the cameras to pick up all images; even in complete darkness.

CC TV

0795 2497364

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Moth surveyA moth survey was carried out in the conservation area on two separate evenings inAugust. Light traps were set up along the boardwalk by Brian Bewsher and Derekwho were undertaking the moth survey. On the first evening less moths than expect-ed were attracted to the traps, but this was put down to the fact that there had beentorrential rain just before the trapping started. However, a couple of localised moths,(Pyrausta despicata and Mythimna straminea) were noted along with a Notable B(Nationally scarce) and RDB3 species. The RDB stands for Red Data Book. A RedData Book contains lists of species whose continued existence is threatened. Speciesare classified into different categories of perceived risk and RDB3 means the speciesis categorised as rare. Over 50 species of moth were noted on the second trappingevening with two still waiting to be identified by the Devon Moth Recorder.

We do not do any work in this area between the months of Marchand September, as this is the nesting, breeding and rearing season.

It is indeed an offence to disturb the wildfowl during this time.

On Thursday the 1st September, Jack from igoMango and a coupleof volunteers were working away, once again managing the area.It is not parkland ~ it is primarily for the birds, insects & plants;and yes, for people to enjoy nature in a natural setting.

Amblyptiliaacanthadactyla

Social Events

Christmas Luncheon 2011The Weary Ploughman was the venue once againfor our Christmas Lunch. Just to be be different weheld our Xmas ”do” on 20th January ~ to avoidclashes with other Christmas activities.This worked very well and members again had awonderful meal, in excellent surroundings.

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Due to the unfortunate ill health of our social secretary, Carol Field, there was no Spring Dinner this year.Now that Carol is out of hospital and on the mend we will have an Autumn Dinner around September.

Newspaper reports

YPP have been most fortunate to receive valuable exposure viaour local newspaper the Herald Express in the last four years.

We have had various press releases published and articles byTina Crowson Digging Deep correspondent and Assistant EditorJim Parker.

13Jubilee Supplement 31 May 2012

5 Oct 2011

8th July 2011

29th Sep 2011

Acknowledgements

Torbay Council

Herald Express

All Young’s Park People

Photographs by:~

Rachel Blackwell Sue Hawkesworth Steve Gorman

© Young’s Park People

14 Penduline Tit Great Tit