Picnic in the Park, 2015

This year's Picnic in the Park takes place on Sunday, September 6 (2-5pm). We don't even need to check the long range forecast to know what the weather will be like then - the kids are back at school and that can only mean one thing .... BLAZING SUNSHINE!

What to expect? The usual mix of novelty events, puppet show, obstacle races and other sporting fun, arts and crafts, a bit of circus fun (stilt walking, juggling, fire-breathing), live music and DJ ...

However, the one thing that makes this day really special is you! You and the kids. You and the kids and the picnic. You will meet friends, share a laugh and treat yourself to a 99.

And the sun will shine and shine.

Council Agrees to Upgrade Redmond Park

At it's most recent monthly meeting Wexford District Council voted in favour of allocating funds for the upgrading of Redmond Park. A motion on the matter was proposed by Councillor Fergie Kehoe. Here is what the Councillor had to say following the meeting:

"I'd like to thank my colleagues on Wexford District Council for unanimously supporting the two motions I tabled at the Borough District Council meeting today ..... The first motion was that we would proceed with the original public park at Carcur , to include a plantation of Irish Trees , Walkway & Cycle Track and also an Amenity Area ..... The second motion was that the Council would upgrade Redmond Park in Wexford Town , to include Toddler Swings , facilities for Teens and Elderly including those with disabilities and also if possible to Reinstate the Pond , this I believe would increase the usage of the Park , especially with the new safe access form the new car park on Hill Street ..... I feel also I should give a mention to Love Redmond Park , who do tremendous work that is really appreciated."

Well done Councillor Fergie! Now we have to meet the Council and agree on exactly what works are going to be done.

When you hear the tree mulcher you know Christmas is well and truly past

Great to see so many Christmas trees brought to the park for shredding. The shredding will produce nice mulch for the town's flowerbeds. The mulch helps to retain moisture in the soil and to suppress weeds.

Christmas Day at Redmond Park

Christmas Eve at Redmond Park

I click the lock shut on the park gates. It's 11.30pm Christmas Eve night and all is quiet. Just as it was a hundred years ago on the western front in the so-called Great War. In 1914 soldiers on both sides put aside their guns, left their trenches and came together to exchange Christmas greetings and gifts. Imagine such a beautiful thing happening in such a brutal war. Major Willie Redmond died in that war. On this day of birth and renewal let us remember him and all the Irish fallen of that terrible war.

A deputation from Ireland visits the grave of Major Redmond at Locre, 21 September 1917. 

http://time.com/3643889/christmas-truce-1914

Redmond Park on the Web

http://wexfordhub.com/places/redmond-park
http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=WX&regno=15500051
http://irishwalledtownsnetwork.ie/page/wexford/plan-your-day
http://www.wexfordboroughcouncil.ie/CouncilMatters

LRP and Council Meet to Discuss Improvements at Redmond Park

We met recently with the Council to discuss ways in which the park might be improved. Now just because we had this discussion does not mean that the matters raised are going to bring forth action on all fronts! However, if we can make some of them happen and nudge some of the others a little along the way we will be making progress.

Installation of a mains water point in the park. There is presently no drinking water available in the park.

Installation of a power point on the playground side of the park (including an upgrading of the existing power supply to 3 phase).

Installation of new multilingual tree signage in the park - A community artist has slate signage painted, yacht-varnished and ready to install. Council to ensure that all bases are sound and to assist us in replacing old signs with these new ones.

Landscaping around toilet - Volunteers have placed bark mulch around the base meaning that there is now much less risk of trips. It also looks much better. Would benefit from planting of some shrubs.

Installation of double display panel near entrance with one panel for history and one for nature/biodiversity.

Removal of one bin and replacing of other (near entrance) with larger segregated bin (dry recyclable and non-recyclable waste – our volunteers to take and store the former in a green bin in the lockup area).

Adult exercise equipment - Install small exercise circuit near front of the park with items sufficiently robust and easy to maintain. Move existing adult exercise items to the location chosen for the exercise circuit.

Security and lock-up - Matter of opening and closing of the park gates by Council personnel to be looked at as it has been very inconsistent over the past year.

Under this heading we also discussed the proposed new entrance to the park from Dr Furlong’s carpark. We also discussed the possibility of formalising access from Parklands. The former proposal is a good thing … and it’s potentially a bad thing: good in that it provides safe (and ample) off-road parking, possibly not so good in that given the inconsistency in locking/unlocking the park’s gates at present, one cannot but be concerned that there will soon be two gates suffering from this inconsistency (3 if a gate goes in at the Parklands corner). A gated entrance from Parklands would help better secure the park after lock-up. It is recommended that any new gated entrances into the park have time-controlled locks.

Medium to longer term improvements at Redmond Park

Engaging a horticultural expert to appraise the present status of the park and advise on how we might proceed with redesigning it.

Pond - Take expert advice on redesigning the old pond area – look at retaining some of existing wet areas, developing a pond smaller than the original, re-opening the open canal or French drain for overflow from the pond.

Drainage - The park has very poor drainage with surplus water running down paths and accumulating in playground and other areas. This may de-stabilise the front wall and some of the big trees. It may also present an ice risk in cold weather. Look at old maps and see can we use the original drainage system to minimise surface water.

Playground - The idea solution would be a new playground. Probably not going to happen in the near future. In short term install a toddler’s swing (much requested by public). Constant pooling of water in the playground during bad weather requires that power washing is required here at least twice yearly. Ultimately, the playground should be replaced.

‘Teens’ Area - Install picnic tables x 2 adjacent to the toilet (ie away from the playground and visible from the road). Hopefully teenagers will adopt this area.

War Memorial - Consider installing an artist-designed war memorial in the park, possibly through a competition.

Land adjacent to park at Parkland corner - Call a public meeting to discuss the best use of this land.

Old Caretaker’s Hut (ruin) - We discussed possibilities for this space. For now the front and side walls to be taken down by a couple of feet so that the area can be used as a raised flowerbed.

Community Garden - not actually discussed but something we have added to our list.

And the prize goes to ...

Let's Bee Friendly!

Coppicing

We recently carried out some coppicing of hazel trees in the old pond area. This process involves cutting the trees back to 4-6 inches from the ground. The trees grow back with the process being repeated again in 6-7 years. The major benefit from coppicing is to open up the ground to sunlight so that growth at that level is encouraged. This brings on a greater degree of biodiversity. The bulk of the hazel rods have gone to the National Heritage Park where they will be used for woven fencing and walls. The area in which the hazel trees are situated was formerly part of the old park pond. We brought the Council Engineer to the park last week to discuss options for restoring the pond. It is one of the features that visitors to the park miss most.  We encourage you to explore this corner of the park on your next visit. One thing we are sure of: kids love it!

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/many-uses-hazel-sticks

World War 1 and John Redmond Walking Tour of Wexford

Wexford Walking Tours now has a new tour of the town which pays homage to two famous sons of Wexford, John and Willie Redmond, and the men of Wexford who fought in the great war. The tour takes in the site of the American Airbase in Wexford, the Redmond Monument, The Redmond mausoleum in John St, Redmond Park and the Harry Clarke window in Bride Street church. Redmond Park was established in the 1930s to commemorate the Redmond Family. The Redmonds were hugely important on the political front in the 19th and early 20th centuries, laying the groundwork for a self-governed Ireland. While the 1916 Rising and the troubled years that followed removed them from centre-stage just as home rule was in touching distance, their legacy is now finally being given the attention it merits.

Details of the WW1 and Redmond walking tour can be found at http://www.wexfordwalkingtours.net. Alternatively you can phone Monica - 086 1079497.

Leaf composting in Redmond Park

Did you know that we have leaf composting bays in Redmond Park? A master composter came to Wexford last year, invited by the Council and Wexford Tidy Towns, to give guidance and to get us on our way. The bays were built and they took their first consignment of leaves last Autumn. They have not, alas, received as much TLC over the past year as they might have. A recent poke around through the decomposing mounds showed that those collecting and depositing the leaves last year also, unwittingly, deposited loads of litter. As a result we have been carefully going through them to remove said litter. This exercise is also giving us an opportunity to tidy up the bays as, with leaves now dropping in ever greater numbers, we will need two bays completely free for incoming deliveries. By next Summer we should have lovely leaf mold available for the municipal flowerbeds. We can also use it for potting in place of the commercially available peat-based compost. And that's a good for the environment!
The two images give some indication of the before and after - one is full of the divil and all, the other is simply decomposing leaves.