Our Projects in Marple Memorial Park
The Friends of Marple Memorial Park have had amazing success with their projects in the park, thanks largely to the great support from local people, other voluntary organisations and the Marple business community. You can read more about these successes here.
Tree Sculpture
"Midnight the Owl" Tree Sculpture
Sadly the Tree Sculpture had to be removed in 2019 due to decay but here's the story of its creation
We hope to use it as inspiration for a new project when the world gets back to normal
In December 2006 the Friends were keen to develop a positive outcome after the demise of a large Copper Beech tree and arranged for sculptor Andrew Frost to provide them with a design using a nature and knowledge theme featuring animals and books. Local schools were consulted and children submitted ideas for the design and chose a name for the central owl character.
Over £3,000 worth of funding was raised, allowing Andrew to begin work at the Marple Locks Festival in July 2007. The main sculpture was completed later that summer and the ground sculptures soon after. Installation was delayed until the summer of 2008, when a joint launch with the Breathing Places Reading Circle behind the library was held in September 2008.
Coronation Bench
"Coronation Bench" for Queen's commemorative oak
In August 2005 the Friends learned that the oak tree next to the main path running through the park was planted as part of the Queen's Coronation celebrations in 1953. A plaque was fitted at the time but at some point during the intervening years this was lost.
Initially it was proposed to simply replace the missing plaque with a new one but the idea gradually developed into something more. Now it is possible sit and take in the tranquillity of a game of bowls, the bustle and activity of the skate park, the beauty of the ornamental trees and flowerbeds, the War Memorial and, on a clear day, the magnificent views of the distant hills, all from the comfort of our "Coronation Bench".