Diamond Jubilee Project
Separately, another member felt it would be a good idea to invite the local college's Horticultural Department and Students to get involved with hands-on work in the park and set the wheels in motion to see if this could be arranged.
These two independent ideas have since metamorphosed into a brand new community project to refurbish the rundown flowerbed in front of the library, turning it into something much more interesting as a permanent display to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year of 2012.
About the Project
The Diamond Jubilee Project began in late 2011 as a collaboration between Friends of Marple Memorial Park and Cheadle and Marple College's Horticultural Department to commemorate the 2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee in the park. The project is supported by the Council's Parks and Recreation team, the borough's Library Services and Marple Area Committee.
Planning Permission
Unfortunately, quite late on in the project's development, the council advised us that full planning permission is needed before we can proceed with any of the work. This was a technical challenge for us as the planners required detailed drawings, a Design Access Statement and even dimensions of the proposed lectern display panel and the optional bench before they would validate our application. After much toing and frowing, our planning application was eventually registered on 17 April 2012. This can now be found on the Council's Planning Portal by searching for DC/049546.
The expected decision date for the application is 12 June 2012, which is after the Jubilee weekend. Because of this we have had to revise our plans to have the first phase of the project completed in time for the main Jubilee Celebrations. This is very disappointing to everyone involved but we cannot risk spending money that would be wasted if planning permission is refused, or if particular constraints are imposed upon the project. We have therefore decided to wait for the planning decision before proceeding with the landscaping works or starting the sculpture and the project will be finished when it's finished!
Fantastic Financial Help and Support
Thanks to fantastic community support the financial situation is much better news and contributions towards the project have been received from the Macnair Trust (£600), The Marple Website (£1,000), Friends of Memorial Park (£1,000), Marple Bridge and Mellor U3A Gardening Group (£25), Marple Local History Society (£500), Marple Civic Society (£500), Cheadle & Marple College (£300), Marple Business Forum (£100) and Marple Area Committee (£1,000). We are currently waiting to learn the outcome of a grant application to Stockport Homes for a further £1,000 and you can help us win this by voting on-line. Please visit the Marple Website Forum for detailed links and instructions on how to do that.
The money we need..
The costs for the project (including 10% contingency) are:
- Phase 1 - £5,945 - Planning fees, landscape works, sculpture, plants and notice board refurbishment.
- Phase 2 - £880 - Lectern display panel explaining the project.
- Optional - £1,650 - Bespoke metal bench.
So far a total of £5,275 has been raised, which leaves us £670 short of our Phase 1 target.
If the Stockport Homes grant application is successful it will cover this and also get us well on the way towards funding the lectern display panel too. At the moment it looks like we will not be able to afford the bespoke metal bench but we won't give up on that just yet and if you can help, please get in touch.
Concept Design
The Concept Design was produced by the college's Tatton Show award-winning Horticultural Department lecturer Rebecca Knowles. Rebecca's design is inspired by the Queen's Coronation in 1953 and in particular by the Orb and Crown Jewels, the Cosmati Pavement in Westminster Abbey and the incredible Illumination structures along the Mall.
The college's Horticultural Department normally enter the Tatton Show but this year they are so enthused by the Diamond Jubilee Project in our park that they are forgoing Tatton so that they can give it their full commitment.
The concept design for the new flower bed display comprises of four main elements with an optional fifth:
Raised Border
A raised border in hard landscape materials laid with mosaic corners to hint at the Cosmati Pavement. The long sides may be carved with an inscription to commemorate the jubilee and would be a permanent part of the bed.
Elevated Sculpture
It is planned to engage metal art sculptor Wayne Chaisty to create this element of the project. As many local people will know, Wayne did the circular Coronation Bench in the park, the locks display on Oldknow Gardens and the Nativity sculpture that is featured on Market Street each Christmas, so he has a fantastic track record locally.
Flower Bed Planting
The raised rectangular bed will be planted in blues, purples, silvers and whites with red as an accent colour. The layout will be designed as a detailed mosaic with stars and other devices in jewel colours with white and red highlights. Green will be used as a background colour. The plants have been specified and will be grown on and planted by the college's Horticultural Students.
Interpretation Panel (Phase 2)
We also plan to install an interpretation panel to explain how the bed came into being and acknowledge the community contributions that helped it to happen. This will be done after the display is established so that it can include photos of the work in progress, the planting and pictures of it in full bloom during the summer.
Commemorative Bench (Optional)
Finally, we would also like to install a bench commemorating events and achievements that have taken place during the 60 years of the Queen's reign that will allow visitors to sit and enjoy the sights and scents of the garden. Wayne has provided us with a design for the bench but this element of the project is optional and will depend on whether we can raise enough money to pay for it. Maybe it could be added later if funds are not immediately available.
