Family Treasure Hunts in Marple Memorial Park

The Marple Branch of Julian Wadden Estate Agents worked with us to organise a Family Treasure Hunt in the park from 2015 until 2019.

The event is free to enter and money is raised by event sponsorship by local businesses, a raffle, with prizes also donated by local businesses, and donations from the public. It has grown in popularity each year since it began, raising £402 in 2015, £941 in 2016, £1,450 in 2017, £2,154 in 2018 and £2,807 in 2019 - a grand total of £7,644 prior to Covid19.

Unfortunately the Covid19 pandemic stopped plans for the 2020 Treasure Hunt in its tracks and we had an enforced 2 year break. In 2022, Friends of the Park relaunched the Treasure Hunt as part of their celebrations and commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Dedication of Marple Memorial Park over the weekend of 23rd and 24th July.

The 2022 event smashed records again, raising £3,957 towards our Outdoor Exercise Equipment Project and bring the grand total to an amazing £11,601!

Family Treasure Hunt 2023

2023 Family Treasure Hunt Sponsors & Supporters

7th Family Treasure Hunt in Marple Memorial Park: 27 May 2023

The Treasure Hunt was aimed at 3 to 11 year-olds with parents, grandparents or carers to assist as needed. The children hunted for clues and letters to reveal the two word phrase "Exercise Equipment" that would open the Treasure Chest for a share of the booty. We estimate that around 175 children took part and we received great feedback on the event!

Family Treasure Hunt 2023

We've waited a while to give a final total this year as one of our sponsors hasn't paid, but we can't chase them forever. So excluding that, the 2023 Family Treasure Hunt has raised a fantastic total of £3,575 for the park. This is made up of £2,867 in sponsorship from local businesses, which is a new record, and £708 raised on the day from the raffle, donations, Cake Sale, and Cards and Jewellery sales too. Our costs were £143 for 9Kg of chocolate coins, so a balance of £3,431 will benefit park projects.

Read more: Family Treasure Hunt 2023

Park Centenary Family Treasure Hunt

100th Birthday Treasure Hunt: 23 July 2022

The 6th Family Treasure Hunt in Marple Memorial Park

Following a 2 year gap Friends of the Park relaunched their Family Treasure Hunt to celebrate and commemorate 100 years since the park was dedicated to the community.

The Treasure Hunt was aimed at 3 to 11 year-olds with parents, grandparents or carers to assist as needed. The children hunted for clues and letters to reveal the two word phrase "Historical Pageant" that would open the Treasure Chest for a share of the booty. 223 programmes were handed out to an estimated 300+ children (many shared and did it together) and almost 8kg of chocolate coins were distributed to successful Treasure Hunters who returned with the answer. Almost everyone got it, so we'll have to make it harder next year!

Against expectations after a two-year break due to the pandemic, and the current financial climate, the 2022 Family Treasure Hunt has shattered previous records with an amazing total of £3,957 raised for the park. This was made up of £1,268 takings on the day from raffle, cake sale, face-painting and donations (including another £70 from The Coffee Bean Dream), plus £2,532 of sponsorship and £157 of income from booklets and handmade cards. Our costs were £286, mainly made up of Face Painting, which was sponsored by Hawk Green CC, and Chocolate Coins (partly sponsored by Julian Wadden). The balance of £3,671 will be added to the £10k already ring-fenced for Outdoor Exercise Equipment in the park.

Read more: Park Centenary Family Treasure Hunt

2019 Treasure Hunt

2019 Family Treasure Hunt Sponsors & Supporters

2019 Treasure Hunt

In 2019 the Family Treasure Hunt broke records again with an amazing total of £2,807 raised. This was made up of £572 takings on the day from the raffle, cake sale, face-painting and donations, plus £2,235 of sponsorship from local businesses. This year we invited along Coffee Bean Dream to provide refreshment - they donated £20 and a box of tasty Granola - and Funky Faces Manchester to offer a face painting service. The latter cost £110 from our total funds raised but 3 local businesses sponsored this specifically and £48 was donated in the Face Painting box, so we think it was well worth including. The balance of £2,697 will help with a number of projects in the park, so keep visiting to follow what we're getting up to.

Read more: 2019 Treasure Hunt

2018 Treasure Hunt

2018 Family Treasure Hunt Sponsors & Supporters

2018 Treasure Hunt Raffle Prizes

In 2018 the Family Treasure Hunt raised an amazing record-breaking total of £2,154. This was made up of £139 donations on the day, £308 raffle takings, £1,657 of sponsorship and £50+ donated via Local Giving. The money was put towards a new Ocean See-Saw for the Infants Play Area, the total cost of which was £5,570.

Read more: 2018 Treasure Hunt

2017 Treasure Hunt

2017 Family Treasure Hunt Sponsors & Supporters

2017 Treasure Hunt in Memorial Park

In 2017 the Family Treasure Hunt raised £1,450 for the park. This was made up of £146 donations on on the day, £289 raffle takings and £1,015 of local business sponsorship. This year the money went into our general fund and was used to pay for tools and maintenance materials, plants and seeds, repairs to the Jubilee Flowerbed in front of the library, our public liability insurance and several other minor administrative costs.

Read more: 2017 Treasure Hunt