Friends of Angel Meadow
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Last updated 11/04/21

News/ Archive

New to the area?
Looking to meet your neighbours and help support your community?
​
Friends of Angel Meadow are always keen to welcome new members to support all aspects of our work.

To send us a message please use our contact form or join our social media platforms. 

FOAM are collaborating with This Solid Ground Placemaking Company connected to the Meadowside developments to bring a series of community events to the park thought the year including Guided Walks, Morning Yoga and Dog Walkers Photography Sessions.

https://www.facebook.com/meadowsidemcr/

Send us your your ideas via our
 contact form. 

Members were concerned about development proposals for landscaping within and around the park that we felt were at odds with the historical restoration that has guided the group since 2004. MCC and the developer have now agreed to look again at those issues including retaining the Lowry Irk St entrance masonry and the surviving segment of St. Michael's Hall on Gould St. Thanks to those who help support our position.

Work attributable to recent s106 contributions has focussed on improving the lighting in the park with work completed in 2020.
Following completion of the developments surrounding the park, additional maintenance funding will allow maintenance improvements and restorations to be introduced- as discussed between FOAM and MCC. 

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Northwest in Bloom 
  • 2019 FOAM received an upgraded award of Silver Gilt- thriving in the "It's your Neighbourhood" Award. Thanks to all those who helped out.
  • 2018 ​FOAM received a Silver in the "Its your Neighbourhood" Award. 
  • 2017 FOAM received a Silver in the "Its your Neighbourhood" Award. Disappointing downgrade from last year but issues of grass maintenance and graffiti beyond our control impacted.
  • 2016 FOAM received a Silver Gilt- Thriving in the "It's your Neighbourhood" Award.​​

Great British Spring Clean 2019As part of the Keep Britain Tidy #GBSpringClean, FOAM Members did a wonderful job of litter-picking the park, adding new plants and repainting the metalwork.
Special thanks to MCC Neighbourhood team for assisting.

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Theatre in the Park 2018

In September, local theatre group 53two brought their wonderful contemporary telling of Shakespeare's Macbeth to Angel Meadow.
Hopefully the first of many such events as we look to develop the area as a destination venue for the arts.
Read a review here. 


Local History Month 2018
In May we revealed 31 fascinating daily facts on the history of Angel Meadow and the surrounding area. Search #LocalHistoryMonth on our Twitter and Facebook pages to discover them.

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Fields in Trust Award 2017

FOAM were thrilled to receive the inaugural  Friends of Park Group at an event held at the Lord's Cricket Ground in November.

Members travelled down to London for a guided tour of the ground followed by a lavish dinner and award ceremony hosted by Broadcaster Jackie Oatley MBE.

FOAM makes no greater boasts over the efforts of numerous Friends of Parks Groups across Manchester and indeed the country in preserving and enhancing their community spaces. Thank to all those who've participated since our formation in 2004 not least its founding committee members.


Significant new apartment development (as part of the NOMA scheme) surrounding Angel Meadow was passed by MCC- with work began Spring 2017 with Plots 2, 3 & 5 due to be completed by 2022. Plot 4 TBC. 
Plans can be viewed here.

FOAM will seek to engage with the developers to ensure the final phase of regeneration delivers for the benefit of local residents but also respects the history and heritage of the park.
​

New residents will be subjected to a surcharge of £100 per unit which will be directed to upkeep of the park and surrounding estate. This should realise a maintenance budget of 75k p.a.- significantly improving on current funding.

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On Saturday 4th June 2016 FOAM curated a programme of walks and tours around Angel Meadow as part of Manchester Histories Festival and the Co-operative Sadler's Square hosted a history-themed music and food pop-up event.
Simon Buckley promoted his NotQuiteLight work and FOAM orchestrated a "Supper with the Dead" following the breakfast event held in April.
Many thanks to all those who participated and contributed

Full programme here.



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During 2015-2016, the area around Angel Meadow was photographed as part of the NotQuiteLight Project by Photographic Artist Simon Buckley. 

An exhibition weekend of images, tours and events took place in April 2016 with FOAM co-hosting a filmed dawn-break entitled "Breakfast with the Dead."


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WW1 Commemoration Snowdrop City 2014 in partnership with Manchester's National Trust: Gardener in Residence- Sean Harkin, FOAM have planted a snowdrop field in the park which re-emerge each Spring as a lasting legacy.
​
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1355839907680/

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Angel Meadow Memorial in Southern Cemetery

Recent work in the park revealed human remains in the lower section 
of the park- formerly the New Burial Ground. This was opened between 1789 and 1815.

The Oxford Archaeology report can be read here.
Those remains have now been re-interred in Manchester's Southern Cemetery in Plot NN963. Any bodies found within the park during future development will be transferred to this plot.
FOAM have now acquired the funding to provide a memorial for the grave.

Many thanks to the Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society for their generous contribution.
In Oct 2015 FOAM attended Southern Cemetery and planted a mixture of Spring/Summer bulbs and wildflower mix around the headstone to add a bit of colour to the plot.


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Our "Who do you think they were?" is now beginning to reveal stories. genealogy project in conjunction with the Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society The research is now stored in the new GENEALOGY page on the right hand menu.
The project was "Highly Commended" for the Manchester History Festival- Community History Award. We subsequently received a prize of £500 to expand the project and develop the information on the website.
Congratulations to all those involved!


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Phase Three Regeneration
PlanitIE design was passed in January without concession made to FOAM preferences. We are naturally disappointed at the lack of genuine engagement.
FOAM will continue to lobby for the next phase to be initiated but please contact your local Councillors & MP to ensure it proceeds swiftly and as promised.The budget for this work is £250,000 and is now nearing completion.
Join the debate at the FOAM Facebook page or e-mail FOAM with questions you would like addressing.
​Phase Two Regeneration
This project was completed in March 2014. Images can be seen here.
The works included:
  • Refurbishment of the Aspin Lane wall and railings and the reinstatement of the Aspin Lane steps for public use.
  • The clearance and securing of the St Michael's Place entrance along Aspin Lane to restrict access and unauthorised use.
  • Landscaping works - clearance and removal of vegetation along the Aspin Lane elevation and northern boundary, with an emphasis of bringing as much of the park back into managed use as possible and opening up site lines and improving natural surveillance.
  • Grass seeding of landscaped areas to ensure a manageable and easily maintainable space for users and additional tree planting where possible.


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A new set of records of baptisms, marriages and burials for the Greater Manchester area from 1500s to the 20th century has been published on-line at Ancestry.co.uk.
Manchester City Council have worked in partnership with Ancestry.co.uk to digitise the original registers and name index over 6,000,000 records.
The collections include the church registers for Anglican churches in the Diocese of Manchester, including Manchester Cathedral.  
http://www.ancestry.co.uk/


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Royal Geographical Society 'Discovering Britain' is a series of self-guided walks which encourage people to explore Britain's diverse landscapes.
They have produced over 20 walks so far including one called 'Slums, squalor and salvation'. This walk explores how religious organisations helped the poor in Victorian Manchester. St Michael's Flags and Angel Meadow Park feature on the route. There are two stops in the park and we also encourage people to read the excellent information boards. 
All the Discovering Britain walks are free, fun and easy to do. They come complete with a map, audio and written descriptions of the places of interest. Everything people need to enjoy the walks is at the website.
http://www.discoveringbritain.org/walks/region/north-west-england/manchester-victorian.html

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  • Home
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