LAZY FRIDAY: WHAT WYTHENSHAWE PARK HAS TO OFFER

Wythenshawe Park in Manchester – a park in the middle of the town. It has 275 acres of magnificent landscape.

There are a wide range of facilities in the park:

•    Athletics Track
•    Bowls
•    Children’s Play Area
•    Crazy Golf
•    Horse Riding
•    Tennis Courts
•    Community Farm

Wythenshawe Community Farm is a registered charity and was established in 1984.

Children have a wonderful opportunity to learn about where food comes from and witness the busyness of a working farm.

A large assortment of farm animals including cows, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and horses. The farm also has an extensive breeding programme – this means at varying times of the year young animals can be seen.

Visitors to the farm can get involved by sponsoring an animal.

Events in the Park from June – September

•    Health Walks on Tuesdays 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
•    Brass Band on the first Sunday of each month 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm
•    Wythenshawe Hall opens for the summer, with a brand new exhibition – ‘A Park for the People’.
•    Woodcarving in the Park
•    Tales and Tours
•    Peter Pan Outdoor Theatre
•    Children’s Craft and Storytelling Drop-Ins
•    The Magic Garden
•    A Park for the People Memory Trail

Historical Information on Wythenshawe Park

From the late 1300’s, Wythenshawe descended through the Tatton family, who lived at Wythenshawe Hall.  The most dramatic incident in the Tatton’ long history was over the winter of 1643 – 44 when the site was attacked by Cromwell’s parliamentarian soldiers during the Civil War.

Robert Tatton a Royalist kept the Hall in a state of defence but surrendered on February 27th 1644 after two cannons were brought from Manchester.

By 1830, a number of fields around the Hall were opened to create an area of parkland.

In 1926 the hall and parkland was bought by Lord and Lady Simon at a time when the City Council was developing Wythenshawe as ‘The Garden City’, providing new housing for families being moved out of the then deprived areas of the city.

It was given to the city, ‘to be kept forever as an open space for the people of Manchester,’ and was intended for the recreational use of people living on the newly built nearby Wythenshawe Housing Estate.

Since that time the park has been a place of recreation, learning and enjoyment for the people of Manchester.

Education Programme

The Park Wardens are friendly and experienced and offer a variety of environmental – based activities which can either simply be for enjoyment or as part of a programme of learning for the National Curriculum.

Activities can include tours and planting sessions in the Horticultural Centre, to woodland exploring and orienteering.

Visits can be tailor made to suit and cost £1.50 per child.  For bookings etc call Phillipa Lloyd on 0161 998 2117.

For Manchester Schools Only

A Tudor Workshop is currently available at Wythenshawe Hall on Mondays.  This is FREE.

For more information please contact the Development Officer on 0161 998 2117.

Stop to Eat at the Courtyard Tea Room

The newly refurbished tearoom in the Courtyard is now open.

Throughout the Winter, a careful and imaginative restoration programme converted the historic former stables block into a comfy and spacious café.  Where you can enjoy a range of hot and cold beverages and snacks.

Opening hours are:  Weekends and School Holidays – 10.00 am – 3.30 pm.

The café can be hired for private functions. For further information call
0161 998 5083.

Put Wythenshawe Park on your list of ‘place to go this summer.’

Eva