Park Life: 'We can’t thank you enough for support for Wicksteed Park'

Well, what can I say? The response from local people after the Wicksteed Charitable Trust asked for your help and support has been truly outstanding.

The love that so many people have shown for Wicksteed Park over the past few weeks is something that will stay with me forever.

From the volunteers who have helped to make the park look so lovely again after months of closure and inactivity due to Covid-19, to the many, many fundraisers, your efforts have been truly remarkable.

So many people have helped in so many ways that it would be impossible to list them all here, but a special mention does need to go out to Damien Cox, or Big Bopper as many of you know him.

He has helped galvanise the fund-raising effort as well as educate people about the unique history and heritage of the park. His regular podcasts on the Big Bopper Entertainment Facebook page have been compelling viewing for many thousands of us over the last few weeks.

One thing is for sure, all the money you have raised, along with the emergency grant of £247,000 given to us by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, will help to safeguard the park’s future.

The fact that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has supported us at this crucial time provides a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of everyone.

Another important thing to come out of this situation is that people have learned more about how the park operates and is funded.

It is not, as in many, many other areas of the country, a municipal park, owned by the local authority and maintained with the help of people’s council taxes.

It is owned by a charity and, as with other charities, the charity needs ongoing support from fund-raisers and donations in order to flourish.

Traditionally the Trust has not had that, but it has now, and long may that continue.

The new company running the park, funded by the Trust, is a much streamlined business aimed at getting the park through to next spring when it can hopefully reopen fully.

I know it is working hard to determine how things could operate in the short-, medium- and long-term and, although I understand it is frustrating that things are moving slowly, we are all grateful for your continued patience and support.