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Parkgate Society Interpretation Boards published their Delivery Report!6 months ago
Delivered 15 March 2023
Impact data and claims within this report are provided by the project creator and have not been independently verified by Spacehive.
Installation of interpretation boards and maps promoting heritage of Parkgate, a coastal community with largely unknown historic social, cultural, industrial heritage, and associated country walks.
To further promote the understanding of the historical and cultural background which produced this unique resort and to encourage visitors and residents alike to enjoy the facilities that Parkgate and the neighbouring countryside has on offer. This will be through the provision of additional Heritage Trail interpretation boards and walking maps in key areas outlining in particular the Parkgate Fishing Industry, Ship Building and Ferries, the Ropewalk Garden and its associated railway history, the Old Baths and village history. The provision of historical boards will provide education and learning opportunities particularly for children, young people, and families. The Heritage Trail provides a linear walk which will promote health and well-being, encouraging people to investigate the area further. The proposed maps will detail the Heritage trail walk along with the footpaths and cycling routes that link in with The Wirral Way, enabling people to explore the surrounding countryside.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
To install fun and informative interpretation boards throughout Parkgate on a linear route where anyone from families and young people can enjoy a free activity based walk from board to board finding out about historic Parkgate and equally what current Parkgate has to offer. An example of an existing interpretation board of the Bat Box is shown below. The objectives are to educate the public on these various industries and other activities which once took place here and shaped the present form of the village and to present the information in a way that will increase the footfall in the village and benefit local business. The information will also be accessible to children and schools as an educational facility. It is hoped that the outcomes will include benefit to the health, well-being and education of those who take advantage of the offer, whether it be through a greater appreciation of Parkgate’s heritage or through use of the many local footpaths or cycle-ways.
Steps to get it done:
This is a project to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Parkgate Society created in 1972 and to achieve some of the aims of its "Vision for Parkgate" - more details of which can be found on the Society's website www.parkgatesociety.co.uk. It is a registered Charity Number 503718. A very rough estimate for the provision of suitable boards for this location, together with the cost of artwork, plus a bench, could be in the area of £12,000 but depends largely on installation costs yet to be established. Officers of Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) are assisting with producing the necessary costs and permissions. This project adds to the interpretation boards and seats already installed in partnership with CWaC when the Donkey stand was re-developed, planters (re-planted twice annually by the Society), the boat Hi C at the middle slip, the entry sign to the village and boards at the Ropewalk car park
Gallery
Journey
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We would like to share this press release with you and once again many thanks for your support. Community project brings history of Parkgate to life. Cheshire West and Chester Council has worked with the Parkgate Society and SpaceHive, the community funding platform, on a project to bring the history of Parkgate to life for visitors. This week will see information boards erected around the village providing residents and visitors with information about its past and present. The seven boards, which were funded by pledges from residents and businesses via Cheshire West Crowd Fund, follow a linear route covering the whole of the Parade. The boards tell the story of Parkgate, including its shipbuilding heritage, the impact of the railways, connections with the fishing industry, rope making, famous residents and the Old Baths. The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “The new boards look wonderful and it’s so good to see a true community project come to fruition. “On every board our designers have ‘hidden’ a little ships wheel for children to find – it’s actually the logo for the Parkgate Society, which is a lovely touch.” Derick Cotton, Treasurer of the Parkgate Society said: “Through this project the Parkgate Society set out to enhance the visitor experience and to provide easy access to the rich heritage that Parkgate village has to offer, and we are delighted we achieved our funding target. “The Society is extremely grateful for the encouragement and support provided by the members and officers of Cheshire West and Chester Council and to the long list of community supporters, including Neston Town Council.” The success of this project has encouraged the Parkgate Society to launch a further crowd funding project and has now raised sufficient funds for an ambitious and accessible viewing platform at the Old Baths area, due completion later this year.
Hello, It has taken time, but we are now well on the way to producing the designs of the new boards. This board will feature in the Ropewalk Car Park ad designs for the others should now follow quickly. We feel that the wait has been very worthwhile, and we hope, like us, you are pleased with the result.
We have been very strongly encouraged to apply for a second Spacehive project to enhance the visitor experience at Parkgate. This will clear an overgrown area at the Old Baths site and provide an easily accessible viewing platform for all, but particularly for those with mobility issues in mind. It also removes an area susceptible to anti-social activities. This is a much-reduced version of a scheme that has been around for a number of years, and we have taken it over from, but with the strong support of, our council. It provides all of the original essential items, but still comes with a significant price tag. So, we do need as much support as we can get and invite you to take a look at it at www.spacehive.com/parkgate-society-viewing-platform As before this is "an all or nothing" venture so we do need to reach our total or it fails. If so, all pledges are returned to backers. So many thanks if you feel that you can help - and even better if you can share it with your family and friends.
Hello all, Once again, many thanks for your support. Work proceeds behind the scenes on finalising our designs, with enormous and greatly appreciated help from colleagues in Cheshire West and Chester Council. We have been a little delayed in trying to find source files for photographs such that the quality is good enough for printing. We exceeded our target budget and along with some other donations, we have been able to extend the scope of the project to develop an area at the entrance to the Old Baths Car Park area. There we plan to plant some trees, shrubs and two seats along with the new noticeboard and plaque to mark our Golden Anniversary. We hope to complete the work in coming weeks. In the meantime, we are now looking at further ways of enhancing the visitor experience to Parkgate and particularly at the Old Baths area. If you have not seen it already a new pond has been excavated on the marshes just to the north of the car park, and we are looking into creating an accessible viewing platform to make the most of experiencing the wildlife already populating their new abode. If we do proceed, we will again be seeking your support for what we believe to be a very worthwhile crowd funding project, and especially for those with mobility needs.
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
Whoop, 70 people have pledged since fundraising began!
Hello everyone and many, many thanks for your support to date. We were especially excited to hear of two recent and unexpected pledges - one from the now famous Jackie Weaver, and a second significant pledge from our colleagues at Cheshire West and Chester Council. This means that our target is now well in sight - with £353 left to find and the people willing to pledge to the project. Our project remains part of our larger ambitions to enhance the visitor experience to this the only seaside resort in Cheshire and any extra money raised will help us add to our promotion of information detailing the rich Parkgate Heritage. So if you know of friends able to help us to reach - and possibly exceed - our .target, we and the Parkgate community will be most grateful.
How will the money be spent?Total £7,411
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Overfunding
This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:
Total £7,411
Our Volunteer List
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VolunteerParkgate Society is a registered Charity and was formed in 1972 (celebrating 50th Anniversary) for the public benefit of the area including:
a. to stimulate public interest in the area
b. To promote high standards of planning and architecture across the area.
c. To secure the preservation, protection,development and improvement of buildings and features of historic or public interest across the area.
d. To promote and encourage any activities or enterprise that tends to the benefit of Parkgate or its people.
Today the Society has a growing membership which stands at 292 from 185 households, with further potential members applications in process.
The Society (Registered Charity 503718) is governed under a constitution approved by the Charity Commision with a team of 10 Trustees.
Principle activities include:
a. Monthly meetings of Trustees to identify and progress events and activities and scrutinising ongoing planning applications especially involving the Parkgate Conservation area.
b. A programme of monthly talks of subjects of local interest, generally by acclaimed locally based speakers. Recent talks despite the Covid crisis have been attended by between 50 and 70 members.
c. Monthly litter sweeps and general tidying including weeding by teams of volunteer members.
d. An ambition to deliver the tasks and projects identified in the Society's "A Vision for Parkgate". This vision includes installation of interpretation boards along with informative maps detailing areas of heritage interest along with local walks along the coast and the nearby Wirral Way.
e. In all of the above to work with officers and elected members of local authorities - Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) and Neston Town Council. This also includes providing local inputs to projects first identified by the local authorities.
f. The Society also has provided planters for the area and funds the seasonal re-planting twice per year.
g. Sponsoring musical events as part of the Neston Music Festival.
Project Owner: Parkgate Society The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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