As we mentioned during our live updates from Tuesday 16th August PACT meeting, Steve Male (who we incorrectly named as Steve Hale at the meeting) from Wolverhampton City Council Parks department was there to talk about the use of the parks in Wednesfield and asked if anyone would be willing to fill in an on-line survey.

We now have all the details and if you have 2 minutes to fill in this short (very short) 5 question survey I’m sure Wilf  the Park Ranger would be grateful.

The park survey can be found here.

You can read updates from Wilf and find out more about the work the park rangers do on the Wolves Parks blog “Wilf’s World”

Wednesfield North Police Team and Fatty’s Bait & Tackle shop are holding a fishing competition to mark National Fishing Month this August.

The event which takes place from 10am – 2pm on August 5th will offer over £100 in prizes.

Where? Casltebridge to Broad Lane South canal, meeting at the canal side for 9:15am for drawing of pegs and time to set up.

How? Bait will be provided free of charge by Fatty’s Fishing Tackle and a rod licence will be provided for the day by British Waterways.

What? You will need: rod, reel keep net, landing net and any other tackle.

First prize: £50 tackle voucher for Fatty’s
Second place: 8ft pole
Third place: £30 Fatty’s tackle voucher

Registration is required by no later than Wednesday 27 July, click here to download an entry form which you can print off.

All forms to be returned to Fatty’s Tackle shop, Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Park (bottom shops). You will be notified by phone by 3 August if you have been chosen to take part.

We’ve just spotted in the Essington Fruit Farm Newsletter:

At last the pick-your-own season has started!

We have lots of lovely strawberries, the recent rains have swollen them nicely and plenty are now ripening up. Other fruit crops will soon follow: gooseberries may be picked now but will benefit from a week or two to grow some more, raspberries and currants should be ready by the end of the month.

We also have lots of fresh vegetables ready now: cabbage and broccoli are ready at the moment, with caulis not far behind. We have beetroot, lettuce and sugar peas ready now, with traditional garden peas coming on shortly. Spinach is just starting.

Log on to our website to see our Summer Newsletter!

We look forward to seeing you regularly as you make the most of summer on the farm.

Best wishes from,

Richard, Mary and Will
Essington Fruit Farm

Ashmore Park Rangers JFC started out as the Victory Youth Club back in 2001. In 2002 the under 9′s then became Danesmore Casual Youth before finally forming Ashmore Park Rangers in 2003. In 2004 the club gained a Charter Standard and in 2006 were awarded Charter Standard club of the year and accredited Walsall Council Club Standard Award. In 2009 the club were awarded FA Development Club status, and have hosted APR Soccer 7′s Tournament which have proved to be a great success at Wolverhampton United FC.

APR have now grown into a substantial club with teams entered in at Under 7′s, 8′s, 9′s, 10′s, 11′s, 12′s, 13′s, 14′s, 15′s, 16′s and 17′s. After forming a partnership with with Wolverhampton United the club are now based at the Wolverhampton United Football grounds on Prestwood Road, Wolverhampton. The Rangers regulary train at the grounds and play home matches (in the Walsall and Bilston league) on a well maintained pitch and train week nights at several venues in the local area in the winter.

If you’d like to find out more about Ashmore Park Rangers JFC, please visit their website.

It’s also the time of the year that the events calendar fills with Christmas parties and family visits, but if you still have some time to fill there are one or two things going on that are easy to get to and fun for all the family. We’ve put together a list of just SOME of the fun…

• Tuesday 8th December – Ashmore Park Choir, St Thomas’ Church
• Thursday 11th December, 5pm – 5.30pm, Santa’s coming to town Wolverhampton Town Centre
• Friday12th December to 31st January -  Grand Theatre, Cinderella
• Sunday 13 December 2009 – Christmas Craft Session at Bantock Park
• Wednesday 16th – 20th December, Arena Theatre, The Snow Queen
• Sunday 20 December 2009 – Christmas Craft Session at West Park
• Sunday 20th December, 10am – 4pm (parade 12 noon – 12.30pm)  – Father Christmas Charity Parade
• Tuesday 22 December 2009 – Wreath Making, Smestow Valley
• Tuesday 22 December 2009 – Winter Solstice, Smestow Valley
• Wednesday, 26 December 2009 – Boxing Day Walk, Northycote Farm.

For more information please contact the relevant places/organisations.

If you know of an event that you’d like us to add to the list, drop us an email or call/text 07855 409 319.

Friday afternoon saw over 200 local residents fill Wednesfield High Street outside St Thomas’ Church for the annual Christmas lights switch on.

The festivities included a choir service with performances from several local schools, a visit from Father Christmas who gave out sweets and raffle tickets and a speech from Wolverhampton’s Mayor, Councillor Surjan Singh Duhra.

Around 4:30pm Apprentice star and Wednesfield native Ruth Badger took to the stage to switch the lights on. Commenting on how she’d once watched the lights being switched on whilst sitting in the Job Centre down the road, Ruth whipped the crowd into a frenzy for the countdown to the switch on. Watch our video above to see the countdown!

The event begins at 3:30pm with the lights being switched on at around 4:30pm.

Is it time to put your decorations up?

Danesmore Diamonds Football Club was formed in 1999 and is based on Ashmore Park, Wednesfield. The Club was originally founded in 1991 as Danesmore Casuals, the initial team being formed from pupils at the former Danesmore Park Primary School.

The team which plays in red, black and white is an F.A. Charter Standard Club and competes in the Walsall Junior Youth Charter Standard Football League. Their sponsor is ‘The Spread Eagle’, (Marston’s Inns & Taverns), Broad Lane South, Wednesfield, WV11 3SD and at present they have two age groups; Under 12’s and Under 14’s.

Home games are currently played at Northwood Park in Bushbury, although the club would love to be able to play at a school in the WV11 area! Coaching sessions are held on Wednesday nights for the Under 12’s squad & on Thursday nights for the Under 14’s and are held at Our Lady & St. Chad Sports College, Old Fallings Lane, Busbury; Under 12’s: 7-8pm & Under 14’s, 6-7pm, both sessions being under floodlights.

The Club, who have five licensed F.A.Coaches are always on the look-out for new players from WV11 schools and a ‘taster’ session, which is FREE, is open to all prospective new players.

For further information, please contact Club Secretary, Charlie Hooper on 01902-838570 or 07905 440312.

Charlie will also be providing us with weekly match reports from now on.

Danesmore Diamonds Links:

www.wjyl.co.uk (latest fixtures & results)
www.thefa.com (all the latest news from the F.A)
www.4thegame.com (Premiership & Coca-Cola League results)
www.marstonstaverns.co.uk (Fancy a bite to eat in WV11?)

Sessions run on Sundays and begin on the 8th November for 7 weeks. Discounts are available for siblings and families.

For more information download a PDF flyer here, or call Tom Hole on 07809 397 160.

We were recently sent a Tweet on Twitter (or perhaps it was a Chirp!?) by the West Midlands Bird Club asking us if any of our readers had spotted any interesting birds.

The club, who’s Twitter profile says they have been “Serving birdwatchers & ornithologists in the four English counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the Metropolitan West Midlands since 1929″ are asking people to report details of birds they have seen in the region.

To find out how to report your findings, visit the Club’s website.

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