The residents of Ashmore Park are planning a family fun day to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.

Tuesday 5th June 2012

The event will be held on Tuesday 5th June 2012 at St. Alban’s School and a programme of events is in the process of being arranged.

So far planned events include: a Bouncy castle, Children’s Fancy Dress Competition, Bands, Sports events (for all ages) and a Community Art Piece which all can be involved that will be displayed in Ashmore Park Library. There’s much, much more planned, including Ice Cream, Burger and Candy Floss vans on site.

Family Tea Party

During the afternoon we will be holding a family tea party (bring or purchase your own food), tables and chairs will be provided along with Tea, Coffee and soft drinks free of charge.

Entry will be free

The fun day will be free and everyone on the estate is invited, so please come along and join in the fun!

Get involved!

Residents are hoping to make it day to remember, so if you’d like to help with the planning, or can offer help on the day please contact any of the following:

Ashmore Park Community Centre – 01902 552490
St Alban’s School – 01902 558825
St Alban’s Church – 01902 732317
WV11.co.uk – 07855 409 319 / info@wv11.co.uk

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Whilst you may have heard this morning that the 2012 Olympic Torch will be visiting Dudley, won’t you probably won’t have heard is that the torch will also be coming to Wolverhampton!

Wolverhampton will play host to the Torch as it makes it’s way to London for the 2012 Olympic Games next summer.

Torch in Wolverhampton 30th June, 2012

The city has been chosen to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay route on the afternoon of Saturday June 30, 2012, giving Wolverhampton residents the opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame to the region.

It is hoped that people will line the streets of the city and take part in a series of special events which will be held as the Torchbearers carry the Olympic flame through Wolverhampton.

Street-by-street detail of the route will be confirmed next year (here’s hoping Wednesfield will be on the route!), but it has been confirmed that the torch will visit the city on its way through the Black Country.

Wolverhampton is one of more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced today (Monday November 7, 2011) by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by 8,000 Torchbearers.

Fitting tribute to sporty Wulfrunians

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: “Over the years Wolverhampton has produced many sportsmen and women who have represented the city on the national and international stage, and it is fitting tribute to them, and to Wolverhampton, that the Olympic Torch will be coming to the city next year.

“Although the 2012 Olympics is based in London, it will truly be a national event for everyone in the country to celebrate, and it’s great that Wolverhampton will be playing its part, not only on the sporting field but also by hosting a wide variety of events and activities during the Games and, of course, welcoming the Olympic Torch procession to the city.”

He added: “We hope as many people as possible will be able to join in the events which we will be staging around the city on June 30th.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: ‘We are thrilled to confirm that Wolverhampton will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame and to extend an invitation to people in the area to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK.

“This is the UK’s moment to shine and I want to encourage people across Wolverhampton to start planning how they can be part of this once in a lifetime opportunity and show their support for the inspirational Torchbearers chosen to carry the Olympic Flame as we count down to the start of the Olympic Games.”

David Moorcroft, West Midlands for 2012 Chair, added: “What fantastic news for the residents of Wolverhampton that they will have their opportunity to welcome the Olympic Flame on June 30.

“We encourage communities to start thinking now about how they will celebrate as the Olympic Torch Relay, a once in a lifetime experience for many of us, signals the approach of the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

The 70 day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End on May 19, 2012, and travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK before arriving at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012, for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Check out an interactive map of the route at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelaymap.

Source: Wolverhampton City Council

Residents are invited to take part in a Fungi Foray around Northycote Farm and Country Park on Sunday.

Wolverhampton City Council’s countryside rangers will be leading a stroll around the picturesque beauty spot to hunt for and identify a variety of mushrooms and other fungi.

The Fungi Foray is being organised in association with the Friends of Northycote Farm and Country Park and takes place on Sunday October 16, 2011, between 11am and 1pm. Entry and car parking is free.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: “This should be a great day out for all the family, and our countryside rangers are sure to provide a fascinating insight into the various different types of fungi that can be found in our countryside.”

The Fungi Foray is open to all, though children must be accompanied by an adult and those taking part should being suitable clothing and footwear. Places in advance by calling Northycote Farm and Country Park on 01902 397906 or visiting www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/parkevents.

For more information about Wolverhampton’s parks, please visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/parks or follow ranger Wilf at www.twitter.com/wolvesparkies.

Photo by vastateparkstaff used under Creative Commons license.

A series of mile-long fitness routes have been unveiled in parks around Wolverhampton – and residents are being encouraged to help themselves get in shape by trying them out.

Sunday 25th September marked Walk4Life Day, which celebrated walking and the many health benefits it brings, and to mark the occasion the four fitness routes, located at East Park, Springvale Park, Fowler’s Park and Wednesfield Park, were officially unveiled.

The way-marked routes were installed by Wolverhampton City Council’s Parks and Green Spaces team and are part of a nationwide campaign to create 2012 one-mile fitness routes in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

Walkers can log onto www.walk4life.info to record their walk times, track their progress and get a ‘fitness rating’ whenever they complete one of the routes. The website features over 11,000 walks nationwide and walkers can search for walks by postcode.

For more information about regular Walking for Health walks, please call 01902 444601 or log on to www.wolvespct.nhs.uk/wfh.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Northycote Farm and Country Park is hosting a traditional Harvest Festival this Sunday (18th September).

The celebration will feature a traditional harvest service as well as stalls, woodland craft demonstrations and children’s entertainment. There will also be brass band music and an auction of produce with all proceeds going to charity.

The event will be held  from 11am to 4pm. Entry is free and the festival is open to all, though children should be accompanied by an adult. Northycote’s popular tea room will be serving refreshments and light lunches.

For more information, call 01902 397906 or 01902 551145 or log on towww.wolverhampton.gov.uk/parkevents.

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.

Ashmore Park Choir  will be giving a Christmas Concert at St. Thomas’ Church, Wednesfield on Tuesday 14th Dec at 7:30pm.

The choir will also be singing carols on the following dates:

Friday 17th Dec – Wednesfield Library at 5pm

Sunday 19th Dec - Essington Fruit Farm at 12:30pm

Wednesday 22nd Dec – Sainsbury’s, Wednesfield at 6pm.

Photo by Horia Varlan used under Creative Commons license.

Christmas is coming…..whether you like it or not!

UPDATE: For more events check out our Christmas 2010 posts.

Here’s a round up of Christmas events that are happening in and around Wednesfield – if you know of any more, please let us know in the comments…

Friday 3rd December – 4pm onwards
Christmas lights switch on in Wednesfield High Street – this begins at 4pm with the lights being switched on at 5:30pm

Saturday 4th December – 10am
St Thomas’ Church on Wednesfield High Street holds it’s Christmas Fayre from 10am onwards.

Saturday 4th December – 11am
St Alban’s Church on Griffiths Drive in Ashmore Park holds it’s Christmas Fayre from 11am onwards.

Saturday 4th December – 2pm
St Gregory’s Church holds it’s Christmas Fayre with tombola, cake stall, bottle stall, tins n things, bric a brac, refreshments and lots more.

Monday 13th December – 2pm-3pm
Christmas Offa Festive Fun: Emma Purshouse and Wyn Saha from Offa’s Press will be at Wednesfield Library reading Christmas poetry and stories.

Monday 13th December – 7:30pm
Performance by the 21st Wolverhampton Boys & Girls Association Marching Band
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Tuesday 14th December – 6pm
Performance by the Wednesfield High Gospel Choir
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Wednesday 15th December – 12:30pm
Performance by the Greycoll Pipe band
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Thursday 16th December – 6pm
Performance by the Azaad Dhol Drummers
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

Friday 17th December – 5pm
Performance by Ashmore Park Choir
Location: Christmas Tree / Amphitheatre outside the new Wednesfield library

*Unfortunately this event has been cancelled at the last minute due to pitch conditions :-(

Pudsey Bear will be undertaking referee duties at a football tournament on Friday, in an event organised by the Wolverhampton Homes Partnership to raise much-needed cash for Children in Need.

The event, which will kick off at 5pm at Wednesfield Social Club in Amos Lane, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, involves four teams from the partnership including community regeneration specialist Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) West Midlands, Thomas Vale Construction, Bullock Construction and Wolverhampton Homes.

Bullock has volunteered its Regional Director Richard Baker to referee the matches. The teams will also be wearing a Pudsey Bear eye patch to make it more interesting.

Money will be raised through the sale of football programmes at £2 each and sub-contractors and suppliers have been encouraged to donate £50 in return for having their business cards included in the programme.

Shaun Aldis, Director of Property Services for Wolverhampton Homes, said: “We want as many people as possible to come down and support the event on the day.

“We’re always looking for new ways of raising money for charity and we thought the football tournament was a fantastic idea. I’m sure it will be played in great spirit, and there will be plenty of entertainment available for anyone who wants to come down and watch on the day. I would like to thank the partners for organising the event.”

The tournament will boast four games lasting 40 minutes each including a match between FHM and Wolverhampton Homes, Thomas Vale and Bullock. Participants can also make use of a bar set up throughout the day where food is available.

For more information about sponsoring the event, or to make a donation to Children in Need, please call Gemma Edwards on 01675 461 661, Jon Rodway on 01902 867 950 or Sammy Sidhu on 01299 827 770.

We’ve just received Essington Fruit Farm’s latest email newsletter…

As the nights draw in and summer ends, the emphasis shifts at the farm. The maize maze is now closed and will soon be feeding our cattle. If you visited it this summer we hope you enjoyed it. We will shortly be making the draw for the prize to see Aladdin at the Grand Theatre, but as we say goodbye to the maze October brings its own events.

The pumpkins and squashes are ripening nicely and we hope to make a start on harvesting them this weekend. As well as making lanterns, try our lovely edible squashes, onion squash (looks like an onion, doesn’t taste like one!), little gem, and crown prince. The pumpkin season will climax at hallowe’en and our October craft fair on 24 Oct. Be sure to pay us a visit but please book in advance if you want a table for lunch!

Butchery offer!

We try to have a special bargain on our butchery most weeks and this week we are offering matured silverside at 20% off until Sunday 3.00pm! We will also be serving it on the Sunday carvery so you could try it first!

You can sign up for the newsletter at the farm’s website: www.essingtonfarm.co.uk