Friends of Roundhay Park Newsletter September 2007 Friends of Roundhay Park, PO Box 129, Leeds LS8 1WY email: [ removed for online version ] website: www.forp.co.uk Chairmans letter Information As we go to press, we still dont have a decision The next General Meeting will be held on about the Mansion. Will it house a commercial Wednesday 17th October at 7.30pm (changed restaurant and so retain its original status as a from the 10th). Venue will be The Waterloo facility for the people of Leeds or will it become Lake Boathouse (adjacent to the Lakeside Caf) an office block? The Friends and other unless the new Visitors/Education Centre is open campaigning groups, indeed all park users, are by then and available to us. on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome of the restaurant tendering process. Working Parties We were all so saddened by the news that Jane The working parties take place on the third Tomlinson had finally lost her battle against Saturday of each month, meeting in the Mansion cancer. Id like to take this opportunity on Car Park, or as advised, at 10.00am. behalf of all FoRP members to express our sympathy and admiration to her family, who Saturday 15th September 2007 kept us regularly informed about all her Saturday 20th October 2007 incredible fund-raising activities. Saturday 17th November 2007 Saturday 15 December 2007 John Richards Saturday 19January 2008 Editorial In the last edition we introduced a measure of colour and some readers thought that wed invented a new classic style of banding for the above boxes. In fact they were meant to appear as they do now! The colour photos were well received and as a result weve gone the whole hog with this issue all photos are now in colour. Our profile this month is of Donald Nicholson, a world-renowned academic in our midst. Unfortunately we received little feedback on the proposed Printers Sports Day item but perhaps readers could still submit any of their memories to add to the couple we have already. Included in this issue are a number of striking photos from members and/or their contacts -we thank everyone concerned for sending them. Bob Reid has written a comprehensive history of the Geology Trail for us ahead of the publication of the full leaflet that will be available when the Visitor Centre opens in the Mansion. On account of space, we had to omit parts of his article and contributions by Bill Fraser but hope that it is not too emasculated. The Events List confirms that the Bonfire will be lit on November 5 result! As usual, we encourage you to email [ removed for online version ] with submission of items/comments for inclusion in subsequent newsletters. Please note that some of the views expressed by ourselves and contributors in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of FoRP itself. Alan & Michle Jackson THE MANSION Surprise, surprise! No word yet about a restaurant in the Mansion. Our publication deadline was set based upon a promised decision date of 12 September and unfortunately we couldnt wait any longer to report the conclusion of this long-running and important moment in the life of one of Leeds best loved buildings. A report is now due to go before the October meeting of the Executive Board of Leeds City Council: John Procter represents Leisure. He will be speaking to FoRP members on 19 September and if you can receive emails make sure you are on David Binns circulation list to find out what transpires. Contact David via [ removed for online version ] These five seem happy enough with the anticipated result, though to be honest, the photograph was taken at the opening of the Cricket Pavilion caf, so who knows? Cllr John Procter (centre) between Cllrs Valerie Kendall, Matthew Lobley & Paul Wadsworth. Denise Preston (right) is the Chief Recreation Officer, Parks and Gardens, Leeds City Council responsible for all functions relating to Parks and Countryside, Sport and Active Recreation. Photo courtesy of Leeds City Council Lets just hope that this magnificent building will NOT become predominantly an office block as was proposed in the much-criticised planning application. We say Where theres a will, theres a way -a commercial restaurant concern, offered the right tender conditions, has surely been found. Or has it? Meanwhile, we were hoping to show you a couple of photos of the inside of the Visitor Centre but the building is still a Contractors Site and permission to enter could not be granted. So today, this is the best we can do the Notice stating that the Visitor Centre, Education Wing (replacing the Old Phoenix Suite), Estate Office/Park Rangers Base and Public Toilets will open Summer 2007 (sic). Extracts of Minutes from the AGM & General Meeting -6June / 8th August (Weve combined the items and updated as necessary post AGM items in green) At the AGM, attended by 42 members, our chairman reported that once again The Friends Garden and its ongoing maintenance was well received by the Green Flag Judges, who were also very interested in our current Projects. The Accounts were presented by The Treasurer and duly accepted. Our President, Marjorie Ziff, has most generously arranged for a gift of 500 to FoRP, through The Arnold Ziff Charitable Foundation. This will be of great help towards our works in Roundhay Park and the Chairman expressed thanks to Mrs Ziff and The Foundation, on behalf of FoRP. Officers re-elected: Chairman -John Richards, Secretary -David Binns, Treasurer -Harry Hurst The Executive Committee: Peter Dyson, Mike Hollingsworth, Tony Quinn, Tricia Ryan and Don Player We have received approval from The Council for one of the Lester Donation proposals put forward earlier this year -the Reference Library/Archive. This will be housed in The Education Centre and will be designed to be of interest and usefulness to all ages. A small Working Group, including Carol Fenner, a representative from Leeds City Libraries and representatives from FoRP will take this forward. (Can you help by joining the Book Selection Panel? Please contact David Binns.) Several people had been involved in alternative proposals but special thanks were given to the work put in by Bob Reid regarding a proposed polarising microscope. Lakeside Caf is not structurally damaged and will not have to be re-built. The repairs will be completed for Christmas 2007 and the Tenant will complete the fitting-out for Spring 2008. (Eds has work yet started?) Regarding The Mansion, we were told of a meeting of Council officers on the 15th June 2007, which will result in a proposal being put to The Executive Board on 4th July 2007 -later deferred until 12th September 2007 and see Page 2. Designers were progressing the interior fitting-out of The Interpretation and Information Centres. The opening date had yet to be announced but the target is definitely Autumn of this year. Jon Vogler gave a wide-ranging Presentation on current Projects The Geology Trail and The Ravine Clearance and he floated the idea of FoRP becoming involved in pressing for a pedestrian crossing on the Ring Road, where the path from The Gorge comes to an abrupt end. Peter Dyson will assist. Now that the reconstruction of The Gorge footpath and bridges is completed, the next FoRP Project will probably be to plant up some of the bare areas along the path of the stream. This will be worked up into a proposal when the current projects are close to completion. Jon Vogler has re-instated the Working Party Committee Meetings, so that progress of our various endeavours can be planned and maintained. Members also came up with other projects or campaigns that might be considered: a Camera Obscura sited on the Mansion roof, Removal of the metal fences to the box hedges in Coronation Gardens (attendees voted 50/50 on this), Park Tours (thought to be worthwhile and will be progressed), Convert the Coronation Gardens (Rose Garden) back into a Kitchen Garden, which could also be an educational opportunity. A discussion on this item resulted in the proposal that the unused area behind The Alhambra Garden could be a Nursery/Allotment area where children and adults could have hands-on experience of gardening and horticulture. The AGM ended with a most interesting Presentation by David Conboy and Eric Cowin on The Wyke Beck Way, whose aim is to develop a Green Corridor from Roundhay Park to Rothwell Country Park and to involve all of the Communities along its route. This is a mammoth undertaking, but the signs are that it will succeed and we wish them all well. LATEST PARK MANAGEMENT REPORT Carol Fenner responded to a list of items forwarded for comment prior to the 8August General Meeting. Some queries could not be answered because Dave Morgan and others are on holiday: There is an ongoing spraying programme to eradicate Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam. The new Park Bye-Laws are not yet available, as they are being drafted on a national basis. There are no plans to display them on Park Notices. It was noted that, since our last complaints, nothing has been done to resolve the Lido Car Park and the Waterloo Lake footpath problems. As some of these problems are outside the control of the local Park Management, we shall take this further with the appropriate Officers. The old bridge timbers at the head of The Gorge will be removed. No further works are scheduled following the footpath repairs in The Gorge, except that the land-slip alongside the path in The Gorge will be repaired as soon as possible. The large boulders which were washed away in the recent heavy rains may have to stay where they are, as the heavy machinery required to move them may damage the new paths. Valerie Kendall reported that somebody is interested in taking the redundant toilet building at Oakwood, but there are Planning problems at the moment, which Councillor Matthew Lobley is attempting to unravel. The repairs to the old stone bridge at the head of The Gorge are the responsibility of Andrew Middlemiss, not the local management. We shall pursue this with Andrew. The perennial question of Litter Bins came up yet again, with a request for a bin at The Mansion Car Park and also more bins on Park Avenue. There appears to be a budget problem, so FoRP may consider funding additional bins of the heritage type. Valerie Kendall suggested that additional bins could be available through the Highways Department, but these would not be the heritage type. Photo courtesy of John McGough Comment was made about the apparent lack of advertising for the Park Days. Apparently, advertisements have appeared in the local Press and local areas have been leafleted. The point was made again, as it was last year, that on-site hoardings/banners should be used to catch the thousands of people who use Princes Avenue every day. It was suggested that FoRP might sponsor the Noticeboard near the Oakwood junction. The condition of the Mansion Lane footpath and road surfaces was severely criticised. Valerie Kendall said that Councillors are doing a drive-around of such areas in the near future and hopefully this will result in suitable repair works being put in hand. Jon Vogler acknowleged that there was a high degree of co-operation from the Park management Team in respect of FoRP Projects and Working Parties. Site 7 on The Geology Trail graffiti now removed Britain in Bloom Judges had visited that week and the appearance of The Park was very well received. Bulb Planting this year will be on the 20th October 2007 Jon Vogler will liaise with John Roebuck and will circulate details nearer to the time. Bonfire Night in the Park will be on November 5this year! (Eds: Many people have told us that they turned up on this date in recent years only to find no firework display.) LOCATION, LOCATION From The Times August 31, 2007 Take a walk in the park. Properties get an instant lift in value if theres decent greenery nearby, says Jayne Dowle. Whether its Hyde Park, Regents Park, Valley Gardens in Harrogate or [Roundhay Park in Leeds], an address on the park can add up to 10 per cent to the price of your house. This, at least, is the view of Liam Bailey, the head of residential research at the upmarket estate agent Knight Frank. In London and elsewhere, the better properties were built facing onto the park, he says. These are still perceived as the most attractive properties and are priced accordingly. In a stalling market, such well-placed homes will hold their value better than those in less-favoured locations. The art and social critic John Ruskin (who has a park named after him in South London) wrote: The measure of any great civilisation is in its cities, and a measure of a citys greatness is to be found in the quality of its public spaces, its parks and its squares. Who could argue with that? The power of the park not only puts a premium on your property, its good for civilisation too. OAKWOOD CLOCK We promised to update you about this proposal. How exciting it is! Photo courtesy of Kim Knowles A few years ago now, Leeds City Council advertised the former toilet block adjacent to Oakwood Clock as To Let. An enterprising local couple with vision submitted a tender, as they saw this as a great opportunity to open a community caf within the building. In planning terms, the change of use was soon approved but some other aspects involved further negotiations that are now nearing completion. Understandably there is considerable internal work to be carried out and some external items that both the Council and the lessees are making certain will be in keeping with the cafs location on the edge of the park. Their apt logo -read on to fully appreciate. During the day, the prime aim will be accessibility for all in a warm, friendly environment with food and refreshments at fair prices that match the portions on offer. There will also be outdoor seating where customers will benefit from the beautiful flowerbeds that we have all enjoyed in recent years. Management and staff will ensure that the caf develops in response to the needs and wishes of its clientele. An invitation will be open to all local residents and visitors to the area. Expect to find a special ambience created by a dedicated team who all have something in common a Christian ethic. In the evenings, that Christian ethic will come to the fore for those who wish to participate. The plans are to run food-related events to cater for different interest groups and people of all ages. These could run to full course meals or snacks to accompany an activity with a view to exploring Christian issues and spreading the gospel to those who show an interest in the faith. Whatever your viewpoint, it must be a good thing for the building to live again. And just to show the spirit of the venture, if you were minded to ask if the proprietors had a bog-standard menu, they assure us that you would not be the first person to make such a remark! MEMBER PROFILE: Donald NICHOLSON Born Leek, Staffordshire in 1916, the son of a Methodist Minister who by convention moved from church to church every three years, Donald regrets that in childhood he never stayed anywhere long enough to make long-lasting friends or to attain a real affinity with an area. All that changed in 1946 on his move to Leeds with his wife Sheila. She sadly died 10 years ago but Donald still resides in the same house and relishes its proximity to Roundhay Park. Now in his nineties, he values the many true friends living locally and it should be said they are enriched by Donalds infectious warm personality, not to say his incisive brain. Few passers-by, seeing Donald on one of his daily walks to the park, would appreciate the brilliant academic in our midst. metabolism were being discovered, he realized the importance of integrating them by putting the pieces together to complete the jigsaw. For five years he hand-drew Metabolic Pathways Charts and had them "blue-printed" in the Architect's office. Aged 80, Donald acquired a computer and joining his one million plus printed copy charts were the first "Minimaps" created by him. These show smaller, individual, pathways which include additional factors such as coenzymes, regulation and cellular compartmentation. Being of "page" size, the minimaps have proved a valuable and popular format for the internet and are available freely throughout the world. Unselfishly, Donald gave the copyright in his movies to the IUBMB. A product of Huddersfield Technical Still working on what he regards as the College, in 1936 he graduated in most exciting development of all his Chemistry, followed by a Ph.D from work -"Animaps". These show the London University in 1940. He spent movements of molecules into their the war years as a chemist with exact positions to align with the active Boots where he developed the sites of their enzymes prior to reaction. production of the first synthetic The animaps also show the detailed antibacterial drugs, sulphonamides. movements of bonds and electrons It was then that he joined the which are a characteristic of chemical Bacteriology Department of the Medical School at Leeds as an ICI Research Fellow in Chemotherapy. Those associated with him have commented that throughout his career Dr Nicholson has been passionate about making teaching meaningful, wonder-full and fun. Hes always had a particular empathy and creative regard for the less illustrious student, of whom he says he was one. Non-scientists will have problems grasping the meaning and import of his world-renowned Metabolic Pathways: charts that illustrate the veritable chemistry of life. Quoting from his biography at the International Union of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (IUBMB) website, it was at Leeds that he was involved in the teaching of Bacterial Metabolism at the historic time when bacteria were being largely used to determine the chemical nature of genetics and of life itself -leading to the elucidation of DNA. As more pathways of reactions ... In recognition of his work, Donald has been awarded an Honorary D.Sc. and has been made one of only two Special Life Members of the IUBMB. Away from academic work, Donald has a passion for his garden, particularly his stunning collection of hydrangeas. Anything to do with nature absorbs his perceptive mind. A single bloom is a thing of beauty and significance. As a keen photographer, he views everything as a potential composition. Not surprisingly FoRP seized the opportunity to appoint him as its official photographer. He duly came along to many Working Parties and provided an invaluable on-going record of progress in the formation of the Friends Garden. A son and two daughters admire his continuing athleticism -he recently took part in the fund-raising Leeds 10k run accompanied by Jane Tomlinsons mother, herself a keen FoRPer. Park & Countryside Days -August 16-19th If you missed this event, as many did (!), you will not have seen our display that included this stunning photograph of a youngster enjoying the Friends Garden -snapped by his visiting grandmother. Next year requires more people stepping out to make the event worthwhile. However, there is at least one thing of which FoRP should be very proud: although we gave up the battle and decamped early on the last day, the Army gave in 24 hours before us! Roundhay: park at your peril? Beware and do please remind any disabled friend of yours that, when parking in the reserved bay near the entrance to Canal Gardens, they must display two items visible on the left-hand side of their cars windscreen. The time-clock validates the disabled badge one without the other will not result in a kindly warning; a parking ticket will be issued. Several people have been caught though quite why their tickets quote provisions of the Road Traffic Acts that apply only to London without further explanation might prove an interesting basis upon which to claim a refund. Another perilous parking place: Rainy Days in the Park The torrents of rain this year have provided real headaches for the Park Management but have given us some incredible sights: A third lake! Another waterfall? A new beck! Photos courtesy of FoRP member John McGough THE GEOLOGY TRAIL by Bob Reid Back in 1999, Bill Fraser, local geology teacher and member of the Leeds Geological Association (LGA), proposed the idea of a trail in Roundhay Park and had it registered as a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS). He also prepared a draft leaflet including site photographs that Leeds City Council proposed to print. Sadly, two photographs had their captions interchanged and dinosaurs made a dramatic front cover appearance, some hundred million years too early, so the leaflet couldnt be issued. Years later, after a presentation by Bill to a FoRP AGM, the Friends decided to adopt the Trail as a project and, thanks to the energy of David Binns, Jon Vogler and many others, we are now within sight of completion. Joint working parties of FoRP and LGA have worked harmoniously clearing the sites. Marker stones, all carved by Jon In Roundhay Park, the riverbed and lower sides of the Gorge are soft shales with occasional fine sandstone horizons. In places, tight compression folds are seen. (Eds remember the anticline described in the last Newsletter?) At a junction of impervious shale with overlying coarser but porous sandstone, water is forced sideways and emerges as a spring see box Well worth the climb to Scouts Quarry, coarse sandstones containing large pebbles were laid down by fast flowing rivers. See photo on page 4. It is the existence of the sandstones above the shale that has led to the creation of the Gorge as we now see it. Melt water slowly cut through the hard sandstones and then eroded the soft underlying material much more easily, resulting in the narrow steep-sided gorge. Vogler, are now in place and funding has been obtained for production of a definitive Trail Leaflet. It will give detailed explanations of what is to be seen at each location but in advance some general observations will not go amiss. Time scales of hundreds of millions of years are not easy for At the north end of the dammed Waterloo Lake, a major fault is the result of a period of tension in the Earths crust. The rocks on the south side have dropped down some 150 metres and, in consequence are some 60m yrs younger than those of the gorge. At this time the delta was supporting plant life which, on falling into stagnant water, became buried and formed peat and later coal. The Roundhay Park Fault thus forms the northern boundary of the Yorkshire coalfields. The fault extends many kilometres to the west -The Mansion is just to the north of it! At the end of the trail, you can see fine grained marine sandstone belonging to the Elland Flags. On the upper surface you can see marks (trace fossils) left by burrowing worms some 300m yrs ago. This sandstone is good quality building material -The Mansion is constructed from rocks of this type quarried in the Gledhow/Oakwood/Gipton areas. Flags are sometimes humans to grasp, but rock ages of this scale are fact, not fantasy. Absolute rock dates are based on the clocks of radioactive decay of long-lived isotopes. Failing that, fossils of rapidly evolving organisms which were widely distributed, provide relative ages and these, linked with known absolute ages, are conclusive. Mountains arise, are eroded, the sediments forming new landscapes. Lateral movements also occur, resulting in the transformation of Continents. The rocks we see in Roundhay Park -best exposed in the Gorge were laid down some 360m yrs ago when this part of the Earths crust was in equatorial latitudes. The evidence is that mountains of Himalayan proportions to the north were being eroded and fast rivers were carrying sediment to build a vast delta which extended across what is now Yorkshire and Lancashire. Why do we see these features now? Has nothing happened since? Indeed the scene has constantly changed -for example some 100m yrs ago sea levels were much higher than now and most of Britain was covered with large deposits of chalk -since eroded except for the south east coast. Land masses have been subjected to periods of compression, resulting in folds and periods of tension giving subsidence and often faulting. Ice Ages and melt waters have resulted in U and V shaped valleys. only a few cms thick, the sandstone layers being separated by thin mica deposits, and so are very suitable for paving and roofing. How lucky we are to have all these features so well preserved and so close together in Roundhay Park. We hope to arrange regular Trail walks later this autumn. Learn with us exactly how the present is key to the past. Wear stout footwear; I find a walking stick and an umbrella invaluable! Be properly rigged for our RIGS! The Trail is 2.7km long -about 11/2 hours to complete. Roundhay Park Past Event List 30Jun/1Jul WCG Dragon Boat racing Rotherhams loss was our gain (NB The World Corporate Games coming to Leeds in 2008) 3rd Aug Shloer Outdoor Film Screening A sparkling occasion by all accounts. 16th-19thAug Park & Countryside Open Days Poorly attended 1st-16th Sept Cirque Surreal Incroyable! Roundhay Park Up and Coming Event List 15th Sept CLIC Sargent Walks 22nd Sept FoRP Working Party 22nd Sept St Gemmas 5 mile Race Awaiting details 23rd Sept Manning Stainon Charity Walk Awaiting details 11th-14thOct Multi-faith Event Awaiting details 13th Oct Miscarriage Support Group Balloon Launch 13-14Oct Cactus Club @ Tropical World 20Oct FoRP Working Party 19-29Oct Autumn School Holidays 24Oct Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 5Nov Bonfire & Firework Display Awaiting details 17Nov FoRP Working Party 19Dec Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World thrd 14-23Dec Totally Tropical Christmas 21Dec-7Jan Christmas School Holidays Please can we encourage each and every one of you to use the membership form overleaf to subscribe at least one new member colour comes at a cost! You can copy the form or download a version from the website if you wish to preserve your Newsletter in pristine condition. As always, we welcome comments/suggestions and items for publication in future editions perhaps your own memories of the Park in former days, anecdotes or just something youve spotted which will be of interest to other Friends. We do hope one or two members will contact David Binns about joining the Lester Donation Book Selection Panel contact direct or by email [ removed for online version ] Alan & Michle Jackson Friends of Roundhay Park is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registration Number 4476202 in England. Registered Office: 34 Park Cross Street LEEDS LS1 2QH Registered Charity number 1097692