Fairfield e-News Bulletin No.3

Welcome

Welcome to the third Fairfield e-News Bulletin. It’s a short summary of what has happened in October and November along with news about upcoming events and activities.

Calendar and cards

The Fairfield Association Calendar, featuring photographs taken throughout the year, is one of our most important sources of fundraising so we really appreciate everyone who buys a copy.

Playground news

Little Free Library

Local parent, Lynne Davies-Craine, has started a project to place a small, free library outside the toddler area of the playground. The idea is that the library will be accessible by the children themselves, aiming for toddlers through primary school age. Find out more.

New benches

The new benches that were ordered are now being made and should be installed in January.

Repairs

After over a year of very active use, the new playground equipment was in need of some small repairs. These are now all complete and the sign language board has also been mended.

Cycle Hub

Production delays mean that the second hangar now won’t be installed until mid-January at the earliest.

Nature Reserve and Orchard updates

Bird feeding

We have set up a bird feeding station in Flora Field again this winter in collaboration with Lancaster and District Bird Watching Society. It relies on a dedicated team of volunteers who clean the feeding table each morning and then scatter seeds for that day on the table and surrounding area. Many thanks to everyone who volunteers,

You can catch up with some of the sightings that have been recorded at the feeding station on the LDBWS sightings forum.

Hedge laying

Volunteers have begun laying hedges as part of a four-year project. The hedge they are laying at the moment runs between Flora Field and the west side of Pony Wood. The brash is proving really popular with the birds.

If you want to found out more about hedge laying and why it is important, the National Hedge Laying Society has a very informative website.

Sapling planting

Rebekah Mulligan, our volunteer coordinator, has obtained a Tree Council grant of around £850 for saplings to be planted along the eastern boundary of West Field. This will create a wider hedge with a wavy profile. Congratulations to Rebekah on her first successful funding application.

To plant the saplings, there will be a community planting event on the morning of Saturday 10 January 2026 for which we will need as many volunteers as possible.

Footpath repairs

We are about to submit an initial grant application for funding to improve the paths.

The recent survey found that, while there’s a lot of satisfaction with the paths, there are also users who find the bumpy surfaces and puddles hazardous and off-putting, especially when they turn to ice. There was very strong support for retaining the character of the paths and not covering them with tarmac, and mixed feedback about the possibility of widening them. 

If the grant application goes forward to the next stage, we will consider and consult further about options to improve accessibility while retaining the feel of the nature reserve. 

Lucy Brook restoration project

We should hear in the next few weeks whether our funding bid to the Lancashire Environment Fund (LEF) has been successful. We are also submitting a bid to the National Lottery environment fund to help towards the costs. You can find information about the project on the Lucy Brook restoration project webpage.

Recent events

Apple Day

Sadly, Apple Day, which was due to have taken place on Saturday 4 October, had to be cancelled due to the appalling weather. Lots of thanks are due to Veronica Dunne, Pavlos Pavli and the rest of the Apple Day volunteers who put in a lot of work planning and preparing for the event. Hopefully next year we will be luckier with the weather.

Green Fair

We had a Fairfield Association stall at the Green Fair on Saturday 22 November selling calendars, cards and our Cakes and Bakes recipe book. It was a busy and successful day, so thanks to everyone who helped on the stall. If you couldn’t make it, you can still order copies of everything from Ruth Haigh who will make sure you get them within plenty of time for Christmas. (See calendars and cards above.)

Upcoming activities

Pop-up stall

Saturday 13 December between 10am and 1pm

We will have a pop-up stall in collaboration with Lancaster and District Birdwatching Society selling the calendar, cards, home-made wreaths and decorated wooden spoons. The stall will be by the Fairfield shed. This is on the path leading from Sunnyside Lane before you get to the Orchard. You can find all the details, photographs and a map on the pop-up stall webpage.

Carol singing

Wednesday 24 December at 5pm

This year we will be raising funds towards the Free Little Library planned for the playground. Meet outside Edenbreck Farmhouse at 5pm — all are welcome!

Community sapling planting

Saturday 10 January between 10am and 1pm

This should be a great morning out for both adults and children. We hope as many people as possible will come along as there are 400 saplings to plant. We will be meeting at the Stump Circle in the Orchard.

Volunteer work party sessions

• These take place every Wednesday between 9:30am and 1pm.
• There are also Saturday sessions once a month. Next one is Saturday 13 December between 10am and 1pm.
• Community sapling planting on Saturday 10 January between 10am and 1pm.
• Everyone is welcome. Just let Rebekah know beforehand if you plan to come by emailing

Meetings

Monthly meeting

The next meeting will take place at 7:30pm on Tuesday 16 December at the Tite & Locke. Everyone is welcome.

More details

You can always find more information about what is going on in the Current Meeting Information section of the website which has agendas and minutes for all recent meetings.

The online calendar contains dates and times for all meetings, volunteer sessions, special events and Triangle activities.