Friends of Silloth Green – Annual Report 2019

Report by: Wendy Jameson

The year started with the appointment of Anthony Reid as Chairman of Friends of Silloth Green at the AGM in May. There have been a number of meetings held during the year and some new volunteers have come forward and joined the group.

A major achievement this year was the installation of the new Pirate Ship play area for 0 – 5 year olds and was pushed forward by Anthony, after listening to requests by parents with young families. The gravel paths in the Community Garden have also been resurfaced and flowerbeds extended. Considerable work has been done to other areas on the Green, with the woodland area becoming a haven for wildlife, with appropriate plants and the addition of bird boxes, bat boxes, insect hotels, bird baths etc. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers who spend many hours working on the gardens and shrub beds, organising the events on the Green and participating in the organised litter picks during the year. Achieving the Green Flag Award for the sixth-year running could not have been achieved without them, along with the Town Council’s grounds maintenance team.

We have been busy looking at new ideas for the Green and have come up with the possibility of a pop-up cinema for free movie nights on the Green. This will not be restricted solely to the Green and can be used internally at large venues in adverse weather and also for educational purposes for members of the community. To ascertain how much the community would support this idea, a small poll is being conducted via our Facebook page.

Another project we are working on is a Fitness Trail up the promenade, with distance marker posts and promotional maps and other resources. We are currently exploring the options and working with officers from Cumbria County Council to put together a funding package.