FRIENDS OF MARKEATON PARK COMMEMORATE WAR CENTENARY

Following on from last year's success, the Friends of Markeaton Park (FoMP) are again staging the Dig for Victory event to pay tribute to all who fought in the two World Wars. The annual event supported by Derby City Council will take place on Sunday 26 August from 11am-4pm at Markeaton Park. The Dig for Victory event is free to visit and will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and remembering life on the home front during World War 2. There will be military and vintage displays, trade and craft stalls along with memorabilia on the old parade ground and in the craft village.

A full programme of musical entertainment from the era (including the Derventio choir, U3A Ukulele group, bell ringers and an organist) will take place in the walled garden. The Newhall brass band ensemble will be performing in the craft village in the afternoon. There will be lots to see and do for the whole family and a face painter will be available in the walled garden for children to enjoy. For the adults, with a vintage bar selling Darley Abbey Cider and a BBQ from 12noon-2pm, along with hot drinks and cakes sold by FoMP volunteers.

Councillor Alan Grimadell, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “The annual Dig for Victory festival is an important reminder of what life was like during wartime Britain and is a fantastic free event for visitors to Markeaton Park, which has recently been awarded a Green Flag for the third year running. The Friends of Markeaton Park do a wonderful job organising this event along with maintaining this quality green space, alongside the Derby Parks team”. The Notts and Derby Living History Group and the Leicestershire Home Guard and the Reserves will be returning to the Dig for Victory Festival again this year.

The Friends of Markeaton Park celebrated their 10th anniversary on Monday 20 August 2018. To mark the occasion they held a BBQ at Markeaton Park over the weekend. Representatives from businesses, who have helped them over the years, Derby Parks staff and their volunteers were in attendance. FoMP originally started out as a small group of like-minded people who organised a few events for park users and undertook activities to help maintain the park, including organising teams to remove invasive balsam plants. FoMP are now a registered charity run by 12 trustees, who are supported by a further 20 plus regular volunteers. They took over the management of the walled garden 5 years ago, and have brought it back to being a well-maintained and much improved historic walled garden.

Visitors to the park can relax and enjoy the colourful flower beds, see how fruit and vegetables are grown and buy plants and produce. FoMP are proud to have recently been awarded their second Green Flag Community Award. They now organise a wide range of events and activities, including craft fairs, bird walks and pond dipping. Find out more at the Friends of Markeaton Park website: fomp.org.uk/events or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/Friends-of-Markeaton-Park-1601824916728403

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