We wanted to mark the bicentenary of the laying of the Pump Room foundation stone in 1825. So we decided, with the agreement of Cheltenham Borough Council, to design and make an information board for the park that would tell the history of the Pump Room, and provide information on the ‘season’ and the spa…

The volunteers, as always, have done a grand job this month, with around twenty people turning up for each session.  Amongst other things, we have pruned the laurels on the west side of the tunnel and the forsythia by the bridge, weeded and dead headed the rockeries and the upper lake side edge, and picked up…

I noticed there have been regular volleyball sessions in the park over the last few months so I stopped and asked Andrea, one of the organisers, more about it. At Cheltenham Cobras Volleyball Club, we are active all year round in the local volleyball scene. We are a friendly and inclusive club, where we care about…

Fiona Clarke, one of the founders of Friends of Pittville, worked very closely with Chris on all Friends of Pittville matters until her departure for Australia a couple of years ago. I asked her to recall their days working together. This is what she wrote. I have known Chris since November 2009, which is now…

You are invited to the official opening of the Sensory Garden and the unveiling of the large carving that is part of it, which will be held in front of the aviaries at 10.30am on Tuesday 30 September. We hope many of the people involved in the project will be present at the event, where…

Natasha Houseago will be starting work on carving the tree sculpture in front of the aviaries in Pittville Park on Wednesday June 11th! She will be there most of the day from around 9.30 to 4pm and welcomes visitors and anyone who is interested in watching her carve and talking to her. Why not go…

Green Space Volunteers started planting the Sensory Garden beds on a sunny day in May. There are six beds in total as you can see in this first ‘before’ photo. The smaller central pair represent the sense sound; the other beds taste, touch, smell and sight. All have been designed for children and their families…

We’re grateful to Men in Sheds for making the two bug hotels that will be part of the Sensory Garden. Here they are in the process of being made by Rod and Mel at one of the Cheltenham workshops Find out more about Men in Sheds’ activities locally at https://mis-cheltenham-gloucester.uk Author: Andy Hopkins

Earlier this year, it was an honour to be invited by the Mayor, Paul Baker, to afternoon tea and cakes in his parlour within the Municipal Building of Cheltenham Borough Council. He wanted to thank Pittville Swans & Friends for the time and effort we put into looking out for the wildlife in Pittville Park…