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THURCROFT BRASS BAND PLAYING AT AUGUST CAFE DAY

Thurcroft Brass Band are making their Ulley debut at the Friends Cafe Day on the 16th of August. The band have performed at Ulley Parish Church for the  Friends over many years and will now be playing in the Spillway between 11.30am and 1.45pm at the Sunday cafe. This promises to be a great event not to be missed!

The Cafe will be open from 11am until 3pm serving homemade cakes, sandwiches and refreshments.

FRIENDS 20th ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND 17th – 19th JULY

The Friends of Ulley Country Park was formed in 2006 and to mark our 20th Anniversary we held a special weekend celebration aound our usual Cafe Day on the 19th. We also have a display in the Visitors Centre showing photographs of all our activities and the many projects we have undertaken in the Park over the 20 years.

On Friday evening the band Scuppered performed in The Spillway performance area.

There was a Vintage Tea Party and Beetle Drive on the Saturday afternoon followed by an excellent performance by Rotherham Rock Choirs in the Spillway

Also on Saturday there were free activities for families to enjoy including storytelling, art workshops, Birds of Prey display and a Nature Walk with the Park Rangers.

On Sunday South Yorkshire Police Band gave a splendid performance in the Spillway in front of a large audience attending the usual Cafe.

The celebration weekend was a huge success and a fitting tribute to all the Friends volunteers for all their hard work and commitment over the weekend and for the last 20 years.

More details and photographs from the weekend will be published soon.

NEW FRIENDS SCULPTURE UNVEILED 

The new sculpture commissioned by the Friends was unveiled by Bobbie Hillman, past Chair of the Friends group, at the Cafe Day on Sunday 15th of June. The sculpture titled ‘In the trees’ has been created by mosaic artist Coralie Turpin and celebrates 20 years of the Friends activities in the Park.

Pictured next to the sculpture are Chair Di Haswell, mosaic sculptor Coralie Turpin, past Chair Bobbie Hillman and founder member Barbara Littlewood (seated).

The sculpture was partly funded by OnPath Energy, who now own the Penny Hill Windfarm and Tim Dalton from Point North (who manage their Community Fund) met the Friends for a photo shoot as part of their press release.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION 2026

The Friends are holding the 11th Annual Photographic competition for the Best Ulley Photograph taken in the park during 2026. Prizes are 50 pounds, 25 pounds and 15 pounds. Entries to be submitted by email to friendsofulleycountrypark@gmail.com

The closing date for entries is 31st of October 2026

A maximum of 5 photographs can be submitted

The winner of last years photographic competition was Linda Asbridge 

WHO ARE THE FRIENDS OF ULLEY COUNTRY PARK

The Friends of Ulley Country Park is a voluntary organisation working in partnership with Rotherham Council, the owners of the Park, to protect and enhance the natural environment in the Park.

Membership of the Friends group is open to everyone and is now well over 200. We have provided significant financial support to the Rangers team at Ulley since the group was founded in 2006 and continue to work positively towards ensuring the facilities in the Park are improved and maintained for the enjoyment of all visitors.

The elected Committee meets monthly at the Visitors Centre, with the Council’s Rangers Green Spaces team, to discuss the Friends activities and proposals for projects to be implemented in the Park. As a voluntary group, the Friends have successfully applied for grant funding to enable additional resources for various projects in the Park.

The Friends hold a monthly Café Day in the Visitors Centre, generally on the third Sunday of the month, to encourage visitors to the Park and raise vital funds for carrying out improvements in the Park.

Two newsletters are also usually circulated to members each year, in Spring and Autumn, giving details of the Friends activities and projects being  implemented in the Park

The Aims of the Friends group are set out in the constitution and are summarised as follows:-

• To protect and enhance the Park, its amenities and its heritage

• To work in partnership with Rotherham Borough Council

• To promote further development through grant funding and volunteering

How to join

Annual membership of the Friends group is only £5 and new members receive a copy of “The Story of Ulley Country Park” written by Russ Howes. If you would like to join either:-

• e-mail      friendsofulleycountrypark@gmail.com

• contact the Secretary, Paul Nash on 01709 370797

• pick up a membership leaflet at the visitors centre on a Cafe Day

Members receive two newsletters a year.

CONTACT US

For any queries, e-mail us at  friendsofulleycountrypark@gmail.com   or phone our Secretary, Paul Nash on 01709 370797.

Visit UlleyCountryPark on Facebook or @UlleyRanger on Twitter

To contact the Park Rangers, phone 01709 850353.

To contact Ulley Sailing Club visit their website www.ulleysailingclub.co.uk

HOW TO FIND THE PARK

Ulley Country Park is on the A618 Pleasley Road between Aughton and Whiston. Post Code is S26 3XL