The Fairfield Association organises a broad range of events throughout the year, details of which appear on the website and on our notice boards at the Sibsey Street end of Fairfield Green (the children's playground), the Orchard and in Fauna.

Additionally, the Association's Twitter feed will be updated with brief news items, and you can access our archived Newsletters in PDF format by selecting from the drop-down menu:

(N.B. These files launch in a pop-up window - you may need to adjust your browser settings to allow pop-ups if they don't appear.)

Amended Fairfield Association Constitution

At the AGM on June 12th we will be voting on an amended constitution. This is based on the new model constitution provided by the Charities Commission. If you wish to read this prior to the vote, please download it here:

 Fairfield Association Amended Constitution

HumHoller’n’Sing, Friday 24 May at 7.30 pm at the Friends’ Meeting House

HumHoller’n’Sing (Lancaster’s vibrant community choir) present ‘A Lancaster Brew’, A lively concert ; tales of Lancaster past and present in songs, words and pictures.

Tickets £5 (inc. refreshments) in advance from Liz Eyes, 39342, or Ruth, 1 Redvers St, 63157, ruth_haigh AT sky DOT com.

GRAND CHARITY AUCTION, Saturday June 8th, 7 for 7.30 pm, The Gregson Centre, Moorgate, Lancaster

Tickets £6 (includes finger buffet with a bar available) in advance by email from Sue Nieduszynska, sue AT nieduszynski DOT org or from the Gregson Centre, tel 01524 849959 (catalogues also available from here). Some tickets will be available on the door on the night.

Lots range from 18 holes of golf for 4 people at Lancaster Golf Club to a Luxury Box for 4 at Preston North End to a sail on Lake Windermere!

For more information or advance bidding please view the flyer and catalogue below:

 Auction Flyer

 Auction Catalogue

 Auction Catalogue - Additional Lots

FAIRFIELD ASSOCIATION WINS HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND SUPPORT AND FLORA DREAM BECOMES REAL!!!

We've just heard that the Fairfield Association has been awarded a grant of £96,700 from the Heritage Lottery fund for our Flora nature reserve project, near Lancaster City Centre (between Aldcliffe Road and Lucy Brook/Fauna).

Part of the grant will be added to the considerable funds already raised locally (many thanks to all who have helped so far!) in order to purchase 26 acres of Flora land and add it to Fauna and the 2 acres of Flora the Fairfield Association already owns. The rest will help to fund an ambitious multi-generational learning volunteering programme, helping both young and old to learn about the history and biodiversity of the Flora reserve and to train local volunteers in the skills needed to create habitats to support local flora and attract wildlife.

If you would like to learn more about Flora and how we will be using the grant, please visit the Flora website.

 Flora Press Release

Yak and Nak visit Nepal!

Following on from doing the Kanchenjunga trek, Nepal, in Nov 2011, a Fairfield member, Hermione Roff, has published a delightful children’s picture book (aimed at ages 3-7) that can be sold with profits going to charity. Each copy sold will generate £5 for the Fairfield Association.

If you would like to purchase one or more for your child, grandchild/ren, niece/s, nephew/s then please contact Ruth on membership AT fairfieldassociation DOT org.

You are very welcome to come and look at a copy first with no obligation. You would leave £6.99 per copy (to bank in the Fairfield account) and £1.99 would then be passed to the author to go towards a reprint.

News Archive

Easter Egg Hunt at Fairfield Orchard - Easter Monday (1st April) 2-4 pm

• Easter Egg Treasure Hunt (£1.50 per child)
  Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Egg decorating
• Childrens Easter bonnet competition (come with an Easter Bonnet that you have made)
• Refreshments and cakes
• Bonnet judging to take place at 3.30 p m

Are you able to help?

Would you like to help with the Easter Egg Hunt – baking cakes, serving refreshments, helping with the children’s egg decorating or the egg hunt itself? It will be much appreciated.

If you would like to help or want more information, please give Tony a call on Lancaster 36426 or email us (click the 'Contact Us' link on the left). Many thanks.

 Easter Egg Hunt Flyer

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY – We can treble the size of Fauna if we try!

Last year, in addition to creating the Fauna nature reserve, which people love so much, the Fairfield Association bought more than 2 acres of land in between Fauna and Aldcliffe Road to extend the reserve. Now, following lengthy negotiations, we have signed a contract for a further 26 acres. The land between Fauna and Aldcliffe Road has been named Flora. The total Flora and Fauna reserve will be 43 acres, nearly trebling the original size of Fauna.

We now have 6 months to raise the rest of the money to complete the purchase so we urgently need your help!

Download the latest newsletter (December 2012) from the link above for the latest information.

Flora Walk & Talk (pre-Wassailing), Saturday 19th January 2-3pm

A chance to see and find out more about Flora, the fields that Fairfield Association are raising funds to buy, to treble the size of Fauna nature reserve.

Meet either at the Orchard's Millennium Oak (in fruit trees semi circle) OR opposite 114 Aldcliffe Rd, near canal footbridge/postbox.

Wassailing, Fairfield Millenium Orchard, Saturday 19th January 3-5pm!

Come and join us in this traditional Old Twelfth Night celebration. Bring drums, pots and pans to bang and clatter as we process through the trees. Both young and old are invited to come dressed as the Oak King or the Apple Queen - we will draw lots to choose the sovereigns of the orchard.

• Traditional offerings of toast and cider to the trees
• Passing of the Wassail Cup
• Dancing
• Bonfire
• Traditional Wassailing songs taught and performed.

Suggested donation £1 per person. Procession starts at 3pm sharp.

Apple Day – Saturday 29th September, 2.00-5.00pm, Fairfield Community Orchard

• Children’s games & craft activities
• Apple Pressing and tasting
• Drinks and homemade cakes
• Come and help dress an apple tree!
• Storytelling
• Baking Competition - Adults: Best Apple Pie, Children: Best Apple muffin (Bring to apple tent before 2.30pm [names on the bottom of the, preferably foil, plate] for judging at 3pm, they will then be auctioned off for the Orchard Upkeep Fund) Prizes for the winners of each category.

All Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Requested donation: £2 Adults, £1 Children (for the upkeep of the Fairfield Orchard).

Please could you bring along cake, buns, etc to sell on the refreshments stall.

If you could help with setting up/dismantling Please phone Eleanor Bulman 07851 606577, or email ejbulman AT gmail DOT com to volunteer.

Fairfield Association Kwik Cricket Match - Sunday 9th September, 2.30pm onwards

A fun, village green type of cricket match for Fairfield members and local people.

Sunday 9th September, 2.30 pm onwards on Girls’ Grammar School Playing Field (Sunday 16th if wet)

Want to play? We need:

Two teams of 12 players. Anyone can play: any age, either sex. ‘Team’ to meet at 1.30 on the field & if possible wear full whites or a white T shirt.

Entrance fee: £2 per adult and £1 per child.

Help needed: Two umpires, a scorer and a scoreboard, a commentator - contact Geoff Orr 0796 983 6909 or 01524 842890 or catbells5 AT gmail DOT com

Or come & watch & cheer them on (bring chairs, cushions, rugs etc to sit on).

‘Cricket tea’ to be available to purchase in the match interval.

Help needed:

• People to volunteer to make plates of sandwiches, e.g. cheese, tuna, ham, veggie, etc,
• People to volunteer to donate cakes, buns, scones etc & cut/butter, if needed ready to be served (please name your plate/tray & cover with Clingfilm or foil so that at tea time a selection of sandwiches and or cakes etc can be sold)
• Volunteers (3 or 4 people) to serve the teas to players and spectators.

Also needed:
Help with setting up the marquee, tables, urn, kit; sound system for commentary etc before the match and taking it down afterwards.

Anti-social behaviour

The play area and the Orchard continue to be immensely popular and successful. Unfortunately, from time to time groups of underage drinkers (mainly from outside the Fairfield area) congregate in the area because they have been moved on from elsewhere. The Association takes seriously all incidents of anti-social behaviour, bullying or anything else, and works closely with schools and the police to make sure that the play area and the Orchard continue to be accessible and friendly places for everyone to meet and enjoy themselves.

The whole of Fairfield is now an Alcohol-Free Zone.

i) if you see young people drinking, particularly in the early evening, if you see anybody vandalising the area or any other anti-social behaviour, please ring the police on (01524) 596649 (voicemail), or email lancaster.npt@lancashire.pnn.police.uk. If you would prefer not to draw attention to yourself by a visit from the police, simply say so when you make the call.

ii) If you see empty bottles on the Green, please put them in the bin.

iii) Please support the efforts of the police, by attending the monthly PACT meetings and making your experiences and views known. Our Police Community Safety Officer, Cath Elliott.

Please report damage to the play equipment to Andrew Brennand: (01524) 542795.

Keeping Up our Numbers…

We have raised a lot of money to provide the play area, Millennium Orchard and Fauna. But we still need your support if we are to build on our successes. In particular we need more active members. Under ‘Membership’ you will find a downloadable membership form and details of the scheme to pay annual subscriptions by standing order if you prefer. In the meantime, to join the Association please contact our Membership Secretary - see the Contact Us page.