LO3 Final Articles

Editorial 

For the first edition of Park Life. I thought I should tell you something about our company and our reason for making this magazine. I have created Park Life because I feel it is important for people to join together in their local community and look after their local parks. Parks use to be a massive park of a community and it would be a place for socialising and having events. But now in the modern day parks are used for walking dogs and taking you children to the play area. Though people still use their local parks a lot. But I feel that the spirit of community has gone from local parks. I would like this magazine to bring that back. I would like more people to get involved in their local parks and their community. People should feel inspired to help out more in their local parks and interact with other people in their community.

Personally as a child I visited lots of parks and enjoyed the activities that were held there and the friendly environment. I still visit my local park almost every day to walk my dogs. So I felt it was important to have a magazine about these places that we love although may take for granted. Meersbrook Park is my local park so I thought it would be best to start off the first edition with this park. I went to Meersbrook Park a lot as a child and went in the playground. In the park was my after school club as well, so I would go there every day after primary school. Now I use the park to walk my dogs on a regular basis.

There is a spread on Bishops house which tells you everything you need to know about it. Bishops house is a big landmark of Meersbrook park so I felt it was very important to include it. You will she shown the history of the park and what goes on in there. Also inside this magazine there is an interview with someone who visits the park regularly. This gives you the chance to get a different opinion of the park. Also you can see their purpose for the park and why they don't go to other parks. Another article is a 'how to guide' this will show you how to build a simple small animal shelter. You can make it and put in your local park. 

So I have created this magazine to showcase the cities best parks, each week will be a different park. This is so I can fill it with information rather than only showing you a brief description. You'll be able to experience the park just by reading it. So I hope you enjoy our first edition.

Bishops House 

Bishops house is a half-timbered house in Meersbrook Park it was built in the 1500's. It is now 1 of 3 remaining timbered houses in Sheffield. The reason that the building is called Bishops house is because it was supposedly built for two brothers. Geoffrey and John Blythe were both bishops' so the house was built for them to live in. Although there is no evidence that they lived in the house. The earliest known residence in the house was William Blyth, he was a farmer and lived in the house in 1627. 1735 was the year that the last family member of the house (Samuel Blyth) died. So in between 1735 and 1886 the house was owned by various different people. In this time it was also subdivided into two dwellings. Then in 1886 the ownership of the house was passed to the Sheffield City Council. The house has been a museum since 1976. It is open to the public on Saturdays and it also has events for schools. Bishops house is a very iconic part of Meersbrook park and its community. That is why it is so popular. 

The house is open to the public on Saturdays and has events for schools during the week and offer many different activities for children to enjoy and learn. There is a dress up wardrobe with different outfits for them to try on. The costumes are supposed to replicate clothes that that the Tudors would have worn. It had a mirror for the children to see what they look like. Also there is a short description of all the different materials that were used in those times. The house also has a baking section where children can create breads and foods that would've been made in the Tudor times. This gives them a 

chance to make something new whilst having fun and learning.

History of the Park 

Meersbrook has a collection of tree-lined streets and houses many families. There is a variety of different houses, from flats to terraced houses to large villas. The whole neighbourhood is based around Meersbrook Park, which is famous for its view of the city. 

Up until 1950 Meersbrook was part of the Sheffield Ecclesall constituency. Now it is part of Sheffield Heeley constituency. The park is named after the stream. The River Sheaf means 'boundary brook' and in ancient times this along with the River Sheaf formed the boundary between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia. It remained as the boundary between Yorkshire and Derbyshire into the 20th century.

In 1873 the land opposite to Meersbrook was divided between future roads and allotments with the formation of the Meersbrook land society. The rules for were very strict. This was including rules concerning the size of the allotment, the quantity of the stone and all the houses had to front towards the house.  Also there was a building line that that had to stick to so to ensure that all the houses had a front garden. Another rule was that there couldn't be and corner shops or pubs on the south side.

Meersbrook is largely residential and agricultural area. Although at one time it used to be quite industrialised. Indeed W May ltd was established on London road south and Chesterfield road and is still in use today. 

Interview 

Here are some questions we asked a regular dog walker at Meersbrook park, to find out her views in the park. 

Why do you use this park?

To walk my two dogs, Betty and Molly. 

How often do use this park?

At least once a day.

How often do you use other parks?

About once or twice a week.

Why do you choose this park to walk your dogs?

Mainly because it is close to where I live. It has a great view of the city. Also it has wide open spaces where the dogs can run around and you can still see them. Another reason is in the winter the fields are well lit so you can still see the dogs. I like that there is a separate area for children. The park is also very safe. Finally, there is so much open space for the dogs to run around in. 

What would you change about the park?

I would put gates on all the entrances just to ensure the safety of the park. Also put more dog waste bins in the park because there aren't that many at the moment. Also I think it would be really good if the park had a cafe with a toilet. 

What do you think is the best thing about the park?

The view. It is very breath taking and is really nice to look at in the evenings when the sun sets.  Also I enjoy taking photographs of it. 

What improvements have been made to the park since you started walking your dogs there?

More benches have been put in the park which gives more people the opportunity to sit down and enjoy the park. Also a lot more trees have been planted in the park. This is really good because its helping the environment and the park. Finally, more equipment for children has been put in the park. This gives them the opportunity to enjoy the park. 

Do you think there are any negative aspects of the park?

Well the entrances and exits of the park don't have gates on them. I think it would be good if they did because then you could let the the dogs run free completely.  

Activities In The Park 

In the park there is a skate park, this allows people to skate and ride their bikes also spray paint on the skate park. This is good because it is in a controlled area for spray painting. So people are less likely to vandalise other areas of the park.

There is also a free tennis/badminton court. This is located in the no dogs area of the park.

The park also has 2 bowling greens at the bottom entrance of the park, you have to pay a small fee to join the club and play bowls. But the bowling green is its own little community with friendly people form the area. 

There are 2 play grounds, one of them is gated so it is safer for children who may not like dogs and is near the bottom of the park. The second one is open and a little smaller, it is at the top of the park. 

There are 2 play grounds, one of them is gated so it is safer for children who may not like dogs and is near the bottom of the park. The second one is open and a little smaller, it is at the top of the park. 

Finally there is a building at the bottom of the park that is a nursery in the day and is an after school club in the evenings. This is to provide for the 3 primary schools in the area.