Assignment 2: Article 2

An insight into Preston's Parks


The Parks in Preston play a significant role in the lives of the local people. With seven to choice from they provide plenty of space to get away from the busyness of city life.





















Football pitch at Moor Park.



Preston is home to one of the world’s oldest parks which was created in the 19th Century by the Edwardians. Moor Park, which is situated in the centre of Preston, was landscaped by Edward Milner who also designed Miller, Avenham and Grange parks in the city.



Moor Park played a significant part in the First and Second World War. Its hospital site for the injured of war closed in 1919 and was later turned into a prisoner of war camp.

Today the parks are used for leisure activities for people of all ages.



Rob Bywater, communications officer for the parks said: “The Parks are a fantastic asset to Preston. They are used by visitors and local people for everything from taking the dog for walk to watching Christmas events.

“The biggest is Moor Park which has lots of multi use play areas and hosts big events such as Radio 1’s Big Weekend.”


'fantastic asset'


The Tennis, bowling and football pitches on the parks are regularly used by the local community.

It was the facilities that encouraged Preston's historic football team, Preston North End, to train on Moor Park in the late 18oo's. The team then moved across the road onto a new pitch where their stadium is situated today.


Country parks can be found just outside of Preston. Beacon Fell country park attracts visitors to it's wildlife and views across Lancashire and Morecambe Bay.





Each park has a ranger whose job it is to look after the general welfare of the land and ensure its safety for visitors.

Rob Bywater added: “The rangers work closely with local schools enabling the children come and see the wildlife and get involved in conservation work.'





















Parks provide areas for conservation work.

Assignment 2: Article 1

Concern over safety

As Preston council announce that they will be cutting the amount of money available for lighting in city parks, how safe is it take walk around at night?


Now that the winter nights are drawing in local people depend on street lights to feel safe around the city.


The Lancashire Evening Post has recently revealed that the funding in this sector has been reduced this year from £40,000 to £20,000. Only lampposts that are a health and safety risk will definitely be replaced.



'Danger'

Alison Jones, who works at Deepdale Retail Park, walks home at around 10 o’clock at night. She said: “I can’t afford to get taxis to and from work so if the council don’t replace the lights I will be put in danger.”


It would be quicker for Alison to walk through Moor Park, Preston but the lighting is already poor that she can’t take the chance.



She added:“I just walk quickly and try to get home as soon as possible. I think it should be the council's priority to make areas safer.”

It was only in July of this year that five of Preston's parks were presented with The Green Flag Award and one of the points that was raised is that they are a 'healthy, safe and secure place.'




Moor Park at night



As a number of attacks on women were reported in the parks are last year. The community safety partnership, Safer Lancashire, advise women to carry a torch after dark and to avoid shortcuts and dark deserted areas where possible.




Alison Jones' journey home from work.

The reason for this blog is to practice illustrating stories on maps.
Here is a story taken from Lancashire Evening Post:

Damage has been caused to primary schools across the South Ribble area of Preston.
The incidents are believed to be atempted thefts.
Three schools have been targeted over the past few weeks.
Here is a map to show the location of the schools involved:


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Map from Foster to Greenbank building at UCLan

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League tables from Lancashire county council show an increase in the amount of household waste recycled in 2006/7 compared to 2007/8. However, the government are far from meeting their 2020 environmental targets according to a recent parliamentary report.

Here are the people of Preston's views, on what more could be done to encourage people to recycle.

Aiming too high?

For the UK is to meet its renewable energy targets there needs to be "drastic" changes, it was revealed this week.
The EU committee stated that for the government to meet the 2020 targets they need to introduce comprehensive measures.
The UK needs to have 15% of its energy coming from renewable sources, at the moment only 1.3% does.
The report reveals that their should be an economic incentive to encorage people to make changes in their homes.

'Incentives'

Lord Freeman, Chairman of the Lords EU Committee on the Internal Market, said: "Energy efficiency and energy saving must be the starting points for meeting the target and policies to encourage reductions in energy use."
He added: "If we fail to meet this goal, the UK will become increasingly reliant on nuclear and fossil fuel power."
41% of the UK's energy use is for heating and cooling. To reduce this figure the commitee advises an increase in existing micro-generation grants and a system of renewable heat.
The renewables target will mean an increase the cost of energy.
It has, however, been said that help will be given to the least well off.

Global ignorance?

The hot and controversial topic of the last few decades is the environment and what we should be, or not be, doing to cut down our emissions. I have to admit that even though I listen and read about the damaging effects our lives is having on the environment, daily on the news, I haven't changed much about my day to day life. I know that I, like many others, would never out of choice exchange my car for a bike or miss a summer holiday abroad to cut down on CO2 emissions because these are big changes to our everyday lives. But does this prove that we are an ignorant nation?

If so, then can we really afford to be one? When according to the Environment Agency the planet may not have warmed as fast as it has in the past 25 years. This 'hot topic' which is undoubtedly a very serious one hasn't been a regular part of our parents and grandparents lives. It takes a while for people to get into a routine of putting their recyclables into separate boxes for collection, to remember to turn their washing machine down to 30 degrees or to switch everything off by the mains and not leave it on standby.

The credit crunch will admittedly mean that people are more cautious about how much their electricity bills are but more needs to be done to help future generations. According to the BBC Weather Centre we are already seeing change and will continue to do so, but if predictions are correct then our climate will be a very different place in the next ten to twenty years as it is now.

Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/evidence/too_late.shtml
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/yourenv/639312/?version=1&lang=_e

First Post

Hi,
I'm Sophie Ames, a second year student studying journalism at the university of Central Lancashire.
This is my first blog of what will be many as part of my course. I have been given the topic of the environment to focus on and discuss.
I haven't blogged before because I never really understood the reasons why people would want to spend time writing about their personal life or their opinions for everybody else to see and comment on. Just from saying that though, I have realised that is exactly what social networking sites like Facebook (which I regularly use) do.
I am hoping that I will gain an insight into the blogging world and want to carry on past what my course requires me to do. Feel free to leave any comments.