WELCOME to our districts section featuring events from communities around the borough.
CENTRAL
Mesnes Park
Get creative in the great outdoors
ON Thursday August 1 at 10am until noon residents are invited to try their hand hand at making bird feeder wreaths, willow craft, mosaics, leaf collages and dyes, all using natural materials.
The first session will be free and then £3.50 per person each week. Suitable for age 16-plus.
Anybody interested is urged to book in advanced.
For more information contact 01942 488 481.
Swinley
Charity performance at parish church
ST Michael’s Parish, Shaw Street, will be hosting the new musical Sweet Charity throughout the week.
Performed by Orrell Musical and Dramatic Society, the show follows unlucky-in-love Charity Valentine in her optimistic search for Mr Right.
Tickets are priced £7.50 can be obtained by contacting 01695 622713 or on the door on the night.
Wallgate
Ukulele open mic night
THE Raven Pub is hosting the very first Chonkin Choons-day along with Wigan band Chonkinfeckle.
The event is aimed at those who play uke or the banjo uke and no guitars are allowed at this open mic night.
The event, on Tuesday August 5 starting at 7.30pm, is free entry.
NORTH
Haigh
New play equipment at Country Park
YOUNG visitors to Haigh Country Park can take advantage of a new piece of play equipment thanks to a £20,000 investment from Wigan Council.
The new play structure, which incorporates a climbing frame, ropes and slide was installed at the park, managed by leisure provider WLCT, as the school holidays began.
Stuart Murray, chief executive at WLCT, added: “This new equipment has given a real boost to the play area, which is always busy when the sun comes out.
“It’s a great time of year to visit Haigh and there is loads to do for all the family, whether you enjoy a game of crazy golf or want to sit down to an afternoon tea at Haigh Hall – come and see what we’ve got on offer.”
The new play equipment was provided by SJ Danby Ltd Playscheme.
Standish
New manager needed
STANDISH Community Centre is looking for a new manager to take over its day to day running.
At the moment the centre is run by volunteers who are working very hard to keep it open and benefit the community, but to ensure the success continues they need either plenty of new volunteers or a permanent role for the right person.
Anyone interested in being a centre volunteer or a permanent member is asked to call 01257 421048.
Shevington
Fete set to shine
SHEVINGTON Fete takes place on Saturday between 11am and 4pm.
It will be held on Shevington recreation ground with a 50 stalls and other attractions.
These include an Urban Farm run by ProCo, Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group, Unify Credit Union, Mountain Monkey’s Climbing Wall, art and heritage displays, horticultural show, children’s races, tug of war and welly-throwing.
Shevington with Lower Ground councillors will also be present with a stall to meet and greet residents and help with any issues they may want addressing.
SOUTH
Ashton
Outdoor music event in the park
THE Friends of Jubilee Park group’s final concert of the year takes place this Sunday with an open invitation extended.
From 2pm to 4pm at the Jubilee Flower Park, Pemberton Brass Band will be running through their repertoire of favourite tunes.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their own seating and a picnic to enjoy the afternoon.
The park is also hosting a series of sporting activities over the summer holidays run by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust including tennis coaching sessions.
For more information visit www.wlct.org/sport-and-healthy-living/
Bryn
Fun sessions at children’s centre
THE Bryn Children’s Centre is running fun sessions for youngsters on July 23 and August 8.
The stay and play classes are perfect for parents and their kids to have a dance, sing, play and make arts and crafts.
For more information, contact the centre on 01942 723965, the class costs £1 per child.
Ashton
Traffic measures in place
CARRIAGEWAY resurfacing will be taking place this week on Wigan Road in Ashton close to the Haslemere Industrial Estate up to Saturday August 1.
Temporary traffic signals will be in place during off peak hours.
From Sunday August 3 the road will be closed, a local diversion will be in place.
For more information on upcoming road closures contact 01942 489302.
Ashton and Bryn
Keep fit and healthy during pregnancy
EXPECTANT mothers are invited to attend the Aqua Natal class at Ashton Childrens Centre.
Held on Mondays from 3pm to 4pm, the class is a water based workout to support a healthy pregnancy.
EAST
Lowton
Residents’ group puts on family fun day
THE Oaklands and Meadows Residents’ Association (OMRA) will put on a family fun day at Lowton Social Club on Sunday August 10.
The packed programme will contain a host of activities at the Newton Road venue, including climbing walls, Zumba, disco dancing and a craft tent alongside traditional community events such as face-painting, bouncy castles and a stocks to pelt victims with wet sponges.
There will also be street dance demos, while community groups will run stalls and the club’s bar will be open.
The fun day runs from 12.30pm until 4.30pm. For more information email omralowton@gmail.com
Bickershaw
Weekend closure for rail bridge works
DRIVERS will have to take a diversion this weekend as Bickershaw Lane will be shut for strengthening work on a railway bridge.
The road will be closed on Saturday August 2 and Sunday August 3 to enable the engineers to work on the site. The diversion route will be via Warrington Road, Platt Street, Liverpool Road, Atherton Road, Leigh Road and Smiths Lane.
Atherton
Walk on the wild side at nature festival
THE Arts for Nature Festival will offer families the chance to get closer to the wildlife in their local area with a whole day of activities.
The event will take place at Atherton Cricket Club on Sunday August 10, with activities including art workshops and wildlife walks to spot mini beasts, birds, bats and wildflowers led by the Friends of Atherton Wildlife and Nature (FAWN).
There will also be an artisan market and craft demonstrations, music and performance artists as well as face painting and children’s entertainers.
Entrance to the event at the club on Eckersley Fold Lane is by a £1 donation for adults, which includes a raffle ticket, and free for children.
The festival runs from 11am until 11pm. To find out more about the event, search for FAWN Atherton on Facebook.
Abram
War memorabilia at church’s exhibition
ITEMS showing how Wiganers coped with life during World War One a century ago will go on display at Abram Parish Church this week.
The free exhibition opens today and runs until Sunday August 3, when a memorial to Abram-born soldier John Elisha Grimshaw VC will be unveiled.
The exhibition is open from 12.30pm to 3pm Wednesday to Friday, 10am until 2pm on Saturday August 2 and 12.30pm until 4pm on Sunday August 3.
Leigh
Learn survival skills at foraging classes
WIGAN Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) is running sessions learning how to survive in the great outdoors in Lilford Park every Monday until August 25.
The sessions are for anyone aged 16 and over and are £1.50, starting at 10am. To book ring 01942 488481.
WEST
Norley Hall
Help catch newspaper shredder
COUN Jeanette Prescott is appealing for members of public who have witnessed a man shredding and littering newspapers on grassland off Montrose Avenue, near the ProCo Skills Centre.
She said: “The man is in his 50s and walks across the field at night ripping up newspapers and causing a mess. Surely some night workers must have seen him.
“It costs a fortune to clear it up and so we want to stop him.
“If anyone has any information get in touch with me via e-mail J.Prescott@wigan.gov.uk or call the council’s environmental team on 01942 404364.”
Lamberhead
Colourful flower exhibition
ORRELL Horticultural Society holds a flower show on Tuesday August 5 at the Independent Methodist Church, in Fleet Street, from 7.30pm.
There will be a display of gladioli, dahlias, fuchsias and tomatoes. Entry is free and everybody is welcome.
Robin Park
Resurfacing work near police station
WIGAN Council will be undertaking carriageway resurfacing works outside Wigan police headquarters on Robin Park Road from Tuesday August 5 to Friday August 8.
Temporary traffic signals will be in operation at off-peak hours. There will also be a road closure in place on
Sunday August 10.
A local diversion will be in place.
Orrell
World War One prayers
CHURCHES Together in Orrell is holding a day of prayer at St Luke’s Church, Lodge Road, Orrell, on Monday August 4 to mark the First World War anniversary.
Special services will be held at 9am and 6pm.
The church will be open throughout the day for
personal prayer.
Light refreshments will be available.