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Pie dial clocks true history of Wigan
The Wigan Children & Young People Services (CYPS) Outdoor Education Team
is turning back time to teach local youngsters the true history of the
borough.
In recent times, Wigan has gathered a reputation for pie munching.
However, once upon a time, the town was renowned throughout the land for
the ability of its clockmakers!
This less well known historical fact is celebrated in an innovative “Pie
Dial” that has been installed by the local youth service at Scotsmans
Flash in Poolstock. The attraction forms part of an exciting new water
discovery trail.
2005 World Junior Kayaking champion James Bevington, who learned to
kayak at Scotsmans, will officially open the trail this Thursday (April
20th).
Over the past 18 months, the CYPS Outdoor Education Team has developed
the resource in partnership with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The
trail features ten water bound orienteering points, which are all works
of art. Many of the features can only be seen by boat. Local artists
have produced some of the points under commission, while others have
been constructed by a group of 30 young people.
In addition to the “Pie Dial”, the trail features a mosaic of the local
canal and a 9ft wooden dinosaur, typical of the creatures that lived in
the carboniferous period when the coal seams, so important to the recent
history of Wigan, were laid down.
CYPS Outdoor Education Team Manager Eric Bradbury said: “The trail is a
unique outdoor attraction, the only of its type in the local area,
celebrating the history of Wigan Borough, particularly our ecological
and transportation heritage. It's something for all the family to see.
"The young people who have helped develop the trail have been very
dedicated, and I would like to thank them for their enthusiasm, time and
effort. The Flash is one of the only sites in the Wigan area that caters
for all types of water activities, from canoeing, to dragon boating. We
hope that the new trail will get even more people accessing this
wonderful resource."
The trail has been established thanks to a £25,000 grant from the
Heritage Lottery Fund. For further information or to make a group
booking, contact Eric Bradley on (01942) 769811.
-ends-
Notes to Editors
Photo Opportunity
• Members of the press are invited to the official opening of the
Scotsmans Flash Water Discovery Trail tomorrow (April 20th). The day
will include a fun water activity session between 10am and 3pm. James
Bevington will officially open the trail at 11am.
Further information
• Wigan's Children and Young People's Services (CYPS) is a new council
department which unites all the services currently available for
children and young people and their families in the borough. It brings
together functions previously carried out by various council departments
and partner organisations including the Local Education Authority,
Social Services, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust and Positive Futures into
one comprehensive service.
• CYPS is Wigan's response to the Government's 2003 Green Paper Every
Child Matters and calls for greater co-operation between agencies and
aims to ensure that all children are safeguarded and have the
opportunity to fulfil their potential. The service adheres to the
principles of Every Child Matters and aims to support children and young
people in achieving the five outcomes listed in the green paper: Be
healthy, Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a Positive Contributions and
Achieve Economic Well-Being.
For more information contact Angela Kirk, Young People’s Press
Officer for the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, on 01942 828923 or
e-mail
A.Kirk@wlct.org
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