Spring 2010 Parkwood`s Spiciest Leisure Centre Opens Its Doors

The magazine for Parkwood
employees, clients and shareholders
Spring 2010
Parkwood's spiciest leisure
centre opens its doors
•Parkwood Leisure
now biggest in
group
•Parkwood
Healthcare comes
to Manchester
•Great Glendale
news in Lewisham
and Solihull
•Glendale’s Easter
Eggs
•Parkwood’s
Big Fat Greek
Wedding
For the latest news and information
visit www.parkwood-holdings.co.uk
Glendale News
Chairman's View: On Politics,
The Recession and Parkwood’s Future
Parkwood Holdings plc in common
with many other businesses has had a
difficult time during the recession of the
last eighteen months, but I am pleased
to report that the Group has weathered the storm. The sale of
assets that Parkwood held in some of its specialist leisure PFI
companies generated £5 million in December last year. Parkwood
Leisure is now the largest business within the Group and despite
increases in electricity and gas prices has made record profits.
Glendale continues to be a robust and profit making enterprise
and I can happily announce that one of Glendale’s oldest
contracts at Solihull in the Midlands, which we have held for
20 years has recently been renewed, as reported on page 8.
Admittedly some problems still exist within some of Parkwood’s
smaller businesses of horticulture, recycling, golf and healthcare,
but these are problems which I anticipate resolving by the end
of the year. In the meantime there is always something new and
dynamic happening within the Parkwood group.
But, hard times are not over for the country as a whole. We are
about to have an election and only when this is over and a new
government is formed will we really start to pay for the debt that
the UK has accumulated. What will this mean for Parkwood and
its various businesses?
We operate mainly by providing services to the public sector,
serving the communities in which we live and work, providing
swimming lessons for children, running crèches, cutting grass
and providing amenity in our parks and gardens. It is unlikely
that these front line services will be cut, but the public will have
By Tony Hewitt
less to spend and local authorities may reduce what they spend
on additional works. Our retail sales in golf, horticulture and
health and fitness will continue to be affected. But there may be
opportunities for us as well, because many local authorities still
provide their services ‘in-house’ and they may look to the private
sector for help.
As Chairman of the Group, I find myself called upon to tread
carefully over the next year or two. I have reduced overheads
and senior management posts and will conserve cash and engage
in some old fashioned husbandry, which may mean that there will
be fewer new vehicles, and we may have to keep assets longer
than we would ideally like to, whether they be gym equipment or
grass cutting machinery.
The general election is predicted for 6th May and many of
Parkwood Leisure’s sports halls have been provisionally booked
for the count that night. A wish for change is in the air and many
of us feel that all politicians have let us down: so whom should we
turn to? It is important that we express our opinion by voting and
may I suggest that you look carefully at all the candidates, turn
out the corrupt and bring in new, honest, hardworking Members
of Parliament who will help the country face its problems.
Finally, to the staff, clients, customers and shareholders who have
showed their continued support over the past eighteen months I
would like to say a personal thank you. Honest hard work is the
foundation on which the Parkwood group's success has been built
and it is on this that our future success will depend.
Parkwood Profile: Meet Bat Man
Freddy Brookes is the Senior Ecologist for Parkwood Environmental Consultancy
where part of his job involves hanging around under the eaves at night...
Fishing was Freddy’s first step
towards being an ecologist
1. Why do you spend so
much time with bats?
I conduct bat surveys in buildings
that are going to be developed
or in trees that might be felled.
It's very important to establish
robust presence/absence data as
bat legislation is very stringent.
2. So what’s so special
about bats and why do they
need protecting?
Bats are unique flying mammals.
Sadly, bat populations have
suffered severe declines during
the past century due to changes
in agricultural practice and the
loss of woodlands, hedges and
ponds.
2
Parkwood News
3. Is it possible to build a
house if there are bats on the
land?
Yes, Often we advise placing bat
boxes on site or building artificial
roosts.
4. Do bats make good
neighbours?
They’re very secretive; the
majority of people who have bats
in their loft don't even know they
are there.
4. Do bats really suck
blood?
Only in Hollywood and I don’t
survey there. But they do like
insects. A pipistrelle bat can
consume up to 3,000 insects in
one night.
7. How did you become
interested in being an
ecologist?
I have always been fascinated by
the outdoors and conservation.
However, when we represent our
clients we have to come up with
reasonable solutions that are
proportionate and considered.
8. What other surveys do
you carry out?
During the Spring and Summer
I can be found up to my armpits
in ponds surveying for the Great
Crested Newt! We also survey
for reptiles, white-clawed
crayfish, badger, otter and
dormouse.
9. Are there any other
animals you think we should
be doing more to protect?
There can be too much onus on
protecting fauna that might be
termed as cuddly - what I call
the Disney factor - but I would
prefer the creation of multispecies habitats which promote
biodiversity.
10. How can Parkwood help
the public to live alongside
animals and nature?
We should all think locally to
create havens for wildlife,
however small. Together this
can make a big difference to
biodiversity on a regional and
National level.
14. What are the best and
worst things about your job?
The best part is definitely being
able to work outdoors in good
weather. The worst is probably
sleep deprivation!
Submitted by Dawn Dodgson
Glimmering above the River Cherwell on a dark
December night, the lights from the cars on a
busy roundabout in Banbury are reflected in
the windows of the Spiceball Leisure Centre,
Parkwood Consultancy’s latest spectacular
achievement.
The Spiceball Leisure Centre at night
At 6.15a.m. on the 14th
December 2009 the new
Spiceball Leisure Centre
opened its doors. Local
residents were wowed by the
centre’s six lane 25metre pool
and a teaching pool with a
moveable floor to get nervous
swimmers used to deeper
waters! Other innovative
features of the centre include
a county standard basketball
court, swish and spacious
dance studios, a café bar with
outside terrace and a public
art area.
The completion of the
£16.5million Spiceball Leisure
Centre was the crowning
moment in Parkwood
Consultancy’s Cherwell Leisure
Centres' Modernisation
Project. Having completed the
The training pool has a moveable floor.
Manager at The Spiceball
commented, “It’s great
that we are now able to
provide first class sports and
leisure facilities to our local
community. We hope that the
new facilities will make health
and fitness more accessible for
everyone.”
refurbishment of Kidlington
& Gosford and Bicester
Leisure Centres in May 2009,
Parkwood will now run the
three leisure centres for the
next 25 years.
The building of the new
Spiceball began in April 2008.
The old, flood prone leisure
centre was kept open for
customers’ use during the
construction period right until
the day of The Spiceball’s
opening. This logistical tour de
force was accomplished thanks
to the fantastic co-operation
of all the groups involved,
including the builder, Kier
Moss, Parkwood Community
Leisure and the client, Cherwell
District Council.
Graham Bleach, Centre
The dance studio’s sprung floor
Parkwood News
3
Parkwood News
Parkwood Consultancy completes
a flagship leisure centre
Parkwood News
Parkwood set to cut its
carbon emissions
It's no April Fools' Day joke. The UK government's serious commitment
to tackling climate change starts on April 1st this year, when around
5000 British companies will be required to cover the cost of their carbon
emissions by taking part in the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy
Efficiency (CRC) Scheme.
Any company or organisation
in the UK that used over
6,000 megawatts of
electricity in 2008 will have
to participate in the scheme.
In 2008 Parkwood Holdings
used 27,000 megawatts of
electricity, a figure which the
group is now looking to cut
and in so doing reduce its
carbon footprint as well as
its energy costs.
From April 2010 the group
will have to buy carbon
allowances at a cost of
£12 per tonne of carbon
produced for the first three
years of the scheme. On
an annual basis a league
table will be issued that will
highlight how organisations
have performed. Parkwood
hopes to announce its move
up this league table in a
year's time!
As the biggest carbon
emmitter within the group,
Parkwood Leisure has taken
the initaitive of appointing
'energy wardens' in each of
its leisure centres to see that
energy savings are made
from the bottom up. From
turning lights off in changing
rooms to installing smart
metres to measure energy
output, Leisure is working to
bring energy awareness to
the forefront of everyone's
attentions. Liz Hopkins,
Environmental Manager at
Parkwood Consultancy, is
overseeing the project..
The CRC scheme is an
important step towards
helping the UK meet its
targets to reduce its
greenhouse gas emissions by
80% by 2050.
Parkwood's
Carbon
Footprint is
about to get
smaller
How many
pints does
Parkwood
pull?
Not many people might be
aware of the range of catering
services provided across the
Parkwood Group. Whether it’s
dressing a healthy salad in one of
the Parkwood Leisure centres,
dishing up bacon butties to
golfers after an early morning
tee-off on one of the Glendale
Golf courses or preparing a
lavish Greek wedding banquet
for 500 people at Weston Super
Mare Winter Gardens, there’s a
smorgasboard of foods available
for every customer’s taste.
Last year Parkwood served up:
865,208 cups of coffee
659,058 bottles of
Lucozade 74,030 glasses
of milk and pulled 227,888
pints of beer.
Fancy a credit crunch
golfing holiday?
Glendale Golf’s Duxbury
Park in Lancashire has a chic
furnished cottage available to
rent at a bargain price.
Nearly four hundred years ago the
trend was to try to escape Duxbury
rather than come to visit it. Captain
Myles Standish, of Duxbury Estate,
left this wooded Lancashire parkland
in 1620 to sail on the 'Mayflower' to
the 'New World' of America.
Had there been an 18 hole
championship golf course at
Duxbury in Captain Standish's day,
perhaps he wouldn't have made it to
New England. Duxbury today has
plenty to entice visitors to stay and
although visitors sadly can't sleep
in the Captain's stately home, they
can enjoy the modern comforts
4
Parkwood News
of en-suite showers, LCD t.v.s and
tea and coffee making facilities in a
farmhouse on the Duxbury Estate.
The farmhouse makes for a perfect
weekend getaway for a group of
family or friends. Non-golfers
can enjoy shopping in nearby
Manchester or can stroll round
Worthington Lakes, do a spot of bird
watching at Martin Mere wetlands,
meet Merlin and pals at Camelot
Theme Park or visit the Tower, Zoo
and Winter Gardens at Blackpool
which is less than an hour's drive
away. In the evenings visitors can
make use of the farmhouse's wellequipped kitchen or nip over to grab
a bar snack from 19, Duxbury's own
restaurant.
The whole cottage, which sleeps up
to eight, can be rented from just
£99 per night. Indulge yourself
and book your weekend break now
by e-mailing duxburyfarmhouse@
glendale-services.co.uk or calling
01257 265380.
After 15 years of trading,
Parkwood Leisure has finally
overtaken its sister company
Glendale in size. In 2010, the
leisure division is forecasting to
take over £65million in revenue
from its 26 contracts.
Currently operating 76 leisure
facilities, the company employs
4,375 staff at its centres
spread from Cumbria in the
north to Penzance in the south.
60% of these staff are female
and 54% are aged between 18
and 29 years old. So its official,
we’re a young company in
more ways than one!
I am convinced that the
success of the company is
largely due to the stability of
our senior management team
and the fantastic dedication
of all our staff. In the early
days the leisure division
found it difficult to grow in
such a competitive market
and we were grateful for
the support offered by our
sister company Glendale.
However, as the company
passed the £20million mark it
became more self sufficient
and Parkwood Leisure is
now established as the most
successful company in the UK
public leisure management
market.
In 2005, health and fitness
revenue represented 26% of
the company’s turnover. Just
five years later, this statistic
has leapt to over 33% as the
nation continues to become
more aware of obesity
problems, the importance
of healthy living and general
fitness. Every month, 52,000
of our customers use the
branded Expressions gyms,
while 27,000 children are now
learning to swim at a Parkwood
Leisure pool every month.
If you are a visitor to any of
the towns and cities where
Parkwood Leisure operate, you
might type the words “leisure
centre” into a computer to try
and find your nearest sports
centre or swimming pool. I
can guarantee that the first
website you come across at
the top of your screen, will
Parkwood has won a 25
year contract to manage
Portsmouth Outdoors
Centre
be lesiurecentre.com – the
website of Parkwood Leisure.
Purchased in 2001 for the
princely sum of £10, this site
currently has over 150,000
hits each month. It is without
doubt the best investment the
company has ever made. Don’t
tell the Chairman what it might
be worth now!
With a forward order book of
£307million and the company
doubling in size every four
years, Parkwood Leisure has a
positive future ahead of it.
Parkwood Leisure's website
www.leisurecentre.com was
bought in 2001 for the princely
sum of £1.
Andrew G Holt
Managing Director,
Parkwood Leisure
Parkwood
Leisure sails
into new
waters
By Laura Newton
On the 8th December 2009 Parkwood Leisure
commenced operation of the management
contract for Portsmouth Outdoor Centre. The
contract is for a period of 25 years.
Water-lovers coming to the centre can learn
to sail, windsurf, canoe and kayak with courses
accredited by the Royal Yachting Association and
British Canoe Union. Additionally the centre offers
a range of educational courses for schools and
colleges, which include team building, raft building
and environmental studies field work. The centre
also includes a 13 metre outdoor climbing wall.
Next stop France!
For further information please visit www.portsmouthoutdoor.co.uk.
removes
sunbeds
By Laura Newton
On 1st January 2010, Parkwood
Leisure led the way in the UK by
removing all of its sunbeds from
its leisure centres.
Andrew Holt, Managing Director,
commented, “Health and safety
is our number one priority
and always will be. Having
considered all the research
available, we now feel that
removing sunbeds is in the best
interests of our customers. Our
local authority clients have given
us their unanimous support for
this initiative.”
Katy Scammell, Cancer Research
UK's SunSmart manager, said,
“We're really pleased that
Parkwood Leisure are removing
sunbeds from their leisure
centres and Cancer Research UK
fully supports this step.”
Parkwood Leisure's sunbed
rooms are now being
transformed into revenuegenerating relaxation areas.
Free Swimming
Initiative
By Laura Newton
Parkwood pools have
provided 13.65 million free
swims for the over 60s and
the under 16s.
Since April 2009, Parkwood
Leisure has been taking part
in the Department of Culture
Media and Sport (DCMS) Free
Swimming Initiative. In an effort
to get Britain healthy by 2012 the
UK government has been offering
chances to the elderly and the
young to take part for free in
the country’s favourite sporting
activity: swimming.
The Parkwood Leisure pools
participating in this scheme have
seen increases in swimming of
over 13% on average.
Parkwood News
5
Leisure News
Parkwood Leisure is now the Parkwood
largest division in the group! Leisure
Leisure News
Countdown to 2012: Parkwood's Big Fat
Olympic Recognition for Greek Wedding
Parkwood Leisure sites
Way back in 1959 the Greek Orthodox community rented out an
Anglican Church in Bristol. Fifty years on and weddings from the
thriving Greek community in the south-west are now big enough to
fill the Weston Super Mare Winter Gardens. Parkwood Leisure, who
manages the Winter Gardens, has the responsibility of feeding the
five hundred wedding guests who turn up to sing songs and smash
plates around the bride and groom.
By Laura Newton
But there’s no plate-smashing behind the scenes in the kitchens,
where Tracy Conquer, head chef, and Matthew Gower, 2nd chef
keep everything running smoothly. Tracy joined Parkwood in Jan
2005 through the "New Deal" government scheme to help people
retrain.
Tracy has been promoted within the team becoming 3rd chef, 2nd
and finally successfully becoming our Head Chef at the Winter
Gardens. Tracy has shown passion, strength and motivation in
her position, and continues to grow in her leadership of others,
confidence and qualifications.
Parkwood Leisure managed Cardiff International Pool is to host the
Australian Paralympic Swimming Team and the South African Olympic
Swim Team in the run up to 2012.
Seven Parkwood Leisure sites
have been named as London
2012 Pre-Games Training
Camps in an official guide
produced by the London 2012
Organising Committee for the
Olympic Games (LOCOG).
a great opportunity for towns
throughout the UK to get
involved in our plans.
”The process we have been
through shows a great spread
of high quality facilities
throughout the UK that can be
used by elite level athletes.”
Sebastian Coe, Chair of
LOCOG, said: “We said that
we wanted the London Games
to be for athletes, and the
facilities listed in this Guide will
really help overseas athletes
prepare well. It also provides
Feeding the five thousand (ok, five hundred) may not be everyone’s
cup of tea, but as the Greek saying goes,
Leisure Jump Starts 2010!
For those who had one mince
pie too many this Christmas,
Parkwood Leisure offered
a tempting way to lose the
extra pounds without losing
too many pennies. Parkwood
Leisure customers were
offered the opportunity to join
Expressions Fitness in January
and receive the rest of the
month free as part of Leisure’s
“Huge Fitness” campaign.
The campaign not only proved
6
Parkwood News
After leaving school in 2004, Matthew joined Parkwood Leisure as
a part time food & beverage assistant while he trained at Weston
College in Hospitality. Matthew often steps out of his role as a busy
2nd chef and successfully promotes activities to drive the business
forward.
a success for our customers
but also for our leisure
centres who between them
sold a record-breaking 6484
memberships in one month.
Laura Newton
‘Life is like a cucumber.
One person eats it and is refreshed
while the other is forced to eat it.’
Smoked Salmon Roulade (Serves 12)
1. Lay one side of smoked salmon on a strip of cling-film to create an
oblong shape, with the salmon just overlapping the edges.
2. Blend together 500g of soft cheese, a portion of cooked salmon
with the skin removed, some cooked prawns and some finely
chopped dill and a teaspoon of creamed horseradish. Stir in a few
finely chopped prawns.
3. Spread the mix evenly on top of the smoked salmon, then place a
small amount of smoked salmon in a strip to the centre.
Parkwood
Leisure
kick started
the year
4. Lift the cling film by its long edge and you the smoked salmon
should roll like a Swiss Roll.
5. Twist the ends and place in your freezer. Remove when required and
cut before fully defrosted to create a good finish.
Glendale News
Supervisor Vincent Frimpong and
chargehand Wayne Dyer
Ten Years Community
Service in Lewisham:
A pleasurable sentence for the
Glendale team
The sun was already out
at 7.30a.m. when Gemma
Marston, Events Manager for
Glendale Grounds Lewisham,
arrived at Deptford Park to
prepare for the signing event
that would formalise the
signing of another ten years
‘partnerhsip’ with Lewisham
Council.
For Gemma this was an
everyday event to organise;
in the six years Gemma has
worked for Glendale she has
helped co-ordinate celebrations
for 26,500 people on
Lewisham’s People’s Day and
has been at work as early as
5a.m. to prepare for the start
of the London Marathon on
Glendale managed Blackheath
Common. But the signing on
Wednesday 17th March was
as important to Gemma as
any of these events. ‘Winning
another ten years’ work is great
news,’ said Gemma. Gemma
is currently the only woman
manager in her team but she
insists that her male colleagues
look after her. ‘It’s like a big
family.’
Vincent Frimpong, Grounds
supervisor, seconds Gemma’s
sentiment. Vincent has been
with Glendale seven years and
his pleasure in his job is evident
in his easy laugh and wide smile.
‘It’s good times ahead,’ says
Vincent. I comment that not
many people in the UK think
so at the moment. Vincent’s
response? ‘That’s because
they’ve lost their passion.’ By
the end of our chat Vincent is
recommending to me a good
Nigerian restaurant on Deptford
High Street which he goes to
sometimes with his colleague,
chargehand Wayne Dyer. ‘But
we go after work,’ stresses
Vincent cheekily.
Workers on the Lewisham
contract have reason to be
happy. The newly signed
contract promises to deliver
London Living Wages, based on
a pay scale where the minimum
wage is £7.60 an hour. Head
of Human Resources, Sue
McGrath, comments,
'This initiative is a worthwhile
cause, demonstrating proactive
support within the Capital
during the economic downturn,
ensuring that London retains
the skilled employees it requires
to maintain it's reputation as
a leading City in which to do
business'.
As well as the Glendale
Lewisham team, Tony Hewitt
and the Mayor, a few locals
have turned up for the event,
including the head of the
Friends of Deptford Park
Association. General Manger
Darren Budden explains how
Glendale facilitates meetings
for local residents to voice their
opinions on how they want
their park to be run. ‘Glendale
is almost seen as part of the
Council round here. This is a
contract where we are very
much in partnership with our
client.’
Another friend of the Glendale
Team who has turned up
‘on duty’ for the day is
Aysan Djemil, who comes
accompanied by his wife and
step daughter who are bringing
trays of chocolate éclairs and
cream cakes for the big day.
Aysan runs the cafe in Manor
House Gardens, sublet to him
by Glendale. From this venture
Aysan has opened up four more
cafes in other parks. ‘We have
mothers and toddlers using
our park five days a week,’ says
Aysan with pride. He adds, ‘One
of the kids who plays football
in the park by the cafe has an
illness which means he has to
be fed through a tube. His mum
rings me up in the cafe to ask
me to call him to go home when
it’s time for his tea.’
the possibility of Aysan’s
collaborating with Glendale.
‘Glendale already had someone
else in mind,’ says Aysan, ‘but
Daniel put his trust in me.’
The success of the Lewisham
Contract, it would seem, is
built on having loyal staff who
genuinely enjoy their work.
Gemma’s male colleagues
recently ribbed her that maybe
work was too much a part of
her life when they pointed out
that the colour of the new
car she had just bought was
identical to none other than the
Glendale Green!
Aysan is keen to meet Tony
Hewitt to tell him that eight
years ago, when Aysan was
gong through a tough time
following the death of his first
wife, it was Tony’s son Daniel,
then working on the Lewisham
Contract, who met with Aysan
in a local cafe to talk about
Parkwood News
7
Glendale News
Glendale’s good deed New name and new
boss for Glendale
Scotland
Proving that community spirit is alive and well where Glendale
works, Glendale Grounds Management’s Mark Tavener at the
Gatwick contract recently responded to a request from the
Gatwick Police to help make a footpath from Gatwick Airport to
neighbouring Horley safe for use by Gatwick staff.
By Phil Sugden
The footpath that crossed various land boundaries had fallen into
a state of overgrowth, vandalism and neglect. The combination
of dark nights, overgown foliage and bouts of racist graffiti made
Gatwick Airport staff fearful of using the footpath to cycle or
walk to work. Since no one was ready to accept responsibility
for the footpath, Glendale stepped in to help out and cleared the
footpath free of charge.
As Glendale employees were busy trimming back trees and
clearing the path they were stopped by members of the
community who thanked them for their work.
From dark and dangerous to open and
inviting: Glendale cleared the way for
a pleasant stroll back from work.
The gardens of The Marriot Hotel, Edinburgh, landscaped by Glendale
Scotland. Glendale did a great job with the planting but couldn’t do much
to change the weather.
‘Left a bit!’
Michael Mitchie
and Niel Everett
from Glendale
get to work
Glendale has been operating
in Scotland for three years
as Landscape Construction
(Scotland), providing a
wide range of hard and
soft landscaping services,
estate management and
arboricultural services. The
client base ranges from major
construction companies to
local authorities. But this year
the company has adopted its
big sister company’s name and
become ‘Glendale Scotland’.
to building a business in
Scotland. This has been
further strengthened by the
appointment of a new General
Manager, Graeme Moore.
Graeme has changed sides
having previously been one of
our major clients at the Central
Scotland Forest Trust, bringing
a wealth of industry knowledge
and contract management
experience with him.
The formal name change has
demonstrated our commitment
Fit for another five years in Solihull
The twelve tree surgeons employed on Glendale Midlands Arboricultural team can now
limber up for another five years of work following Glendale Countryside's signing of a 3+2
year renewed contract with Solihull Borough Council.
Glendale has managed the arboricultural work for Solihull since 1990. The work includes
tending to trees on parks, housing estates and highways. In the twenty years of its
operations, Glendale has employed and trained up many local people in green skills.
David Hughes, contract manager, says, 'We enjoy a great relationship with the local council.
We are looking forward to taking this partnership forward over the next five years.'
For the latest news and information visit www.parkwood-holdings.co.uk
8
Parkwood News
A Happy Easter from
Glendale’s Happy Hens
By Clare Jones
Hens prefer the shade
Planting vandal-proof trees
A private shop can ban a youth in a hoodie
from coming in, but you can’t ban a young
person from using a park.
That’s the problem that Solihull Metropoilitan Borough Council
faced recently when it found its attempts to beautify a housing
estate by planting trees thwarted by young people who
vandalised and ultimately killed the saplings. Local resident’s
groups, unhappy with the destruction of these trees, called for
action and luckily Dave Hughes, Contract manager for Glendale
Countryside was on hand to help.
Through consultation with his client and local residents, Dave
and his team were able to offer the necessary skills and specialist
plant to establish much larger 250 Litre rootballed trees, which,
being secured with Root Anchors, meant the risk of vandalism
was significantly reduced. Several months on and the new
trees are thriving. Dave Hughes said he and his team were
proud to have been able to contribute to the Local Community’s
Sustainable Environmental Improvements.
Woodland Eggs hens are free
to wander from barn to forest.
The organisation came about
after a farmer noticed how
his hens preferred the shade
and protection of trees. This
behaviour stems from the hen’s
natural “jungle fowl” instinct to
shelter under trees and protect
themselves from predators.
Woodland hens are more
content to forage and roam,
spending more time outside
and ranging further making
them happier, healthier hens
which lay top quality eggs.
Woodland Eggs has asked
Silvanus Services to
manage their entire planting
programme for the whole
of the UK this year. Over
100,000 trees have already
been planted on farms from
Yorkshire, across to Wales and
down to Cornwall.
All the Farms were planted with
a mixture of fast growing and
slower native trees which are
If you shop at
Morrisons or
Sainsbury’s you can
now buy Woodland
Eggs, laid by hens
whom Glendale’s
Silvanus Services
has helped make
very happy.
indigenous to the local area.
The trees are planted close to
the house to encourage the
hens outside to range. The
newly planted trees on our
farms need nurturing, pruning,
weed control and guarding
during their first few years
of life. All farms are audited
and approved by the RSPCA
and conform to the RSPCA
Freedom Food standard.
For every pack of Woodland
Eggs sold, the Woodland Trust
receives a donation. So far they
have received over £500,000
in donations. So next time
you’re buying eggs, make sure
they’re Woodland Eggs!
Woodland Eggs are on sale in
Morrisons and Sainsburys
Apprentices on the up
Glendale is seeking to increase the number of
apprenticeship schemes it offers from 30 to
50. Apprenticeships offer on-the-job training
for young people between the ages of 16 – 24
and lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
Apprentices play a vital role in helping to reduce
staff skills shortages, minimise staff turnover
and increase productivity.
17 year old Rhys Greensill (pictured) works
as an apprentice fitter for Glendale Grounds,
Birmingham. Although Rhys didn't really like
school, he says, 'I've always wanted to be a
mechanic and Glendale has given me a hands
on opportunity with something I enjoy.' In
the future Rhys would like to have his own
workshops but for now he's busy in his spare
time fixing his motorbike and has already helped
make a go-cart!
Parkwood News
9
Glendale News
ASBO
proof
tree
planting
Healthcare News
Parkwood Healthcare get people healthy
By Ukonu Obasi and Russel Francis
With the aim of encouraging people to stop smoking,
lose weight, exercise more and eat healthily,
Parkwood Healthcare is managing two health trainer
services in Berkshire West and South East Essex.
Reading Health Trainer Team
The Health Trainer Service, set
up in partnership with local
PCTs, is designed to improve
access to health information
and services amongst local
populations. Engaging people
who would not normally make
use of health services is key to
the project, and for this reason
health trainers are chosen who
rather than being medical
experts are experts in local
knowledge and life experience
and who understand the issues
people face when making
changes to improve health. The
health trainers spend most of
their time based at community
venues meeting people one to
one or giving health awareness
information. Some examples
where we are based are
children’s centres, churches, a
women’s refuge, a supermarket,
pharmacies and connexions
centres.
Parkwood Healthcare began
building the skills of its Health
Trainers in November 2009.
On 9th March 2010 Ukonu
Obasi, Senior Health Trainer
for Berkshire West, welcomed
stakeholders and members of
the public to the Service’s launch
event. The event featured an
exhibition of services from other
local service providers as well as
a free raffle with healthy prizes
including a fruit basket and a
three-month free membership
to a Parkwood leisure centre in
Berkshire.
The South East Health Trainer
Service is headed by Susie Tyer.
You can read more about Susie’s
out-of-office healthy activities
on page 10!
South East Essex Health Trainer
Team
New Nursing Agency in Manchester
By Russell Francis
Parkwood Healthcare Ltd is pleased to announce the opening of its
third Nursing Agency.
Katie Harding, Branch Manager of Parkwood Healthcare's new
Manchester Nursing Agency
The Manchester Nursing
Agency Branch will be
supplying Nursing personnel
to NHS, Private and Voluntary
sectors throughout the
North West area. The newly
established Nursing Agency
is situated in the heart of
Manchester City Centre with
offices in Piccadilly.
Katie Harding, Branch Manager
10 Parkwood News
stated “I am delighted to have
joined Parkwood Healthcare
at this exciting time, with their
vision and continued focused
on business development I
am certain that Manchester
Nursing Agency has a
prosperous future and will be
an additional success story for
the Healthcare division.
I am passionate that we
provide the highest standard of
care and customer service to
all of our clients and agency
staff focusing on sustaining
long term, mutually beneficial
relationships.
I am certain with fresh
initiatives and the excellent
support network we have,
Manchester will undoubtedly
build on Parkwood’s enviable
reputation.”
The opening of the new
branch follows Parkwood
Healthcare's successful
inclusion on the NHS
Nursing Agency Framework
Agreement for the North
West Strategic Health
Authority.
Parkwood
Healthcare's
offices in
Manchester's
busy Picadilly
Gardens
Parkwood
helps paves
the way to a
better NHS
by Tim Hayward Smith
Local Involvement Networks or
‘LINks’ are the new structures to
take forward patient and public
involvement in improving local
health and social care services.
LINks have statutory powers and
mobilise community networks
to bring service providers and
commissioners to account and
ensure that they listen to the
voices and views of people who
use their services.
Parkwood Healthcare currently
manages 3 LINk contracts for
the London Boroughs of Harrow,
Lewisham and Greenwich.
Issues which the three LINks are
addressing include:
provision
• Strengthening
and access to appropriate
health services for young
children
chronic and
•Managing
long term conditions
including mental health
and disabilities
health
•Community
concerns
experiences
•Patient
of Maternity Services,
Stroke services, Hospital
discharge procedure and
Mental Health services
of
•Implementation
Personalised Budgets
to Primary Care
•Access
services for the Somali
community.
Through an ongoing process
of outreach and opening a
dialogue with rarely heard
groups, Parkwood Healthcare
hopes to give people a better
awareness of how to access
services and ensure that
where barriers exist they are
highlighted to local service
providers.
Marathon
Men
Glendale’s Landscape Southwest team find each
other in the dark.
What better team bonding could there be than to go down a
cave with your colleagues? Tired of ten-pin-bowling staff
outings, Glendale’s Landscape Southwest team decided on
a more adventurous out of hours’ activity when they went
caving in Pridamsleigh Caverns, Devon.
When not working for Glendale as a machinery manager,
Nick Brown is also a member of Cave Rescue and a
qualified caving instructor. Colleagues Kim Prout (Contract
Administrator), Jim Strang (General Manager) and Paul
Johnson (Contract Manager) put their trust in Nick when
they set off at night for a three-hour journey underground,
although as Jim claims it was more like one hour in the cave
and two hours in the pub.
Kim drives Tesco trucks when
not at Glendale, but can she
maneouvre herself out of this one?
From left to right: Kym Prout,
Nick Brown, Jim Strang and Paul
Johnson.
Biketowork
Susie Tyer, Parkwood
Healthcare’s Health Trainer
for South East Essex, doesn’t
just get people healthy when
she’s at work, out of hours
she’s a belly dancing teacher
and a Healthy Steps Instructor.
Healthy Steps is a specially
designed gentle exercise class for women recovering from Breast
Cancer but is beneficial for various health conditions. Along with
two other members of her Parkwood Healthcare team, Michelle
Livett and Barbara Taylor,Susie has also recently completed a
Bikeability course, a cycling proficiency course for adults who
want to ditch the car and get to work by bike. Barbara Taylor said
‘Many children are learning these courses in school to encourage
more activity, so why not adults. It’s a great way of spending
more time together as a family, and reduce our carbon footprint.’
If you would like to know more about these courses, check out
www.bikeability.org.uk
Not content with completing the
London Marathon last year, Ian
Osborne, Works Programmer
for Glendale Grounds in
Lewisham, is now preparing to
lead a team of six on the London
to Brighton Bike Ride for the
Ian Osborne's not content with one British Heart Foundation.
medal
Meanwhile, 400 miles north,
Glendale Scotland Team Leader
Johnathan Barlow is about to
run his second half marathon in
preparation for taking part in his
first Edinburgh Marathon later
this year, which he is running
to raise money for Macmillan
Cancer Care. This is the first
time Johnathon has undertaken
a challenge like this but the
training is going well and his
colleagues are keen to see him
cross the finishing line!
Johnathan Barlow on site for
Glendale Scotland at Falkirk High
School, where he is in charge of a
major landscape project that we
are doing for Ogilvie Construction
Limited.
CelebSpotting
on
Glendale
Golf
Courses
The eighteenth hole is the place to see and be seen if you fancy
getting in with the In Crowd. Coronation Street’s Tyrone Dobbs
(aka Alan Hasall) was recently spotted doing the rounds of
Glendale Golf’s Duxbury Park in Chorley, Lancashire, while the
ferocious footie manager Niel Warnock is known to practice anger
management by teeing off at Beckenham Palace Golf Course,
managed by Glendale Grounds.
Parkwood News 11
Parkwood News
Glendale gets dirty
Spring Crossword
3
2
1
4
6
5
8
7
9
Enter our
Crossword to
win a £50
gift voucher.
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
21
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Across
1.
7.
9.
10.
11.
12.
14.
15.
16.
18.
19.
22.
25.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Down
These flowers trumpet their charms in Spring (9)
See 8 Down
Period of fasting in preparation for Easter (4)
Young creature born in Spring (4)
Male pupils at Hogwarts School (7)
Children In ______, an annual British charity appeal (4)
Deep, wide ditch around a castle (4)
Toy consisting of a spool attached to a string (2-2)
Fields, a British star of cinema and music hall (6)
Ex-Goodie, who presented ‘Springwatch’ for a number of years (5)
April 25 is the date for the 2010 London ________ (8)
Part of a pair of trousers (3)
‘____, Tag and Bobtail’, an early BBC children’s television
programme (3)
Creature that delivers baskets of coloured eggs at Easter (5)
Spring plant with white, yellow or purple flowers (6)
Easter Eggs are made of this (9)
Sudden attack from a concealed position (6)
April 23 is this saint’s day (6)
It is also called Pancake Day (6,7)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
8.
13.
17.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
30.
Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on this creature (6)
Lunar event on March 30 and April 28 in 2010 (4,4)
US comedy movie starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels (4,3,6)
‘The Rite Of ______’, a famous piece of music by Igor Stravinsky (6)
This saint’s day falls on March 17 (7)
Decorative container for holding Spring flowers (7)
And 7 Across. Film musical which features the song ‘Steppin’ Out
With My Baby’ (6,6)
Out of favour husbands are said to be in here (8)
Grain used in making whisky in the USA (3)
Person who shoots with a bow and arrow (6)
On a ship (6)
Chinese fruit enclosing a sweet jellylike pulp and a single seed (6)
Friday before Easter (4)
Mick Jagger is the lead singer with the Rolling _____ (6)
Kigali is this African country’s capital city (6)
In Spring we see this colour of shoots (5)
Sure-footed animal, smaller and with longer ears than a horse (3)
Please enclose your name and contact details
along with your answers and send your entry to:
Lara Hewitt
Editor, Parkwood News
Parkwood Holdings plc
Parkwood House
Cuerden Park
Berkeley Drive
Preston
PR5 6BY
A winner will be chosen at random from all correct
entries received by May 31st
Editorial contact and contributions:
Parkwood News is reliant on the articles sent to us and we thank
those who have contributed to this edition. As always, we welcome
your feedback. If you have any comments or would like to contribute
articles then please contact Lara Hewitt, Editor.