SMBC Parks & Recreation win Gold at 2006 Tatton Show 

Congratulations are due to Stockport Council's Parks & Recreation Team, whose entry in the flower bed competition at the RHS  Show at Tatton Park won a Gold Medal last week. This victory has strong links to Marple as it was our flight of 16 Locks, built in 1804, that inspired the award winning theme. Furthermore, the exhibit is now to be rebuilt in Marple Memorial Park, so that more local people can get to see it.

The flower bed depicted a three-dimensional view of a Marple canal lock with water pouring through the gates into the canal below. The display used a cascading range of blue petunia to represent the water and Dichronra 'Sliver Falls' to show the water falling over the lock. Impatiens 'Expo Cherry', 'Expo Wine' and 'Expo Blush were used to surround the main water scene, forming the distinctive shape of the spectacular Marple Aqueduct arches.

Members of the Friends of Marple Memorial Park and Marple Locks Heritage Society, who manned a stall next to the display each day of the show in Tatton Park, can vouch for the fact that there was huge interest in the Stockport entry and it was easily the most photographed flower bed exhibit. The Society were giving away copies of their newly published Marple Locks Trail - a folding A3 leaflet with map of the locks system explaining key heritage features on-route, plus a potted history of the locks. We at the Marple Website are pleased to have been involved with the production of this leaflet, which complements our Locks Virtual Tour and was funded by Marple Area Committee and Marple Business Forum.

If you would like a free copy of the Marple Locks Trail, they are available in Marple Library, at Top Lock Marine or in the Ring o' Bells. If you would like a copy but don't live locally, send a stamped addressed envelope to Marple Locks Heritage Society, c/o 5 Lime Kiln Lane, Marple, Stockport, SK6 6BX.