Peel Park is a hidden gem right in the middle of a busy city sprawl.

Surrounded by tall buildings, it is part of the commute for many students and local residents, yet many walk past it without exploring its true beauty.

Opened in 1846, it is the oldest park in Salford and many believe it to be the World’s first public park, although this is disputed.

Peel Park in the 1900s

Since then, a lot has changed. A whole University campus has been built around it and it is now dwarfed by the towering buildings of Salford.

Peel Park today

Now, Salford’s New Adelphi Theatre are putting the park back into the limelight with their new online film screening and panel discussion about the park.

“A Park In Three Acts- A Celebration of Peel Park” is designed to do exactly that, celebrate a natural beauty that is often forgotten.

The screening will be split into three parts; love, thought and spirit.

Act one, love, will include a poem written from the perspective of the park, asking for it to be noticed. Act two, thought, will use archive footage to explore the history of the park.

Act three is called spirit and will use artwork and images to introduce the audience to the concept of the ‘therapeutic park.’

The screening takes place on Zoom on Thursday December 17 at 6:30pm.

Tickets are being sold on a ‘pay what you can’ basis, with all proceeds going to local charity Loaves and Fishes.

Salford Loaves and Fishes are a charity who provide advice and support to vulnerable people or those struggling with homelessness in the community.

They have been particularly relied upon during the pandemic, where they have been doing brilliant work to help families get by during these uncertain times.

Ursula Hurley, the organiser of the screening and panel discussion, said:

“We are delighted to share our work and our process, where everyone’s ideas were included, and diverse experiences coalesced into poetry, music and images exploring the past and present of the park and its people.

“This is a special opportunity to hear local people reflect upon their experiences alongside a screening of the film.”

For more information about the event, visit A Park in Three Acts – Celebration of Peel Park: Film Screening & Panel Discussion – New Adelphi Theatre

 

 

 

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