It’s the 3rd car boot sale for the Friends of CHaT Parks on Sunday – 19th July – from 7am for sellers and 8am to 12 noon for buyers. The entrance to Clarence Park is on the Denby Dale Road, on the same side as the Bandstand – banners and stewards will be on the roadside to assist – and the postcode is WF2 8DY. (Exit onto Park Avenue.) If you use What3words the location is:
///really.helps.budget
See you there!
Happy birthday Clarence Park!
Happy 133 birthday to Clarence Park! Clarence Park was opened on Friday July 6th 1893. The idea of a public park in Wakefield to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee was first suggested in 1887 and In 1890 Mr Charles Milne-Gaskell JP, who lived in Thornes House, offered land, including Lowe Hill and the surrounding agricultural land, to form a public park. Bought by public subscription and guided by a group of trustees the park began to take shape and on July 6 1893 the park was formally opened.
The Duke of Clarence had planted a white horse chestnut tree on the site of the proposed park and sycamores, chestnut and oak trees were planted, with a double row of 108 chestnuts lining the carriage drive in the park. Other features included a bandstand on Lowe Hill presented by Colonel Milnes-Gaskell planted round with three dozen oak trees and wrought iron gates at the entrance on Denby Dale Road provided by Lady Caroline Milnes-Gaskell.
It’s the Classic Vehicle Gathering today!
The Fleur de Lys CVS and the Friends of CHaT Parks are holding the Classic Vehicle Gathering this afternoon (Friday July 3rd) in Thornes Park, from 4pm til dusk. This is a wonderful free event for all the family – come on down!
RSPCA Fun Day and Dog Show postponed till September
Please note that the changes to the RSPCA Fun Day and Dog Show in Thornes Park. The annual event was due to take place this Saturday, June 27 however, it has now been pushed back to Saturday, September 5 due to the ongoing heatwave.
As the district will see highs of 35C this week with a Red Extreme Heat Warning issued by the Met Office for parts of the country, the The local branch, which is based in East Ardsley, announced on Sunday (June 21) that the event would be postponed to ensure “the safety and welfare of the dogs attending”.
Annual General Meeting 2026
The annual AGM for the Friends of CHaT Parks will be in the upstairs meeting room at the Holmfield Arms at 7pm on Wednesday July 29th. There will be a report on the work and events that the Friends have carried out this year and a chance to talk about issues you’d like to raise. Members and non members are most welcome and you can join on the night
Classic Vehicle Gathering coming soon
The Classic Vehicle Gathering in Thornes Park will be on Friday July 3rd from 4pm to dusk. This is a great event for all the family and is free to attend.
Entry forms are available at:
https://fleurdelyscvs.wordpress.com/our-event/entry-forms/
Busy weekend in the Park 13-14 June 2026
The Cancer Research UK Race for Life will be on Saturday June 13th 2026 in Thornes Park. The 10k begins at 9.30am, the 5k at 11am and the 3k also at 11am. If you want to get “muddy” the Pretty Muddy Kids starts at 12.30 and the Pretty Muddy 5k at 1.30pm.
There will be no Wakefield Thornes parkrun on Saturday and Wakefield Thornes junior parkrun on Sunday.
On Sunday June 14th there will be the second car boot sale run by the Friends of CHaT Parks on Sunday from 7am for sellers and 8am – 12 noon in Clarence Park. The cost per vehicle is £10 car; £2 for a trailer and £15 for a van/car sideways. Entry point is off the Denby Dale Road (on the same side as the Bandstand – banners and stewards will be on the roadside to assist) and the postcode is WF2 8DY. Exit onto Park Avenue. Items for sale should be second-hand. No knives or weapons.
See you there!
Community Tennis Scheme for Adults
Wakefield School of Tennis has partnered with Thornes Park and the Friends of CHaT Parks to deliver the COMMUNITY TENNIS SCHEME, creating an environment in which adults can also play, learn and compete.
This programme has been created to combine learning, improving, practicing and playing, socially ands competitively.
Don’t have time to learn/play the game? There’s an early morning session being planned at Thornes Park!
For the full range of adult coaching sessions click here:
Adult tennis coaching
Travellers caravans in the Park
Good morning. Thank you for everyone contacting the Friends of CHaT Parks complaining about the arrival of caravans in Thornes Park over the Bank Holiday Weekend. We all appreciate that this can adversely impact on people’s enjoyment of the Park. The relevant authorities have been notified and procedures are in motion to have the caravans removed as quickly as the law allows. In the meantime it would assist the Friends Group, and possibly speed up the process, if complaints regarding the caravans or the travellers were made directly to the police.
Bank Holiday weekend pay and play
It’s Bank Holiday and the sun is shining! Our pay and play games are open all weekend – Saturday to Monday – so come along to the ticket office between 10.30am and 5pm for bowls, pitch and putt, the putting green and tennis. There’s also some equipment to hire if you need it.
