Thornes Park, Clarence Park and Holmfield Park - CHaT Parks
Thornes Park, Clarence Park and Holmfield Park
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Wakefield School of Tennis will be holding their sessions on the tennis courts in Thornes Park on Saturdays, with coaching for age 6-8 years at 13.45 – 14.30 and for 10-18 years old from 14.30-15.30.
More information can be found at:
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Junior
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It’s lovely to see the first signs of Spring in the Park, even if the weather is chilly! The crocus and spring bulbs will be appearing along the side of the park on the Denby Dale Road which is always a cheerful sight.
The Wakefield French Bulldogs and Friends group will be going on their annual fund-raising charity walk on Sunday 16th February starting at 12 noon from the car park by the Athletics Stadium in Thornes Park. Funds raised will be going to Andy’s Man Club.
Paws ‘4’ a Walk, April 2025
On Sunday 27th April the RSPCA will be holding a Paws ‘4’ a Walk at Thornes Park. The walk will begin at 11am, with registration from 10.30am. The walk will start and finish close to the tennis courts, near the Stork Lodge Cafe, and will be roughly 4km long. Each dog will receive a goody bag to take home at the end! Please complete the form and make payment below to enter and they will be in touch closer to the event with further details. All money raised at this event will go towards helping the RSPCA continue to care for the animals at our Animal Centre in East Ardsley.
NEWS
PARK INVESTIGATOR QUIZ
Our Park Investigator quiz will be running all summer and is now available either from the Ticket Office or you can download it from the links below. Families can solve the clues as they follow the map round the Park and then claim a prize back at the ticket office. The quiz sheet and plan can also be found on these links:
Park Investigator quiz sheet:
New Park Investigator Quiz
Park Investigator map:
Park Investigator Map
Saturday 27-Sunday 28 July
Our final weekend sees the Wakefield Music Collective presenting their 28th Clarence Park Festival Celebration on Saturday and Sunday with bands and djs at the Bandstand from 12.00 – 9pm.
On Sunday the Clarence festival continues and in the afternoon there will be music and dance in the main field at Thornes Park presented by the African United Society & Japanteh Women’s Community, between 3-6pm.
Thursday 25th July:
We have two special free events today as part of CHaT Parks Week. At 1pm historian David Weldrake will be giving a talk about the history of Lowe Hill and Wakefield’s other castle. Following the talk there will be a walk to Lowe Hill itself. This is a great opportunity to hear about our history from an expert and will be a fascinating afternoon. Please meet in the reception of Thornes College at 1pm. Our 2nd special event at 1pm is a chance to meet the Park gardener and hear about the work in the Park. Please meet at the Conservatory. Come along and meet the experts!
CHaT Parks Week
The Friends of CHaT Parks are celebrating their 10th anniversary from July 20-28th 2019.
Our opening event will be a Community Fair on Saturday 20th July in Thornes Park by the children’s play area, from 12 noon to 3pm. Community groups who use the Park will be there to share their activities. There will be displays by the Junior Gym Club and the Stanley Starlight Majorettes and a guided walk to Lowe Hill by historian David Weldrake.
More information about the week of events can be found on the programme. The list of events has been updated and here is the latest programme:
COMMUNITY FAIR PHOTOS
Our Community Fair on Saturday 20th July was enjoyed by all our visitors including the Lupset and Thornes councillors Hilary Mitchell, Kevin Swift and Michael Graham. The Fair was attended by the Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Wakefield Metropolitan District and Mayoress, Councillor Charles Keith and Mrs Grace Keith. The Mayor formally opened the Fair after an introduction by Chairman Ian Deighton who explained it is the 10th anniversary of the Friends of CHaT Parks and exactly 100 years since the Holmfield Park was opened on Peace Day, after World War I. Here are a selection of photos taken on the day:
The Friends of CHaT Parks will be working with the Fleur de Lys Classic Vehicle Society to present the annual Classic Vehicle Show in Thornes Park on Friday 6th July from 4pm to 9pm. Admission for spectators is free. More details about how to enter vehicles in the show will be available shortly from the society
https://fleurdelyscvs.org/
Sunday (22nd April) is a busy day in the Park. From 8am til 12noon the Friends of CHaT Parks are holding their first car boot sale. Entry is on the Denby Dale Road, by the horse trough, and stewards will be there to guide you to parking spaces. Then at 2pm Wakefield Music Collective present the first Brass on Sunday concert at the Bandstand. Playing will be the wonderful Phoenix Brass Band. Please come along and support both these events!
It was lovely to see volunteers with Open Country who were working busily litter-picking around the park. Pictured here are members of the Friends of CHaT Parks with Ella and Catherine from Open Country:
The Flower Garden is blooming!
Help us to bring back the Bonfire and Fireworks at Thornes Park
The Friends of CHaT Parks, backed by the Wakefield Express, are launching a fundraising drive to bring back the community bonfire and fireworks display at Thornes Park this year. Supported by Melvyn Eddy Funfairs, the group needs to raise funds by the end of this month (May) in order to purchase fireworks in time for November. Already Wakefield-based estate agent Richard Kendall has pledged £1000 to help and the organisers of the annual South Elmsall, South Kirkby and Upton bonfire display have offered their expertise and equipment. Any donation – large or small – can help us to bring back a much-loved event in the Wakefield calendar that has been a fixture for many years. To help us in this appeal, please contact Ian Deighton on 01924 314222 or email info@chatparks.org.uk
© 2025 Friends of Clarence Holmfield and Thornes (CHaT) Parks. Registered Charity Number: 1166255