News

Heritage Open Days comes to the Park with two events run by the Friends of CHaT Parks this weekend.

On Saturday 12th September there will be a short guided walk and talk with Chairman Ian Deighton about the Forgotten Castle of Wakefield at Lowe Hill.

Booking is required for this event which is not suitable for mobility scooters, wheelchairs or pushchairs.

Please meet at 2.30pm in the car park opposite the Athletics Stadium in Thornes Park, Horbury Road, Wakefield, WF2 8TY.

For more information and booking details:
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/a-park-and-its-people.html

On Sunday 13th September, Chris Welch will lead the second of two walks with a stroll through Thornes Park unwrapping the history of some of features of this park and the lives of the people within it. Meet in the car park opposite the Athletics Stadium in Thornes Park. The walk will be on paths and is suitable for mobility scooters.
Meet at 2.30pm in the car park opposite the Athletics Stadium in Thornes Park, Horbury Road, Wakefield, WF2 8TY.
The walk will last about one and a half hours. Pre-booking is not necessary.

More information:
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/a-park-and-its-people-1.html

It’s a busy week in the park this week (24-31 August). The pay and play games are open every day and equipment can be hired at the ticket office by the tennis courts.

On Monday evening there’s a free session of Tag Rugby at the athletic stadium at 6pm.

On Tuesday morning the Walking Fit Group meet by the tennis courts at 9.30am.

If it’s Wednesday it must be Weeding Wednesdays with the Friends of CHaT Parks and the Park gardener. Meeting from 1-3pm in the Flower Garden in Thornes Park just bring a trowel and gardening gloves and help keep our park beautiful.

At the weekend, the Wakefield Thornes parkrun meet on Saturday morning at 9am and the Wakefield Thornes junior parkrun meet on Sunday morning at 9.15am. Both groups meet at the car park near the children’s playground.

On Saturday (29th) there’s a terrific fun session run by Wakefield School of Tennis from 9.30-12 noon at the Thornes Park tennis courts with Coach Dwight Brown. This costs just £2 and is a great way for children to keep fit, have fun and make friends. More information at:
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ThornesPark/Coaching/Camp/e265f8ff-240b-4acf-9946-900772f70cbf?location

Of course, Sunday afternoon wouldn’t be the same without the wonderful Thornes Park Miniature Railway, Wakefield which runs from 1-4pm near the children’s playground.

There’s plenty to do in the park, or you could just stroll around and enjoy the flowers!

The Friends of CHaT Parks will be holding their final car boot sale of 2026 in Clarence Park on Sunday September 6th, Sellers can arrive from 7 am to 12 noon, with buyers from 8am. 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.

Tomorrow evening – Wednesday July 29th – is the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of CHaT Parks at the first floor meeting room in the Holmfield Arms, starting at 7pm. Members and the public are invited to our AGM which will include a short talk on Wakefield Castle in the Park by Dave Weldrake (a local historian and expert on castles) and suggestions for future interpretation of the site and maintenance.

If you’re not a member please come along and you can join the Friends at the meeting.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow evening.

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:
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See you there!

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!

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”.

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