Love Your Park

Love Where You Live | Love Your Park

Between 12th-14th of October 2012, as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s “Love Where You Live” campaign, we worked to “Clear the Paths” on Lowe Hill.

Lowe Hill, also known as “Cannonball Hill” used to be a great vantage point for views over Wakefield and the surrounding countryside.
In his “Walks about Wakefield” published in 1871 W.S.Banks claims that twenty four churches could be seen from the top of the hill.

The trees and bushes were grown so much that the pathways around the hill are very overgrown. It was dark and forbidding at times and not welcoming to people wishing to walk in the Park. The hill had become something of a “no go area” and the views over the city were almost completely obscured.

We wanted to change all this and make Lowe Hill the attractive place it ought to be.
With the help of Wakefield Council, the Music Collective, the Tree Wardens and the Sea Cadets we cut back the undergrowth, brambles and laurel bushes to open up the pathway again to bring the area back into use.

Ian Deighton, Chairman of the Group said: “We’re proud of where we live and want to see it looking its best. The Love Where You Live campaign is all about finding positive ways to improve the environment we live, work and play in. It’s too important to wait for someone else to do it. That’s why we’re getting together to give the area the kind of TLC it deserves.”

The event was a great success and everyone worked really hard, but were meet with a big smile from lots of people that were happy to work in the parks and could see the benefits of doing so.

The top of the hill was also the site of a mediaeval castle and, as such, is a protected monument. The work to be carried out only involvec clearing down to ground level, there was no digging, and, therefore, was no risk to any of the archaeology of the site. Find out more about the heritage of our parks.

For information about Keep Britain Tidy’s Love Where You Live Campaign please visit www.lovewhereyoulive.org