News

The registered park, owned by Wakefield Council, is in fact three parks; Clarence Park, Holmfield Park andThornes Park and is locally known as CHaT Parks from the names of the three constituents.

English Heritage consider that the parks, together with the Thornes Park Nurseries, merits national recognition and is designated at Grade II in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens for the following principal reasons: Survival, it is a good example of an urban municipal park of the late C19 and early C20 where the layout suvives almost intact. Historic Interest: it has added interest in the incorporation of a late C19 landscape possibly designed by John Carr, as well as a scheduled medieval motte and bailey castle earthwork.

The registration of the park establishes its historic interest as a material planning consideration and draws attention to the fact that the site should receive special consideration if development proposals are contemplated. The status does not prevent building work, but it does mean that any planning issues now have to be run past English Heritage before a decision can be made.

Our chairman Ian Deighton said: “We are very supportive of the decision to include the park on the National Register. It works towards one of the group’s aims which is the preservation of the unique historic, cultural and botanic aspects of the park so that the benefits left to us by past generations can be handed down intact to our children.”

To see the extract from the report click here
To see the Wakefield Express’s article click here
To see the BBC News article click here

The new aviary was opened on 16th November by Ian Deighton, Chairman of the Friends of CHaT Parks Group and Councillor Olivia Rowley,Portfolio Holder for the Environment.

The Friends of CHaT Parks were pleased to welcome children from three local schools to help with the opening of the new Aviary.

Children from The Mount School, Field Lane Methodist School and Lawefield Lane School inspected the new building and said they thought it was a very nice home for the birds.

They were glad to see the birds back in the park after they had been rehoused temporarily to allow the old building to be demolished and the new one built.

The children from The Mount School were especially interested to see the birds which had been bought using money raised in the school by holding a picture competition.

After the ceremony the children made sculptures on the grass using leaves, twigs, stones etc from the park.

 

Thornes Park’s new Aviary now has an interpretation sign.

The aviary was rebuilt in Novemebr 2010 and the original birds have been joined by several exotic new residents.

Some of the new birds have been donated and some have been bought using money raised by local schools.

Working with the Friends of CHaT Parks Wakefield Council has now erected a bright new sign which describes the birds and gives information on their origins.

The new sign together with the benches repaired and refurbished, with a great deal of help from the students of the Pennine Camphill, make this corner of the Park an even more attractive destination for visitors.

 

Design Awards for the New Aviary

The Friends of ChaT Parks are very pleased to learn that the new Aviary in Thornes Park has received a Design Award from Wakefield Civic Society.

The Aviary was among several new buildings in the City to be recognised by the Society at the Annual General Meeting last week.

The new Aviary was opened in November last year as a much-needed replacement for a building which had reached the end of its useful life. Children from The Mount J & I, Lawefield Primary and Field Lane Methodist schools helped Councillor Olivia Rowley to perform the opening ceremony.

New birds for the Aviary have been given by several individuals and groups, including the children of The Mount J & I School who held an art competition to raise money to buy some Japanese Quail. The colourful and tuneful new residents are making this corner of the Park once again an attraction for children of all ages.

 

Picture Competition for the new Aviary

Pictures drawn by the children of Mount School in order to raise money to buy some birds for the new Aviary in Thornes Park.

The money was used to buy some Japanese Quail.

The pictures were displayed in the Sports Hall in the Park on 21st November 2010

The main planting was on Tuesday 1st December 2009between the Wakefield College Campus and Lowe Hill, above the pitch and putt course.

All the children participated with the planting while receiving insteresting and fun facts on trees and nature from Roger Parkinson, Chairman of Tree Wardens, Wakefield.

On top of this we also received a demonstration on how a tree is cut. Climbing up the tree, cutting branches down but leaving a way to return.

Several trees were also planted in other areas of the three parks by Wakefield Council staff.

The Friends of CHaT Parks were able to do this using a grant from the Tree Council, the UK’s leading tree partnership.

Clarence, Holmfield and Thornes Parks are now benefiting from;

Four trees donated by The Friends of CHaT Parks

An Antarctic Beech, a Fern-Leaved Beech, a Hop Hornbeam and an American White Elm, which is resistant to Elm Disease.

Six trees from Wakefield Council

A Copper Beech, a Walnut, a Tulip Tree, a Narrow-leafed Ash, a “Royal Purple” Smoke Bush and a Yew.

Ten trees donated to CHaT Friends by Barcham’s Tree Nurseries

Five Tibetan Cherries, two Erman’s Birch, a London Plane, a Small-leaved Lime and an Ash (Weshof’s Glorie).

Ian Deighton, Chairman of the Friends Group said “We are pleased that the Friends Group has been able to use some of its own funds to participate in National Tree Week and secure funding from the Tree Council and Wakefield MDC for these fine trees to complement those already on offer in the Parks. We are particularly pleased that local school children have been able to participate in the planting and will receive instruction on trees. While the trees will make an immediate impact, we are constantly aware that we are also developing the Parks not only for today but for future generations to appreciate”.

Roger Parkinson Chairman of Tree Wardens, Wakefield and a member of the Friends Group said “Our community green spaces, like the city parks, are very important to us and it has been wonderful that all the parties involved in this project could come together to do something special for National Tree Week”

Gawthorpe Brass 85 performed and really entertained us all.

We took this opportunity to announce the winners of our Photography Competition held over the summer, where we asked people to send us their interpretation of a Walk in the Park.

See our list of winners, the Judges comments and the prizes received.

We were overwhelmed and grateful for the response from the local and international companies who contributed to an outstanding list of prizes. We would like to thank everyone for their generous donations.