LIFESTYLE-Magazine-Winter-2016

In 1850 an American tourist strolled through the UK’s first ever public park in Birkenhead – and was awestruck by what he saw. So stunned by the splendour of this British phenomenon, the man took his experience back to the United States. Seven years later the same Frederick Law Olmsted created NewYork’s iconic Central Park – arguably the most famous of all in the world. But thanks to Frederick’s foreign foray you can still spot today its British DNA. Like most parks here, Hyndburn’s were created in the Victorian era. Thanks to millions of pounds of heritage loery funding our parks are now enjoying a renaissance in the face of funding cuts. Hyndburn has eleven spectacular parks for people to enjoy all year round. Here we share the lowdown on some of the borough’s lovely landmark parks . . . Public parks are big, beautiful, and quintessentially British. And Hyndburn boasts some of the country’s best . . .

Oak Hill Park a green flag park Set your sat nav to BB5 2BN and find this stunning space serving both the town of Accrington and the Borough of Hyndburn. It is 8.7 hectares and as the name suggests it is a sloping site with a large war memorial at one of the highest points within the park. Situated between Manchester Road and Hollins Lane in Accrington and can be entered fromHollins Lane. Features/Facilities: • Original mansion (restored) • Disabled patrons' parking facility •War memorial • 2 bowling greens • Tennis courts • Refurbished duck pond and fountain • Multi-use games area; all weather tarmac surface for football, cricket and basketball • Children's playground (suitable for 4 to 12 years) • Japanese rockery with water feature • Pagoda • Bandstand • Mature woodland • Open grassed areas • Bowls and tennis pavilions • Ornamental shrub planting and horticultural display • Dog waste bins • Measured, marked walks with activities Fascinating Fact: Lewis Carroll wrote ‘Alice inWonderland’ for Alice Liddell who was married to Reginald Gervis Hargreaves – owner of the estate in 1889 prior to it becoming a public park.

Lowerfold Park a green flag park Lowerfold, first opened on June 27, 1914, occupies a roughly triangular shaped site of around 2.3 hectares in the angle of Lowerfold Road and Cliffe Lane close to Great Harwood town centre. For its size, Lowerfold Park offers a good range of facilities catering for different age groups and interests. The park has a belt of mature trees running along the perimeter adjacent to Lowerfold Road and Cliffe Lane. Served by four pedestrian entrances there is no car parking within the park but unrestricted parking around it. Features/Facilities: • Tennis courts • Pavilion • An extensive children's play area • A bowling green which is freely available for use by residents of Hyndburn • Dog waste bins • Mature tree cover Fascinating Fact: The park became the centre of social life for local Congregationalists for more than thirty years until aer the SecondWorldWar when it was purchased by the Urban District Council of Great Harwood and became known as Lowerfold Park.

Gay Park a green flag park and golden green apple award Set around 3 hectares, with four entrances and situated to the north of Hyndburn Road in the township of Church. Gay Park is named aer the Gay family that lived in Elmfield Hall. It was officially opened Gay Park on 26 June, 1920. Elmfield Hall and its grounds were donated by the Gay family to Church Urban District Council along with the sum of £500 for the maintenance of the park as a gi for the people of Church. Features/Facilities: • Elmfield House was originally the home of the Gay Family • Children's playground • The Parlour at Elmfield Hall (cafe) • Prospects community nursery • Rockeries

• War memorial designed by famous local sculptureWalter Marsden • Bowling green • Disabled patron's parking within park gates Fascinating Fact:

A well was recently discovered in the centre of the courtyard behind Elmfield Hall and may have been used for early experiments connected with dyeing fabrics. This would require research by an industrial archaeologist to verify, but may shed some further light on the history of the Gay Family.

From top: Lowerfield Park and Gatty Park.

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