Elmhurst Park photo

Elmhurst Park

On the border of an area of outstanding natural beauty, Elmhurst Park has started a process of rewilding to provide a more natural landscape that supports natural processes and encourages habitats and ecosystems to thrive.
Open Space  •  Available for Hire  •  Events

Elmhurst is invitingly located a short walk from both the main shopping Thoroughfare and the River Deben and is renowned for its floral colour, diverse mature planting, diverse events programme and wide community appeal.  

This beautiful park covers nearly two hectares and is attractively enclosed within boundary walls. The Park can be accessed from four entrances all suitable for wheelchairs and is equipped with level footpaths throughout.

Elmhurst Park is available to hire for your next outdoor event.

Park History

The Park was gifted to the Town by Lord Woodbridge in 1935 and was originally part of a larger garden extending down to Marsh areas bordering the River Deben. The gardens belonged to the property called Elmhurst that overlooks the Park and originally contained fruit, vegetable and flower gardens, stables, a coachman’s house and a gardener’s cottage. The formal gardens to the house were once separated from the main part of the garden by a ‘ha-ha’, the top part of which is still visible beside the “long border” footpath.

Features

Elmhurst is home to two sundials, the first a traditional horizontal sundial and the second an unusual equatorial sundial, donated to the Park in 1988. The public shelter was built to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953.

The Maritime theme flagpole and Napoleonic cannon helps link local history into the fabric of the Park with the Town owing much to it’s close proximity to the River Deben and its use as a Garrison town in the Napoleonic era.

Conservation

The Park’s management views conservation as being an essential part of a balanced environment and therefore manage areas for this purpose. A variety of bird and bat nesting boxes, mammal and insect shelters and habitats have been created to support our wildlife population. Areas are managed to allow wildflowers and plants of value to wildlife to flourish. 

The park is home to more that 40 tree species.

Amenities

The Park’s facilities include a children’s play area which includes ramped play equipment and a wheelchair accessible trampoline, public performance area, seats and benches,  open grass areas suited to small informal games. The Town Council hope to  the existing conveniences with

Concerts and Events

In 1998, a Public Performance Area was officially opened and acts as a centrepiece to our free events programme that takes place during the summer months. Each year a diverse range of concerts and events takes place, ranging from children’s fun days to live bands and singing groups.

Community Involvement

The Park and its users benefit greatly from the input of numerous volunteer groups who assist and utilise the Park and it’s facilities.

Nature Watch Diary

Compiled by Jillian MacGuire a member of the Friends of Woodbridge Town Council Parks & Open Spaces Group, from observations made by the park keepers, the general public and her own records.

For more information about the Friends Group contact the Town Clerk on 01394 383599 or Email [email protected].

Copper Beech Tree Felling

The beautiful Copper Beech Tree in Elmhurst Park has sadly come to the end of its life due to root disease. Sadly in late 2011 the fructifications of the Giant Polypore (Meripilus Giganteus) were found growing on some of the roots.  This is a disease specific to Beech for which there is no cure. On inspection in July 2013 the tree was considered in the category of 'dead, diseased or dangerous' by the Tree Officer and should be felled forthwith. It was suggested the splendid trunk might be retained to a height of some 5-6m, as a monument.  

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