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.