This is an informal
town park. It is a useful link for both pedestrians and cyclists
from Bybrook and Kennington to the town centre and also beyond to
the rest of the Green Corridor. The banks of the Great Stour here
have wide margins of riverside vegetation and in places blocks of
mature native trees. There is a small woodland garden at the
northern end, where Green woodpeckers can be heard. In the past this
land was probably sheep pasture - an 1876 Ordnance Survey map shows
sheepfolds on the site. A darker side to the site’s history is
illustrated at its entrance off the Hythe Road where a plaque
commemorates the Martyrs of the 16th century that were
persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Facilities
Open space for informal games.
Play equipment.
Pay and display car park on nearby Henwood.
Access Information
Gradients:
Flat on main dual footpath/cyclepath.
Gentle slope decending to the northern end of the park.
Quite steep slopes and adverse camber on riverside path.
Surfaces:
Tarmac surfaced dual footpath/cyclepath.
Resting places: some
benches on site (low)
Hazards: River.
Links:
To Civic Centre North Park -
follow main path south, then cross Mace Lane.
To Little Burton and Bybrook
Cemetery - follow the main path north (away from Mace Lane),
across a footbridge. The path will emerge onto Arden Drive. Turn
right, following the road round into Heathfield Road. Follow this
road to where it meets the A28 (Magazine Road) and turn right. The
road crosses the M20. For Bybrook Cemetery, turn left onto
Cemetery Lane. For Little Burton take the right hand turn
signposted Rugby Club, follow this road past the clubhouse, then,
just before a bridge over the river, take the dual footpath/cyclepath
off to the right, along the riverside.
