West Park Friends Group

In December 2006 the Green Space and Street Scene Team launched a Friends Group for one of their most prestigious parks, West Park at Long Eaton.

Friends groups are becoming increasingly popular as they improve communication between park users, the council and other stake holders, such as the Police.

They are recognised as being useful in improving quality standards, dealing with issues affecting the park and contributing towards development and regeneration projects.

It is hoped that the forum can also be used to exchange ideas, establish meaningful consultation and feed into the decision making process.

Aims and objectives of the group are to:

Improve security within the park and help tackle anti-social behaviour.
Help to deal with problems and issues.
Improve park attendance and increase the use of facilities.
Improve the quality of the park and its facilities.
Make the park accessible to all.
Encourage young people to take ownership for the park and respect its facilities.
Support the Adopt-a-Park scheme and the Pride in Erewash initiative.
Share information and ideas.
Feed into the Management Plan for the park.
Help the park become a “good neighbour”.
Contribute towards development and regeneration projects.
Support applications for quality awards such as Green Flag.
Support Long Eaton’s entry into the East Midlands in Bloom competition.
Maintain a variety of habitats in order to encourage biodiversity.

Constitution

Download the West Park Friends constitution.

Park users, local schools and local residents are invited to the meetings at West Park Leisure Centre.

The next meetings are:

Wednesday 1 February 2012 - 10.00am Cavendish Room
Thursday 22 March 2012 - 7.00pm Curzon Room
Wednesday 2 May 2012 - 10.00am Cavendish Room
Thursday 28 June 2012 - 7.00pm Curzon Room
Wednesday 5 September 2012 - 10.00am Cavendish Room
Thursday 1 November 2012 - 7.00pm Curzon Room
Wednesday 12 December 2012 - 10.00am Cavendish Room

You can download minutes from previous meetings in the related documents section below.

Heritage of West Park

The original establishment of a major open space for the enjoyment of the people of Long Eaton began in 1905 when 17 acres of land was bought for the sum of £2,650. The land was drained and laid out under the supervision of the surveyor, thus providing the nucleus of what we now know as West Park.

The entrance to the original park, first known as the "King's Ground", was rather inconveniently placed in Princess Street and in 1912 a further eight acres of land was purchased from the Earl of Harrington taking the eastern boundary up to the Erewash Canal. In 1913 a footbridge was opened giving access from Broad Street to the, newly named, West Park. By 1915 an agreement had been reached which provided a further entrance from Leopold Street.

A further extension to the park was considered in the 1920s which, on reaching maturity in 1928, added an extra 37 acres and placed the western boundary on Wilsthorpe Road. In 1932 a pair of wrought iron gates, purchased from Aston Hall at Aston-On-Trent, were subsequently erected at the Wilsthorpe Road entrance. They still provide the imposing western entrance today.

1949 saw the purchase of another 65 acres of land to the south of the park including the Spinney known as Fox Covert, so increasing the area of the park to its present total of 127 acres.

West Perk Cafe

The new cafe facility was opened by The Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Eileen Knight on Thursday 26 July 2007. The cafe serves a large range of beverages, as well as freshly prepared hot and cold snacks.

The cafe is now closed for winter and will be reopening in April 2012.

For further information on West Perk Cafe (opens in a new window) please see their website or contact the Cafe directly on: 0115 9733648.

Tree Trail

Over the last few years, a "Tree Trail" has been incorporated into the park for the pleasure of visitors. This mile-long trail will take approximately one hour to complete.

Sequoiadendron Giganteum

On Tuesday 22 January 2008 the Friends of West Park planted three Sequoia trees which will grow in to majestic landmarks and will delight all those who use the popular Long Eaton park in future years.

For further information please visit: http://www.redwoodworld.co.uk/picturepages/longeaton.htm (opens in a new window).

Fox Covert

Fox Covert was for many years a very under-used asset to an otherwise very well used recreational park. However, with good management, we have developed the site to provide an important leisure and educational asset for the local community. Strolling through the fox covert offers people a rare opportunity to see unspoilt countryside within a short distance of Long Eaton's busy town centre.

As early as the 17th century, documentary evidence shows the site as being arable land within an area known as 'Hoselett Field'. In 1819 Fox Covert was owned by Lord Harrington of Elvaston Castle who leased the site to a local family of builders. At that time it was known as 'Brick Kiln Close', and it was a source of good clay for the local brick makers. But once the brick making had ceased, the area was planted up by the Harrington Estate to provide cover for foxes.

The Fox Covert was purchased in 1949 by the Long Eaton Urban District Council. Because the Fox Covert site is in a low-lying permanently damp area, it survived in its semi-natural state whilst the rest of West Park was designed for more traditional, recreational pursuits.

The area is part of the River Trent flood plain, the soils built up of river sediment consist mainly of heavy clay with small pockets of sand and silt. The water table is high so therefore natural drainage is very slow. Depressions, formed by the extraction of clay involved in brick making, often have standing water, even during the summer months. In winter the area is likely to be more extensively flooded.

Although the whole of Fox Covert has in some way been influenced by man, the most obvious sign of human interference is the flood bank which splits the site into two parts. This was constructed in 1982 and is designed to protect Long Eaton from exceptional flooding. West Park is the main flood runoff area for the town, with any flood waters first directed into the marshland habitat in the south east corner of the Fox Covert site.

The Fox Covert has an abundance of wildlife, particularly as it is so close to the centre of Long Eaton. It is classed as a Grade 1 site on the Biological Sites Register for Derbyshire, which means it is significantly important within the county. The site is of special importance because it has remained relatively undisturbed and contains a variety of habitats within a small area.

The marshland next to the Erewash Canal contains the colourful Yellow Iris and Purple Loosestrife. The central wet, Willow woodland is particularly important for both insects and Lichens, with a number of old trees providing nesting sites for birds. Flowers that are found within the damper areas include Ragged Robin, Tufted Forget-Me-Not and the very scented Meadow Sweet.

On the drier ground Willows are replaced by Oak, Hawthorn and Elder. Plants such as Bramble, Dog Rose and Honeysuckle provide nesting sites for visiting birds such as Whitethroat and Blackcap, as well as the resident Song Thrush, Dunnock and Wren. Open grassland contains mature Hawthorns which are attractive to Warblers and other birds passing through on migration.

For further information please contact the Green Space Team on: 0845 907 2244 Ext 3886