Category: Country Park

Country Park

Regents Park, London

Regents Park, originally a hunting ground in days gone by is located in North West London between the Borough of Westminster and Borough of Camden. The Regents Park as it’s officially known is one of eight royal parks dotted around London. What hit me first about this tranquil park is the effort that’s been put into the landscape and buildings throughout.

This beautiful 410 acre royal park combines large open spaces with tree-lined pathways, formal gardens, ponds and a large lake. It boasts excellent sports facilities containing central London’s largest outdoor sports area. Sports played range from cycling, netball, athletics, cricket, softball, rounders, football, hockey, rugby, ultimate frisbee and running.

The Boating Lake

This scenic lake is home to a number of species of water birds including the mute swan, Egyptian goose, manderin duck, hobby, common sandpiper, pied wagtail, water rail, herring gull, red crested pochard, little grebe, great crested grebe, tuffed duck, lesser black-backed gull, gadwall, common pochard, canadian goose, moorhen, northern shoveler, heron, black headed gull and more.

In the summer months there’s facilities to hire small boats to row around the lake exploring its hidden beauty.

Queen Mary’s Gardens

Located within the park is ‘Queen’s Mary’s Gardens’ boasting over 12,000 planted roses of many different varieties throughout. Home to a peaceful man made waterfall, smaller lake and beautiful garden arrangements throughout. One thing you can say about this part of the park it’s exceptionally maintained and well cared for.

The Avenue Gardens

The Avenue Gardens is located to the south of Regents Park with formal displays of spring bulbs and summer bedding. Here you can see excellent thought out tiered fountains and ornamental bowls bustling to the brim with flowers and shrubs. These displays were a delight to photograph and take in.

Statues and sculptures of the park

As I wondered around the park taking in the hidden beauty this park has to offer I came across some statues and wooden sculptures. These can be found randomly throughout the park.

Facilities of Regents Park

Apart from the array of sports you can take part in, Regent Park have their very own open air theatre currently showing Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. As well as cafe’s dotted throughout the park including the boathouse cafe, the espresso bar, broadwalk cafe, the hub cafe and Regents park bar and kitchen.

Other Photos of Regents Park

Country Park

Trent Country Park

Trent Park English Country House

Trent Park English Country House

Trent park itself is a grade II listed English Country house located in north of London. The house sits in its former grounds extending to some 320 hectares lies within a conservation area and designated as Metropolitan Green Belt. Having special historic interest in England it dates back to the fourteenth century and was part of Enfield Chase and one of Henry IV’s hunting grounds. But this historic English House has another closely guarded secret!

In 1939 Trent park was requisitioned by the war office on behalf of the Intelligence Service (MI6) and in 1942 the house was reserved exclusively for captured Germans.

The house exterior was used as a location for scenes in the 1957 film ‘The One That Got Away’ and in the 1983 episode of Doctor Who ‘ Mawdryn Undead’ the one with Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor Who.

On the historical daffodil lawn over 30,000 daffodils have already been planted as part of a project, a further 120,000 more bulbs planned before the end of the project.

Trent Country Park Grounds

The grounds extends to some 320 hectares and since 1973 has been known as Trent Country Park. Teeming with wildlife the park boasts an array of birds including the Kestrel, Swallow, House Martin, Skylark, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Robin Redbreast and several species of Bat. Has an array of wild animals including the Squirrel, Stoat, Shrew, Vole and Mole. With all the regular insects including the Green Tiger Beetle, Seven Spot Ladybird, Grasshoppers and Crickets. Butterflies include the common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, White-Letter Hairstreak, Tufted Vetch, Large Skipper, Large White and Six-Spot Burnet Moth.

Statues situated in the park

  • Obelisk Statue

Statues are dotted around the park, but the one that caught my eye was the Obelisk statue located on the west side of moat wood. Inscribed into the base it reads:

“To the memory of the birth of George Grey Earl of Harold son of Henry and Sophia Duke & Duchess of Kent” 1702

Lakes and Ponds in the park

The park boasts two big lakes, a water garden and other ponds inhabited by the common frog, toad and newts. Fish including Pike, Carp, Chub and Roach. And lovely waterbirds such as the Mute Swan Mallard Duck, Coot, Moorhen and Mandarin Duck.

Facilities in the park

Walking through the park I came across a tea shop supporting the running of the wildlife hospital and animal sanctuary, the Trent Park Cafe and the Go Ape activity centre. I am told there is a sports ground somewhere in the park (Southgate Hockey Centre) and a separate golf course. Public toilets are located next to Trent Park Cafe and there are several car parks around the park.

The park can get very muddy, especially in January so make sure you pack your boots or wellies!