Finedon Pocket Park – owned and managed by Wellingborough Borough Council
How to find the park
Access to the park can be found via Station Road and Avenue Road (next to the cricket club).
Access is also available from St Mary’s Avenue and Harrowden Lane (no parking facilities are available at these two points).
History of the park
In the 1930s iron ore was extracted from the quarry at Finedon and transported via a railway line to the mainline at Wellingborough.
Rather than filling in the railway cutting and quarry and returning it to agricultural land, the people of Finedon campaigned to retain it as an important wildlife area. In 1984, this was the first Pocket Park in the country.
There are some excellent walks along the two-mile stretch are to be found at this beautiful site. Some splendid old coppiced lime trees estimated to be over three hundred years old line Holly Walk as well as yews of considerable age. Access for walkers is promoted without compromising the site’s nature conservation value.
Wooded areas along the railway cutting are thinned to create glades to encourage ground flora. The removed wood is used to create habitat piles to encourage invertebrates.
Scrub in the quarry is cut back to maintain the grassland. Large trees and patches of scrub are left to provide feeding and nesting sites for birds. The ponds also need management so they do not become completely overhung by trees.
Well Street / High Street Green
The green is an open space that is maintained by the Town Council. It is an ideal space for children to play, people to walk their dogs and for summer fetes and events.
If you would like to hold an event on the green please contact the Clerk to obtain the Council’s permission.
Town Clerk
Mrs Julia Tufnail
51 Market Road
Thrapston
Northants
NN14 4JT
Telephone number: 07496 885235
Email: The Clerk of the Council
Banks Park
The Banks park is situated on High Street and can be accessed via Wellingborough Road, High Street and Rose Hill. There is a play area for children of all ages and rest gardens with seating. There are two tennis courts that are open for anyone to play on; however, the tennis club leases the courts and has priority at certain times of the week.
Banks Park is locked and unlocked during the following times.
|
Month |
Unlocked |
Locked |
|
April – May |
6.30 am |
Dusk |
|
June – September |
6.30 am |
Dusk |
|
October – April |
7.30 am |
Dusk |