Park Progress

Friends of Beaumont ParkOver the years there have been many changes to the park. The Friends of Beaumont Park is a voluntary group actively working with Kirklees Metropolitan Council to regenerate the park and restore it to its former glory.

Further InformationIf you would like to find out more about the park, or volunteer to help, please come and see us at the Visitor Centre (tea and refreshments available), or log on to our website to view Friends of Beaumont Park annual programme of events.

Come & Join Us

Visitor CentreAddress

Friends of Beaumont ParkThe DepotBeaumont ParkHuddersfieldHD4 7AY

Regular Opening times

Wednesdays 1.30pm - 3.30pmSundays 1.30pm - 3.30pm

(4pm in summer)

Time subject to alteration, see our website for up-to-date information

Tel: 01484 645 217 Email: friends@fobp.co.ukwww.fobp.co.uk

Finding UsBy Bus

To Balmoral Avenue/Dryclough Road, Crosland Moor

Mon - Sat No 328 / 336 / 337 / 387Sunday See Bus Timetable

By Train

To Lockwood station(10 Minute walk to Park)

Discover Huddersfield’s

BeaumontPark

...a magnificent park with ornate features, cascades, grottos, steep cliffs & picturesque woodland walks.

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1999 Listed StatusWe succeeded in obtaining Grade 2 listing for the Park in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

Visitor CentreA Visitor Centre situated near the main entrance and provided by Kirklees Council was officially opened by Sir John Harman, then chairman of the Environment Agency. In 2007 we improved the Visitor Centre with money from Awards For All. The Centre is now open on publicised times for refreshments organised by ‘Friends’ volunteers. Monies raised from the sale of refreshments are used for the continued restoration of the Park and additional income is generated by hiring out the Centre to a variety of community groups.

Park Promotion & AwarenessWe obtained funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund to work on signage and to promote the Park through publicity, the production of leaflets and a new website.

Fountain & Cascade Restoration The main event was the restoration of the Fountain and Cascade along the promenade thanks to funding and planning from Kirklees Council with a contribution of £10,880 from the ‘Friends’.

Lower Gates Kirklees Council was able to repair the Lower Gates with money from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, which is administered by English Heritage on behalf of DEFRA. We cleared the overgrown vegetation leading down to the gates during the previous winter and organised the Reopening Ceremony performed by the Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Jean Calvert in April.

Lower Pond & Dipping PlatformWork commenced on digging out and restoring the lower pond and building a pond dipping platform.

Bandstand ExhibitionA development grant from The Heritage Lottery Fund enabled the Friends to research the history of music in the Park and hold a public exhibition of our findings with a view to restoring the Park Bandstand.

Bandstand, Mosaic & Green Flag StatusThe Heritage Lottery Fund granted Kirklees Council and the Friends the money to erect the new Bandstand which was opened on the 5th June by the Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Eric Firth.Moor End Technology College students designed and constructed a mosaic for the Butternab Road corner entrance which was installed on 27th May.Kirklees Council applied for and received Green Flag status for the Park illustrating a continued commitment to its improvement.

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facebook.com/fobpark twitter.com/FOBeaumontPark

2nd Edition - March 2012

Attractions & ActivitiesThe Friends of Beaumont Park hold a variety of events throughout the year which attract visitors of all

ages - see our website for further details.

...a dramatic 21 acre landscape with stunning Pennine views

Visitor Centre & Refreshment RoomThe LodgeLionPond, Fountain & CascadesBandstandDuchess of Albany TreeOld Lake Site & Monkey IslandChildren’s PlaygroundMosaicArches & GrottoGrottos & Tree Canopy WalkPond & Dipping PlatformFormer Main GatewayFormer Cascade SiteFormer Castle Site

EntrancesVista PointsRock FacesWaterWoodlandBuildingsPaths/Steps

Unsuitable for prams or wheelchairs. Contains large flights of steps.

Accessible by prams & wheelchairs.

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Introductory walk

Fun for all the family Why not explore the extent of the park with our introductory walk suitable for the whole family? Be sure to select the appropriate route as some areas contain large flights of steps that are unsuitable for prams and wheelchairs or for those who have difficulty walking.

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Bandstand

Family Event Days

Lower Gates Grottos

Mosaic

Cascade

Regular Walking GroupsGreen Flag

Trees and PlantsThe main species to be found in the lower, semi-natural

areas of the park are Oak and Holly. Along the main promenade and the formal part of the park you will see some very large Lime, Chestnut and Cedar trees. Children can pick up a leaflet and follow Monty’s Tree Trail.

There are also a number of different ferns in the damp shady areas of the woodland and

in the grottos of the park.

The Friends of Beaumont Park have replanted the rockery area, near the playground, with colourful drought-tolerant species many of which are particularly attractive to butterflies.

Beaumont Park is a fantastic natural habitat for hundreds of species of insects, animals and vegetation.

Beaumont Park...a unique, spectacular, Victorian Park situated on a valley side on the edge of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

The building of Beaumont Park In 1879 the wealthy landowner Henry Frederick Beaumont, offered the area of Dungeon Wood (situated to the south of Huddersfield town centre) to Huddersfield Corporation in order for them to create the town’s first public park and recreation ground.

Some original Park costs circa 1880:£2487 for railings and gates along the top of the park£300 the park keepers lodge£100 worth of rhododendrons140 benches costing £1 each

Costs in 2012:£950 for 1 bench£140,000 for the bandstand restoration

Birds

...a dramatic 21 acre landscape with stunning Pennine views

Parks are necessary for large and populous towns to increase the happiness and promote good health and elevate the minds of the people.

Henry.F.Beaumont.

“ “If you spot an unusual animal in Beaumont Park, let us know, we’d love to hear about it.

Birds In the formal part of the park, parallel to Beaumont Park Road, you can expect to see species common to parks and gardens. These include the Tit family (Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Long Tailed Tit); Finches (Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch); Robin, Wren and Dunnock.

As you descend into the woodland from the Visitor Centre a much greater variety of birds has been recorded. A survey carried out in 2005, by Huddersfield Birdwatchers Club, indicated that the following species nested in the area;

Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and Bullfinch. Other sightings include Sparrowhawk, Swift, Swallow and House Martin.

Beaumont Park Entrance

Picture taken from old postcard

Picture taken from old postcard