Bedford Park, Bedford
Encyclopedia
Bedford Park is a large urban park
, located in the town of Bedford
, Bedfordshire
, England
. The park is the largest urban park within the town of Bedford, and is owned and maintained by Bedford Borough Council
.
Bedford Park was constructed and planted in the 19th Century, as the town of Bedford expanded northwards. The park was developed at the same time as Bedford's first municipal cemetery
, which is located directly to the north of the park. Today, the cemetery is no longer used as a major burial ground for the town. The park however, is still very much in use.
The general Victorian design of Bedford Park has been maintained to this day. The park has many mature trees and shrubs, as well as herbaceous borders and naturalised bulb borders (including daffodils, wood anemone
s and crocus
es). The park's original bandstand
is still in use, as is its original cricket pavilion
, which is maintained along with a full size cricket pitch
.
Other sporting facilities at the park include areas for tennis
, football, rounders
and basketball
. There is also a bowling green
. Robinson Pool is located in the southwest corner of Bedford Park, and is Bedfords main public swimming pool
.
Other facilities at the park include two children's playgrounds and a café
(open summer weekends only). Bedford Park was awarded Green Flag status
in 2007 & 2008, joining Priory Country Park
to become the second park in Bedford to win the prestigious national award.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
, located in the town of Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The park is the largest urban park within the town of Bedford, and is owned and maintained by Bedford Borough Council
Bedford (borough)
Bedford is a unitary authority with the status of a borough in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and...
.
Bedford Park was constructed and planted in the 19th Century, as the town of Bedford expanded northwards. The park was developed at the same time as Bedford's first municipal cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
, which is located directly to the north of the park. Today, the cemetery is no longer used as a major burial ground for the town. The park however, is still very much in use.
The general Victorian design of Bedford Park has been maintained to this day. The park has many mature trees and shrubs, as well as herbaceous borders and naturalised bulb borders (including daffodils, wood anemone
Anemone nemorosa
Anemone nemorosa is an early-spring flowering plant in the genus Anemone in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe. Common names include wood anemone, windflower, thimbleweed and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves...
s and crocus
Crocus
Crocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
es). The park's original bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
is still in use, as is its original cricket pavilion
Cricket pavilion
A cricket pavilion is a pavilion at a cricket ground. It is the main building within which the players usually change in dressing rooms and which is the main location for watching the cricket match for members and others...
, which is maintained along with a full size cricket pitch
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
.
Other sporting facilities at the park include areas for tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, football, rounders
Rounders
Rounders is a game played between two teams of either gender. The game originated in England where it was played in Tudor times. Rounders is a striking and fielding team game that involves hitting a small, hard, leather-cased ball with a round wooden, plastic or metal bat. The players score by...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. There is also a bowling green
Bowling green
A bowling green is a finely-laid, close-mown and rolled stretch of lawn for playing the game of lawn bowls.Before 1830, when Edwin Beard Budding invented the lawnmower, lawns were often kept cropped by grazing sheep on them...
. Robinson Pool is located in the southwest corner of Bedford Park, and is Bedfords main public swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
.
Other facilities at the park include two children's playgrounds and a café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
(open summer weekends only). Bedford Park was awarded Green Flag status
Green Flag Award
The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales that met the laid down high standards...
in 2007 & 2008, joining Priory Country Park
Priory Country Park
Priory Country Park is a country park located in the Newnham area of Bedford, England alongside the River Great Ouse. The park is managed by Bedford Borough Council....
to become the second park in Bedford to win the prestigious national award.