Pype Hayes Park
Encyclopedia
Pype Hayes Park is one of the larger parks in Birmingham
. The park is in Erdiington Constituency and straddles the boundary between Pype Hayes
and Erdington
(now Tyburn ward. The northern boundary of the park is the traditional boundary between Erdington
and Sutton Coldfield
. Pype Hayes Park reaches from the corner where Eachelhurst Rd joins Chester Rd to a point close to Park Close off Chester Rd.
The main park entrance is on Chester Rd and by that entrance is the lodge where the head gardener lives, like Pype Hayes Hall
this is a grade II Listed building. To the left of the main drive to Pype Hayes Hall is a car parking area and further on towards Pype Hayes Hall is a children’s play area with swings and other attractions. Returning to the main drive one can get to the front entrance of Pype Hayes Hall and round there are gardens. The older gardens have a traditional layout with many fairly straight flower beds and dwarf yew
hedges. To the north of the traditional garden is a modern garden planted for the millennium
. Sadly a fountain that was the centre piece of this garden was vandalised and has been left unrepaired for several years.
To the west of the gardens is a fish pond
which is also a duck pond
with a duck island, many species of water bird
s can be found there, notably Mallard ducks, Canada geese and frequently a pair of resident mute swan
.
By the corner where Chester Rd meets Eachelhurst Rd is the area where the annual bonfire and Funfair
are held on November 5th, fairs are also held there at other times of the year.
To the north of the section above is mown grass with young trees planted in groups and mature trees, later the land starts to slope downwards to a valley where Plants Brook
flows, the brook was culvert
ed during the 1960s due to flooding. Many young trees have been planted in the flattish area round Plants Brook which is near the border of the park.
After the 2nd World War single storie Prefabricated buildings, were built round the park between Chester Rd and Eachelhurst Rd, each prefab had a small garden to the front and another small garden to the rear. Several decades later these homes were removed giving a better view of the park and the Manor house but if visitors to the park look closely there is still a level area where the prefabs once stood.
During the 1990s there was a problem with travelers
who parked caravans
without permission in the Pype Hayes Park but this was prevented by erecting metal railings round the part of the perimeter of the park where there are no houses, round the car park, along the main driveway, these railings separate areas where vehicles are permitted from areas where vehicles are not permitted. There are gates in these railings which are unlocked for permitted vehicles, for example when the funfair arives.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. The park is in Erdiington Constituency and straddles the boundary between Pype Hayes
Pype Hayes
Pype Hayes is an area in the east of the Erdington district of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. It is located within the Tyburn ward.-Etymology:The name of the area derives from a major landowner in Erdington called Henry de Pipe...
and Erdington
Erdington
Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
(now Tyburn ward. The northern boundary of the park is the traditional boundary between Erdington
Erdington
Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
and Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
. Pype Hayes Park reaches from the corner where Eachelhurst Rd joins Chester Rd to a point close to Park Close off Chester Rd.
The main park entrance is on Chester Rd and by that entrance is the lodge where the head gardener lives, like Pype Hayes Hall
Pype Hayes Hall
Pype Hayes Hall is a former mansion house in the Pype Hayes area of Erdington, Birmingham, West Midlands. The hall is in Pype Hayes Park by by the gardens. It was formerly in the historic county of Warwickshire before being transferred into the new county of the West Midlands along with the rest...
this is a grade II Listed building. To the left of the main drive to Pype Hayes Hall is a car parking area and further on towards Pype Hayes Hall is a children’s play area with swings and other attractions. Returning to the main drive one can get to the front entrance of Pype Hayes Hall and round there are gardens. The older gardens have a traditional layout with many fairly straight flower beds and dwarf yew
Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
hedges. To the north of the traditional garden is a modern garden planted for the millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
. Sadly a fountain that was the centre piece of this garden was vandalised and has been left unrepaired for several years.
To the west of the gardens is a fish pond
Fish pond
A fish pond, or fishpond, is a controlled pond, artificial lake, or reservoir that is stocked with fish and is used in aquaculture for fish farming, or is used for recreational fishing or for ornamental purposes...
which is also a duck pond
Duck pond
A duck pond is a pond for ducks and other water fowl. Duck ponds provide habitats for water fowl and other birds, who use the water to bathe in and drink....
with a duck island, many species of water bird
Water bird
The term water bird or waterbird is used to refer to birds that live on or around water. Some definitions apply the term especially to birds in freshwater habitats, though others make no distinction from birds that inhabit marine environments. In addition, some water birds are more terrestrial or...
s can be found there, notably Mallard ducks, Canada geese and frequently a pair of resident mute swan
Mute Swan
The Mute Swan is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name 'mute' derives from it being less...
.
By the corner where Chester Rd meets Eachelhurst Rd is the area where the annual bonfire and Funfair
Funfair
A funfair or simply "fair" is a small to medium sized travelling show primarily composed of stalls and other amusements. Larger fairs such as the permanent fairs of cities and seaside resorts might be called a fairground, although technically this should refer to the land where a fair is...
are held on November 5th, fairs are also held there at other times of the year.
To the north of the section above is mown grass with young trees planted in groups and mature trees, later the land starts to slope downwards to a valley where Plants Brook
Plants Brook
Plants Brook is a stream in Erdington and Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England.-Course of the stream:...
flows, the brook was culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
ed during the 1960s due to flooding. Many young trees have been planted in the flattish area round Plants Brook which is near the border of the park.
After the 2nd World War single storie Prefabricated buildings, were built round the park between Chester Rd and Eachelhurst Rd, each prefab had a small garden to the front and another small garden to the rear. Several decades later these homes were removed giving a better view of the park and the Manor house but if visitors to the park look closely there is still a level area where the prefabs once stood.
During the 1990s there was a problem with travelers
Nomadic peoples of Europe
In Europe the settled lifestyle has long been the norm, but some small nomadic communities exist or have existed recently.- Romani :By far the most important and best known of these communities are the Romani people, traditionally known in English as Gypsies...
who parked caravans
Squatting in England
Squatting in England usually refers to a person, not being the owner of a property, taking occupation of an empty house. People squat for a variety of reasons which include needing a home, protest,poverty and recreation...
without permission in the Pype Hayes Park but this was prevented by erecting metal railings round the part of the perimeter of the park where there are no houses, round the car park, along the main driveway, these railings separate areas where vehicles are permitted from areas where vehicles are not permitted. There are gates in these railings which are unlocked for permitted vehicles, for example when the funfair arives.