Autumn 2022 at Woodthorpe Grange Park, Nottingham

Not long ago I went for a walk around Woodthorpe Grange Park, which I’ve blogged about before. The park recently celebrated its centenary having been opened by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham on 1 June 1922. The weather was bright and sunny and did not at all feel like October, but some of the trees were wearing their autumn colours at least.

This park is one of Nottingham’s largest that also includes a pitch and putt course, a children’s play area, a cafe, football pitch as well as formal gardens and small wooded areas. It never feels too crowded though, especially in the cooler months.

The land here was originally used for pig farming, until 1874 when an industrialist called Henry Ashwell built a manor house here (it still exists as home to a council department); he’d later go on to sell this to the man who had designed the railway route for the Nottingham Suburban Railway Company that split the estate from north to south and underneath. Nottingham City Council would eventually buy the land in 1921 thanks to a donation from Jesse Boot, founder of Boots, and the railway would cease operation in 1931 for passengers and then in 1951 for goods. The track was subsequently removed but some of the tunnels still exist.

There’s wildlife in the form of birds and squirrels (though none of them stayed still long enough for me to get a photo!). There’s also lots of paths either further into the wooded area, around the large field or up little stairs like this one.

You can find more photos of the park here.