Salisbury Woodland Gardens, Blackpool
Encyclopedia
Salisbury Woodland Gardens is an open space located in the east of Blackpool
, flanked by East Park Drive and Woodside Drive and linking Blackpool Zoo
with Stanley Park
. Known simply as the 'Woodland Gardens' to local people, the site was acquired in 1924 by Blackpool Corporation and was originally developed as a shelter belt for the adjacent Stanley Park Golf Course. The gardens were later developed in the 1940s as an arboretum
and public open space for all to enjoy. Popular once as a wedding photograph location, the site went into decline during the 1990s. The Council's Ranger Service manage and protect the gardens which they took over in September 2006 and have been funding and undertaking the restoration of the woodland.
In 1967, Parks Director Norman Leach appointed gardener Pete Perry and his Flying Squad of gardeners to plant up the gardens. All plants, (primulas, meconopsis, etc) were grown from seed in the greenhouses at Stanley Park, and planted en masse. Extra shrubs, including azalea were also planted.http://www.widgeripoo.net/horticulture/archive_part_two
. The airport was officially opened by then British Prime Minister
, Ramsay MacDonald
in 1931. However, with the opening of Squires Gate Airport a decision was made in 1936 by the Ministry of Transport
to close the airport at Stanley Park. The airport closed a year later. During the Second World War
the airport was used as a Royal Air Force
training station, known as No. 3 School of Technical Training. The land that the airport stood on now covers Blackpool Zoo as well as a hotel and golf course. The hangar
s from the old airport are still in use as the elephant enclosure for the zoo. Evidence of the area's history can also be seen today with the pill box to the east of the gardens.
In April 2007 the local newspaper, the Blackpool Gazette
confirmed that the gardens were to receive attention from Blackpool Council's Ranger Service and Arboriculture Service to restore the gardens after years of neglect. The site has been granted special status as a designated County Biological Heritage Site (BHS). A five year site Management Plan was put in place to assist the long term maintenance of the site, protect wildlife and attract more visitors.
, Caucasian Wingnut and Maple
, enabling the visitor to view the species of many countries within a few acres of land. A number of winding footpaths run through the site and over the ornamental brooks. The site has both local and regional ecological value and was designated as a County Biological Heritage Site in 1993 for its epiphytic flora
. A diversity of wildlife can be seen, including Kingfisher
s, Treecreeper
s and Woodpecker
s. The site also supports colonies of Pipistrelle Bats, dragonflies and butterflies such as Orange tip and Peacock.
Woodlands Gardens is one of fourteen Biological Heritage Sites (BHSs) in Blackpool.
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, flanked by East Park Drive and Woodside Drive and linking Blackpool Zoo
Blackpool Zoo
Located two miles from Blackpool's sea-front in Lancashire, England, Blackpool Zoo provides a home to over 1,500 animals from all over the world. The Zoo aims to provide its visitors with a stimulating, informative and enjoyable experience that demonstrates its role in the conservation of...
with Stanley Park
Stanley Park, Blackpool
Stanley Park is a municipal park in the town of Blackpool on the Fylde coast in the county of Lancashire, England. It is the largest park in the town, bounded by a roughly circular perimeter of 2.2 miles and covering an area of...
. Known simply as the 'Woodland Gardens' to local people, the site was acquired in 1924 by Blackpool Corporation and was originally developed as a shelter belt for the adjacent Stanley Park Golf Course. The gardens were later developed in the 1940s as an arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
and public open space for all to enjoy. Popular once as a wedding photograph location, the site went into decline during the 1990s. The Council's Ranger Service manage and protect the gardens which they took over in September 2006 and have been funding and undertaking the restoration of the woodland.
In 1967, Parks Director Norman Leach appointed gardener Pete Perry and his Flying Squad of gardeners to plant up the gardens. All plants, (primulas, meconopsis, etc) were grown from seed in the greenhouses at Stanley Park, and planted en masse. Extra shrubs, including azalea were also planted.http://www.widgeripoo.net/horticulture/archive_part_two
History
The neighbouring Blackpool Zoo site was formerly Blackpool's municipal airport. In 1927 the local council announced that an aerodrome would be built near Stanley Park, which would become Blackpool Stanley Park Airport offering flights to the Isle of ManIsle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. The airport was officially opened by then British Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
in 1931. However, with the opening of Squires Gate Airport a decision was made in 1936 by the Ministry of Transport
Department for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
to close the airport at Stanley Park. The airport closed a year later. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the airport was used as a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
training station, known as No. 3 School of Technical Training. The land that the airport stood on now covers Blackpool Zoo as well as a hotel and golf course. The hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
s from the old airport are still in use as the elephant enclosure for the zoo. Evidence of the area's history can also be seen today with the pill box to the east of the gardens.
In April 2007 the local newspaper, the Blackpool Gazette
Blackpool Gazette
The Blackpool Gazette is an English evening newspaper based in Blackpool, Lancashire. Published every day except Sunday, it covers the towns and communities of the Fylde coast...
confirmed that the gardens were to receive attention from Blackpool Council's Ranger Service and Arboriculture Service to restore the gardens after years of neglect. The site has been granted special status as a designated County Biological Heritage Site (BHS). A five year site Management Plan was put in place to assist the long term maintenance of the site, protect wildlife and attract more visitors.
Landscape and Wildlife
The gardens contain many native and exotic trees and shrubs such as MagnoliaMagnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
, Caucasian Wingnut and Maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
, enabling the visitor to view the species of many countries within a few acres of land. A number of winding footpaths run through the site and over the ornamental brooks. The site has both local and regional ecological value and was designated as a County Biological Heritage Site in 1993 for its epiphytic flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
. A diversity of wildlife can be seen, including Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s, Treecreeper
Treecreeper
The treecreepers are a family, Certhiidae, of small passerine birds, widespread in wooded regions of the Northern Hemisphere and sub-Saharan Africa. The family contains ten species in two genera, Certhia and Salpornis...
s and Woodpecker
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
s. The site also supports colonies of Pipistrelle Bats, dragonflies and butterflies such as Orange tip and Peacock.
Woodlands Gardens is one of fourteen Biological Heritage Sites (BHSs) in Blackpool.
Events
A number of guided walks and children's activities are now held in the gardens by the Ranger Service, as part of the Council's Park Events Programme. Events such as tree and bulb planting, bird and bat box making are held, as well as talks on trees and history. There are also a number of Volunteering projects and work days occurring on the site to enable the local community to get more involved in the sites management and interpretation.See also
- Bispham Rock GardensBispham Rock GardensBispham Rock Gardens, also known as Devonshire Road Rock Gardens, is a municipal park located in Bispham, Blackpool on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, England. The gardens are an important wildlife resource and contains a number of rare species....
- George Bancroft Park, BlackpoolGeorge Bancroft Park, BlackpoolGeorge Bancroft Park is a municipal park and garden created in the town of Blackpool in 2006. The park is named after George Bancroft who a former leader of Blackpool Town Council who died in 2001.-Background:...
- Kincraig Lake Ecological ReserveKincraig Lake Ecological ReserveKincraig Lake Ecological Reserve is a wildlife reserve located in Bispham in Blackpool on the Fylde coast, Lancashire, England...
- Kingscote Park, BlackpoolKingscote Park, BlackpoolKingscote Park is a municipal park in Layton, a suburb of Blackpool in the county of Lancashire, England. The park is the second largest park within Blackpool after Stanley Park and the largest park in Layton.-Background:...
- Moor Park, BlackpoolMoor Park, BlackpoolMoor Park is a municipal park located in the Moor Park area of Bispham in Blackpool on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, England.The park is bordered by Bispham Road to the west, Moor Park Avenue to the south, housing on Bristol Avenue to the north and businesses on Bristol Avenue to the east...
- Stanley Park, BlackpoolStanley Park, BlackpoolStanley Park is a municipal park in the town of Blackpool on the Fylde coast in the county of Lancashire, England. It is the largest park in the town, bounded by a roughly circular perimeter of 2.2 miles and covering an area of...