Parks in Pendle

We are proud to confirm that Barrowford Park was awarded the prestigious Green Flag award in 2011 which is a respected national standard for parks and green spaces. This is the 4th time we have been awarded this award since 2008.

• More information on Green Flag Awards

To add your own comments / views about Barrowford Park, please click on the following link to the Green Flag Website

• You can download the map of Barrowford Park here

Barrowford Park is situated in the heart of Barrowford and dates back to the 1920s when it was donated to the people of Barrowford by two local cotton manufacturers.

They wanted to create a Memorial for the young men of Barrowford who had lost their lives in World War One and conceived of a park and recreation ground as being a fitting memorial because it would also be of benefit to the community.

The Park houses a nine-hole putting green, bowling green, the War Memorial and two children's playgrounds, which cater to different age groups.

In the heart of the Park are a lake and a wetland area. The lake was once the original mill pond. The pond is populated with moorhen, ducks and coots. Also situated at the back of the Park is Barrowford Cemetery which incorporates the Woodland Cemetery. The Park hosts both the annual Barrowford Show and events organised by the Friends Groups and Park Keeper Service.

Facilities / Attractions

Bowling

• More information about bowling

Play Areas

Age Groups
Infant: 3-5 years old
Junior: 5-14 years old - 90% agility

18 pieces of equipment:
6 DDA friendly
2 DDA and pushchair friendly gates

Barrowford Park offers excellent play facilities with two playgrounds boasting exceptional spacing between each piece of equipment.

We have ensured that these playgrounds have excellently situated benches and more than sufficient litter bins. These playgrounds are dog free areas.

Flowerbeds

Each of Pendle's Parks has its own unique character; you will find the formal flowerbeds in the areas near the bowling green at Barrowford Park; however the focus at Barrowford Park is on perennial plantings which enhance the natural features of the park. This means that visitors will find varying surprises as they explore the park in different seasons, e.g. the Ramsons (Wild garlic Allium ursinum) (pictured) only give this sublime show for a few weeks, yet in this same spot you will find snowdrops at winters end and a variety of woodland margin wildflowers as summer progresses.

The Friends of Barrowford Park have also planted a wealth of bulbs throughout the park so spring will find displays of crocus, daffodils and tulips.

Lake

The Lake is a home to various waterfowl, from Barrowfords well-known Brown Goose to a flock of Moorhen. The birds find shelter from both the elements and from natural predators on the island in the middle of the lake, whilst its water's are home to Perch. If you are lucky you may see ropes of Toad spawn in the spring or catch the antics of the waterfowl on the ice when the Lake is frozen over. You can also enjoy feeding the wild ducks at any time of the year.

When feeding the ducks please consider the health of both the birds and the pond and throw the food on the banks rather than in the pond. This means that the food will all be eaten instead of much of it rotting in the pond; the ducks will also appreciate it if you feed them a seed mix rather than bread.

Wildlife

Whilst many of the facilities in the park are provided for human visitors to enjoy we also manage the park to encourage wildlife, e.g. the garden around the war memorial is also a butterfly garden, with a variety of plants which different species of butterflies use for food and shelter. We continually monitor the wildlife in the park and all development of the bog, woodland and riverside areas is undertaken with a joint focus on increasing biodiversity whilst beautifying the park.

You might be lucky enough to see our nesting pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers in one of their exuberant mating flights around the trees on the escarpment, if not you can still have a look at the holes they have left when feeding on the insects living in the Owl Sculpture

In the woodland on the escarpment squirrels collect the copious supplies of beech nuts which carpet in autumn whilst piperstrelle bats can be glimpsed flitting amongst the trees feeding on airborne insects on balmy summer evenings. The stream is home to a pair of Dippers who can be seen bobbing up and down as they feed among the rocks in the streambed. Brown Trout sunbathe in the quieter eddies and you may even find a Heron standing guard over the weir as it waits for an unwary fish swim by and become its dinner.

Memorial Gardens

The Barrowford War Memorial is in the centre of a level area, with plenty of seating which is surrounded and sheltered by bushes and flowers.

Wetland Area

The bog garden/wetland area is located in a sheltered nook between the lake and the escarpment. Because the location has its own microclimate it creates an ideal habitat for wildlife and native plants which would not be able to thrive in the more open areas of the park. Yellow Flag Iris flowers wave in the breeze over the bog and frilly white flowers of Bog Bean sit above the water.

The Friends of Barrowford Park have made the development of the wetland area an ongoing project with dual goals of improving the accessibility of the area for the public and increasing the variety of native plants and of wildlife which find food and homes there. The Friends are planting more wildflowers and bushes around the area each season, building the diversity of the area.

Disabled Facilities

The playground offers DDA compliant swings - the harnesses can be obtained from the main offices of Parks and Recreation Services at Marsden Hall Farm or from the local Park Keeper.

Many of the footpaths are wheelchair friendly.

Disabled toilets are available at the Heritage centre and Bowling Pavillion (in season). 

Disabled car parking bays are available at the Heritage Centre entrance to the park. 

Pendle Heritage Centre

(To the left of the putting green) houses a Tourist Information Centre, Pendle Arts Gallery and cafe. It is open all year round between the hours of 10 am - 5 pm.  

Friends Groups

Barrowford Park has a very active Friends Group who work alongside Pendle Council maintaining the high standard of the park and help organise events and activities within the park itself.

• More information on Friends Groups

Events in Barrowford Park

• More information on events

Woodland Burial

• More information on woodland burials

Wildlife Sightings

• More information on wildlife sightings

Parks Byelaws

From 1st June 2009 Pendle's parks, open spaces and children's playgrounds will have new byelaws which will help make them much safer places to visit.

• Download the parks byelaws
• Reporting Dog Fouling

Directions

Local Users - Barrowford Park is located approximatley half a mile north east of the centre of Barrowford. The Park is accessed via several entrances, the first and most used is the entrance from the Heritage Centre off Colne Road. A small car park is located here with a much larger car park accross Colne Road. Visitors to the Heritage Centre predominatly use this car park. The other access routes into the park are the footbridge from Gisburn Road and the track from Bullholme Playing Fields.

Driving Directions from M65 - The park is situated just off Gisburn Road and is approximatley 0.75 miles from junction 13 of the M65. From Junction 13 of the M65 eastbound, take the first exit (A682) onto Gisburn Road. Follow this road for approximatley 0.75 miles. The park will appear on your right hand side. Turn right at the George & Dragon public house, over the hump back bridge and turn right into the Heritage Centre car park.

See Map

Address: Barrowford Park, Gisburn Road, Barrowford, Lancashire. BB9 6EW

10 Year Management Plan for Barrowford Park

• Download the 10 year Management Plan for Barrowford Park