Parks in Pendle
Victoria Park
Victoria Park was first awarded a prestigious Green Flag in 2009, and has maintained its flag ever since. It is designated a district park and covers over eight hectares of land. Specific features of interest in the park are a large lake, bandstand, bowling green, health walk routes, MUGA and a children's play area which are all spread evenly throughout the park.
The park is divided by Carr Road and Pendle Water which is the river that runs the length of the park, and puts one half of the park in Nelson and the other in Barrowford. This has formed four separate sections of the park which are separated by the road or the river. These sections can be traversed by means of three bridges that cross Pendle Water and a gateway or subway that crosses Carr Road.
Play Facilities
- Junior – 5-12 year olds
Sports Facilities
The park has three cycle routes, three health walk routes (easy/medium/hard), and a multi-use games area suitable for ages eight and over.
Café
Visit our Facebook page for information about the café in Victoria Park.
Bandstand
The bandstand at Victoria Park was originally opened in 1912 by Civic Heads of the former Nelson Town Council. Since that time it has been used regularly for band concerts. People used to culminate and gather around the bandstand after the annual Whitsuntide processions and it was the centre piece for Nelson Show, which was held in May each year.
Over the years the bandstand has been used to host a wide variety of musical events ranging from traditional brass bands to heavy rock. However, during the 1980’s the bandstand suffered badly from vandalism and destruction.
In 2003, we worked in conjunction with the Friends of Victoria Park and initiated a project to renovate the bandstand. This hard work has enabled the community to once again enjoy this historic facility.
We managed the whole project. Various works were undertaken including replacing the floor, resetting the stonework, new guttering, conservation of the metal work and enclosing the bandstand inside railings.
The bandstand was officially re-opened on 9th June 2006.
Health Walk Routes
Exploring your local park is an excellent way of improving your health and well-being. Taking a brisk walk through the park burns the same amount of calories as a run over the same distance. It is an activity that the whole family can enjoy, and best of all it’s free.
Victoria Park’s ‘walk 4 life’ routes are designed to allow the user to pick and choose the level of exercise which they feel comfortable with.
Just follow the waymarkers for your selected route:
· Red – Hard (1 mile)
· Yellow – Medium (1050 metres)
· Green – Easy (550 metres)
Wildlife
The lake forms one of the main features of the park and attracts many species of wildfowl. In summer Swans, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen can be seen. In winter many visitors arrive including Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goosander and occasionally Cormorant. The lake also has a stable fish population with Perch and Roach being the main species.
There is no fishing allowed on the lake and visitors are also asked not to enter the water for their own safety
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.
Victoria Park attracts many species of wildlife as well as those species that can be seen on the lake.
The river provides a valuable habitat for a variety of insects and fish species including Dragonflies and Brown Trout. These in turn attract a number of bird species such as Kingfisher, Dipper and Grey Wagtail.
Many mammals live in the park, and Grey Squirrels can be seen foraging in the woodland areas. Nocturnal animals present in the Park include Hedgehogs and Foxes.
Due to the variety of habitats within and surrounding the park, a stable bat population is present with species such as Common Pipistrelle and Noctule being sighted.
Disabled facilities
Many of the footpaths and walkways in the park are suitable for people with low mobility.
There is a disabled toilet which is accessible when the pavilion is open.
The playground offers facilities for disabled users.
Friends Group
Victoria Park has a very active Friends Group who work alongside us maintaining the high standard of the park and help organise events and activities within the park itself.
Car Parking
The park boasts a spacious car park which is located East of the park next to the bowling greens on Carr Road.
