Bamford & Norden Nov 2017

3 year project for
DENEHURST PARK
Edenfield Rd, Rochdale
There is currently a 3 year project underway to transform Denehurst Park into a green open space for all.
The project includes improving the drainage in the park, reinstating the paving around formal gardens
and Denehurst House, creating new paths around the park, creation of new play area and other various
landscaping works.
Established in 2014 the Friends of Denehurst Park is a group dedicated to restoring the original
features of the park and developing the park as a community resource for all.
The group is run by an elected committee of Volunteers and is open to anyone
who wants to help the park.
Denehurst House and the surrounding grounds were donated to the town in
1932 by Samuel Turner in memory of his late father Alderman Robert Turner
(1848 - 1931), one of the founders of Turner Brothers Asbestos Ltd. The Park
took its name from Denehurst Farm which previously occupied the site of the
house. The building has been used as offices for a variety of council departments
since it was donated to the town.
Denehurst Cemetery was built on part of the park to meet the demands for
additional burial space in the town and was officially opened in 2015. In addition,
Rochdale Council agreed that a sum of money was to be spent on improvements
in the rest of the park.
The new paths around the park are 1.5m wide, two access ramps have been
installed into the sunken lawn (previously only accessible via steps). There is a
play area planned to be created over the next year which will include many
inclusive pieces of play equipment.
The Park has been a part of Rochdale in Bloom for the last two years, with the
herbaceous border featuring heavily and this was praised by the Britain in Bloom
judges. Much work is needed to keep the beds in pristine condition all year
round as the old beds were stripped out and replanted. Volunteers were (and
still are) the driving force behind the restoration of this historic feature and are a
beautiful sight for anyone wanting to visit the park.
Other landscaping features soon to be in the park will include a Victorian style
stumpery in the formal area of the park and an innovative planting scheme
around a fallen gargoyle tree which has been planted up by Redwood
School students.
More information about Denehurst Park to follow
in next month’s issue of Streetwise.
If anyone is interested in helping in any way or are just interested in the park
please get in touch via email friendsofdenehurstpark@outlook.com or to contact
Michael Buczman (Denehurst Park Project Development Officer)
at michael.buczman@rochdale.gov.uk or via phone at 01706 922076.
Friends of Denehurst Park website:
www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/friends-of-denehurst-park
Visit our website www.streetwisemag.co.uk for all the info about the Streetwise magazines
67