Parks
Baas Hill Common, Bell Lane, Broxbourne
The common consists of woodland, grassland and aquatics and is a
popular site for picnics. Baas Hill Common is managed by the
Hoddesdon Trustees. The total area of the park is 3.84 acres, and
facilities include parking and a picnic area.
Barclay Park, Park View, Hoddesdon
The park is set on a gentle hillside which leads down to an
ornamental lake. This rolling landscape of grassland is
broken up by areas of densely planted trees and part of the site is
managed as a wildflower meadow with grasses and sedges that are
tolerant of the moist conditions. Adjoining Barclay Park is
Cock Lane Open Space, managed by the Hoddesdon Trustees, a large
informal area of grassland and woods. The total area of the park is
18.3 acres and facilities include car parking, picnic tables, a
duck pond, toilets, easy access pathway and play equipment.
Community events, such as Easter Egg hunts, take place in the park.
Cedars Park, Theobalds Lane, Cheshunt
Steeped in history, this magnificent park was once the site of
Theobalds Palace, a favoured residence of James I. Queen Elizabeth
I also visited Theobalds many times during her reign. The park was
given to the Borough in 1919 and today offers a scheduled ancient
monument, woodland walks, formal gardens, ponds, pets' corner, an
arboretum and a conservation area. In 2002, the Borough of
Broxbourne commissioned new entrance gates into Cedars Park from
Theobalds Lane to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden
Jubilee. The gates contain a time line of bronze roundels
depicting historical events at Cedars Park. The Parks Manager lives
on site and helps organise the many summer events. There is also a
tea room which is open February to November, Tuesdays to
Sundays, from 10.30am until dusk. The park covers over 19 acres and
facilities include car parking, duck pond, pets' corner, picnic
tables, toilets,easy access path, and an art space. The park is
locked at dusk.
The Friends of Cedars Park is a group of regular park
users who act as the eyes and ears for the park manager as well as
providing support for community events. It is free to join and
requires no obligation - Friends receive regular updates on park
activity and can attend the bi-annual meetings. To join in contact
the park manager by emailing ah.leisure@broxbourne.gov.uk
or download an
application form.
Broxbourne Council is planning to make a bid to the Parks for
People programme for lottery funding. To find out more about this
bid, go to Cedars Park Lottery
Bid
Health Walks in Cedars Park
A new health walking
initiative started by the Countryside management service is
coming to Cedars Park.
Cheshunt Park, Park Lane, Cheshunt
This large area of grassland and woodland forms a green "heart"
to the Borough. The park has a rich history and was the subject of
a "Time Team" investigation in 2001 in which they uncovered part of
Ermine Street, the Roman Road from London. The majority of the site
is managed as wildflower meadow with hay cut once a year.
The park achieved coveted Green Flag status in 2005 and has
retained this for the last two years.
Broxbourne Council has recently won Heritage Lottery funding to
further improve the park. The park is situated next to an 18-hole
golf course, Cheshunt Park Golf
Course.
The park covers 235 acres with much wide open space, and
facilities include car parking, picnic tables, a play area, easy
access path, toilets and café in the club house, and community
events – the largest of which is an annual firework display on
Bonfire Night which attracts nearly 10,000 people.
The Friends of Cheshunt Park is a group of regular park users
who act as the eyes and ears for the park manager as well as
providing support for community events. It is free to join and
requires no obligation - Friends receive regular updates on park
activity and can attend the bi-annual meetings. To join contact the
park manager by emailing ah.leisure@broxbourne.gov.uk
The Countryside Management
Service is a specialist consultant for Cheshunt Park and
is a key partner.
Grundy Park and Elm Arches, Windmill Lane, Cheshunt
This recreation ground incorporates an indoor pool and leisure centre offering a wide variety of sports
facilities. Elm Arches was the house and grounds given to the
Borough by the Grundy brothers in 1911 and were laid out as a
recreation park for the benefit of the residents of Cheshunt. The
park covers over seven acres and facilities include
pay and display car parking, toilets and café (in the leisure
centre) tennis courts, football pitches and play equipment.
(Lucern) Lucy Warren, Cock Lane, Broxbourne
This natural open space consists of grassland, wildflower meadow
and newly established woodland. The site covers nearly 29 acres and
offers car parking, a picnic area and horse riding on the
bridleway.
Old Highway Park, (Rye Park), Old Highway, Hoddesdon
Known locally as Rye Park, Old Highway is primarily a recreation
ground providing play and sports facilities and a large area of
mown grass within a residential area. A tennis club and bowls club
are based here, and the bowling green is open for public use from
May to September between 1pm and 8pm every day. The park covers
5.06 acres and facilities include car parking, toilets, easy access
path, community events, play equipment, tennis courts, bowling
green, and a "MUGA" or Multi-Use Games Area for basketball and
football. The park is locked at dusk.
Whithern Park, Churchgate, Cheshunt
This ornamental park is adjacent to the Borough offices and is
made up of nearly five acres of formal gardens. It is home to
Whit Hern Bowls Club and the bowling green is open for public use
May to September between 1.30pm and dusk except on competition
days. Facilities include car parking and toilets. The park is
locked at dusk.
Park Watch
A voluntary 'Park Watch' scheme has been developed for all the
Borough's parks. If you are a regular visitor to a local park the
Council invites you to participate in 'Park Watch' and assist the
Council and the police in a co-ordinated response to improving and
addressing issues of anti-social behaviour, litter, dog fouling,
by-law breaches, vandalism and environmental / horticultural
standards. Residents interested in helping out can e-mail
leisure@broxbourne.gov.uk or telephone 01992 785555 ext 5754.