Stapenhill Gardens

Swan at Stapenhill Gardens

Green Flag Award for town's prestigious park

Location - Burton upon Trent

Address - Stapenhill Road, Burton upon Trent, DE15 9AP

Free admission

Facilities - Free car parking, play area, benches, circular walks, toilets including disabled, open all year.

Stapenhill Gardens has been rewarded by achieving it's second Green Flag in 2011. The Green Flag Award® Scheme run by 'Keep Britain Tidy' is the bench mark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK and recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country.

Stapenhill Gardens is a very popular local park, consisting of formal gardens, open grassland and woodland plus a popular play area. The site acts as a focal point for the community, with events held around the swan.

There is access by parking at Stapenhill Hollows on Stapenhill Road, where you can walk along the river bank which leads under St Peter’s bridge bringing you into the gardens at the point of the newly formed water front, or, take a stroll through the arboretum of St Peter’s church and over the footbridge that crosses St Peter’s bridge to arrive at the top of the gardens. There is also a small car park off Ferry Street giving access to the gardens near the play area or to Ferry Bridge and Washlands area.

Stapenhill Gardens and the Washlands is listed among the winners of Enjoy England’s 21 top dog walks in 2007.

Walking for Health - Sport East Staffs organise weekly walks from Stapenhill Gardens using volunteer leaders, these walks take place every Tuesday at 10.30am from Stapenhill Gardens (Bandstand) DE15 9AP. This walk consists of 4 graded walks to accommodate all abilities and is well attended with between 10 and 20 people attending each week. Other walks around the area also take in the spectacular Stapenhill Gardens.

Access for All – Stapenhill Gardens has tarmac paths leading all around the grounds and disabled toilets operated via a RADAR key.

Restoration works – In order to maintain the grounds for future generations it has been necessary to undertake some bank stabilisation works. Whilst undertaking these works we have been able to improve the waterfront by installing steps leading down to the river creating an area ideal for feeding the many swans that inhabit the gardens.

Facilities

Parking, toilets, play area, benches, disabled access, walkers trail, dogs allowed, refreshments nearby, local shops nearby and town centre 20 minutes walk.

History

In 1933 Henry Goodger gave the land adjoining the former Stapenhill House and part of its garden as a pleasure ground in memory of his mother. The central portion of the ground was lost when the access road for St Peter’s bridge was laid out in 1985.