I thought today I would take you for a walk through my park! Well it’s not just my park I do have to share with the rest of population of the town and surrounding areas. This is a place that we use a lot, during the summer we are in here almost every day of the week and the weather would have to be absolutely horrendous for us not to be here on a Sunday afternoon! I love it! 🙂
It is the second largest park on the island of Ireland the only one bigger is Phoenix Park in Dublin not bad for a provencial town. It is widely used by many sports, it has football, rugby and cricket pitches, tennis courts and an outdoor bowling green. It is used for many events including motor rallies, concerts, firework displays and agricultural shows and it has a very modern childrens play area.
What I love it for is it’s lovely woodland and beautiful and very old trees and of course it’s wildlife which includes squirrels, rabbits and foxes and a great variety of birds and water fowl.
It has many paths and trails through the trees and I have walked them all many, many times.
Just look at this ancient bark, it would make a lovely knitting pattern if you could work it out!
It has a huge lake which is used by many birds including swans, geese, many breeds of duck, water hens, coots and grebes.
The big building you can see in the photographs is Brownlow House or as it is known locally ‘the castle’.
Many, many years ago the park was actually the grounds of Brownlow House. Brownlow House was built in 1839 but hasn’t been inhabited since the late 19th century. It has recently had some restoration work done and it is used for functions including weddings.
The park is a lovely place to visit all year round. In the spring we enjoy all the new babies on the lake, in summer it is a sea of green, in autumn a great place to go if you like wading through leaves and in winter you always get a great welcome from the wildfowl when you arrive with a big bag of bread!
All this and it’s only a 10 minute walk from my front door!
So that’s ‘my park’, I hope you enjoyed your walk! 🙂
October 5, 2010 at 18:14
Lucky, lucky you – what a beautiful park, and only 10 minutes away. Some people wouldn’t even appreciate being so close to such a wonderful green space. It cheers my heart to know that you and your family use it and above all, love it.
x
October 5, 2010 at 20:43
Hi Jill!
We do really enjoy it and we have so many photos throughout the years of the children at different stages in the park!
Vivienne x
October 5, 2010 at 18:39
Mmmmmmm – what a dreamy park and I love all those trees. Makes me want to go and hug them all.
Nina xxx
October 5, 2010 at 20:44
Well Nina, you come on over and I’ll go and hug them with you! 🙂
Vivienne x
October 5, 2010 at 18:56
Your park is fab, I wish I had such a great park near here.
x
October 5, 2010 at 20:46
Hi Emma!
It really is fab and very well used by the community! A great place for kids!
Vivienne x
October 5, 2010 at 19:12
Gorgeous! You are so fortunate to have such lovely surroundings and so much history! It’s what we sorely lack here in the states 🙂
October 5, 2010 at 20:48
Hi Ann!
We are lucky to have it on our doorstep!
Vivienne x
October 5, 2010 at 20:51
What a beautiful park – and how lovely to have somewhere so close to go for walks whenever you want. I love the old trees and the wonderful ‘castle’ – they have such a sense of history, and it’s so nice that they have become part of your family’s history too.
Helen x
October 5, 2010 at 20:55
It is a big part of family life here in the town. The primary school that my children attended is right next to the park. In fact the school has it’s own private gate into the park so the children can go on nature walks!
Vivienne x
October 5, 2010 at 22:04
Hey I’ve been there! I studied at Queens in Belfast and spent my weekends visiting Uni friends all over, we had a couple of picnics in Lurgan Park! You’re so lucky to live close to somewhere so lovely 😀
October 5, 2010 at 22:14
Wow Amy, I didn’t know you studied here and how great that you even had picnics in ‘my park’! It really is a small world. 🙂
Vivienne x
October 6, 2010 at 06:27
Wowww-Wheee! Vivienne, what a park can I move in with you? lol! It’s smashingly beautiful oh how I would love to visit Ireland someday.
Can see why the C word is hard to use right now. Here it is cool and the leaves have changed not so hard to use the word. Did you see my giveaway am taking your advice. Take a peek and enter.
Thank you for the beautiful photographs once again.
Hugs, Dani
October 6, 2010 at 11:52
Hi Dani!
It’s a very beautiful park, we love it!
Vivienne x
October 6, 2010 at 12:08
What a lovely park 🙂 Our local park is getting a revamp at the mo, I cant wait for it to be finished so we can go for a stroll in it 🙂 xxxx
October 6, 2010 at 12:21
Hi Melanie!
It is great to have somewhere locally to go for a lovely walk without having to get in the car to drive to it!
Vivienne x
October 6, 2010 at 15:59
You are very blessed Vivienne, your park (even shared!) is a lovely
place … must have been an awesome place to live in its glory days.
I love trees, I really could be a tree hugger; hate to hear those dreadful chain saws!!
By the way …. Bella is safe from my decopatch glue …. but I think she is the only safe one! My wardrobe may be my next project!
love for now,
Val xx
October 6, 2010 at 17:45
Hi Val
I often wonder what the place was like when the gentry lived in the ‘big’ house and the park was their garden!
Looking forward to seeing the wardrobe makeover!
Love to Bella. xxx
Vivienne x
October 6, 2010 at 18:29
I just finished dinner and really enjoyed a walk in your beautiful park, afterwards! Thanks. (you’re very lucky with such a beautiful park around)
October 6, 2010 at 18:33
I so glad you enjoyed your walk Lisette!!
We are very lucky to have it so near to us. 🙂
Vivienne x
October 7, 2010 at 15:25
What a beautiful park, and practically in your backyard. you are so lucky! Thanks for the tour.
October 7, 2010 at 16:32
You’re welcome Corry! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed the tour!!
Vivienne x
October 7, 2010 at 15:38
During the very best part of my life I lived at the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. I totally get the idea of “my park”. The beauty of the nature in all it’s forms – from the tiniest wee flower snuggled under the moss to the literal majesty of the rocky mountains was/is my inspiration to life. A park – whether in the city or in the wilderness in my opinion is where we can best renew our spirits. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely space. I know how it can help a person breathe!
October 7, 2010 at 16:38
Hi Liz!
It’s so nice to have you ‘visit’ here!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
How absolutely wonderful to live near to Yellowstone National Park, brilliant! 🙂
Vivienne x
October 8, 2010 at 15:38
What a wonderful place – swans and castles 🙂 Seems just perfect for a long walk! And it’s still so green around you, I am amazed, no wonder you still enjoy almost-summer 🙂
Have a wonderful and sunny weekend, Viv!
Yours,
Mia
October 8, 2010 at 15:50
Hi Mia
We’re still enjoying the good weather and the weekend forecast is looking good too!
Hope you have a lovely weekend too! 🙂
Vivienne x
October 8, 2010 at 18:22
You have a lovely park. So close by too! x
October 9, 2010 at 00:32
I know Simone, we’re very fortunate! Sometimes we just have to stop and think about how lucky we are as we often take it all for granted!
Vivienne x
October 8, 2010 at 20:04
WOW that park looks magical!!! Imagine living in that house?! Love your pictures 🙂
October 9, 2010 at 00:37
Thanks Amanda!
I often wonder what the house was like when it was lived in!
Vivienne x
October 11, 2010 at 15:20
OOOOOOOps I have left my apple comment on your glorious park post Vivenne, that will teach me for not checking!!!
Love the photos again, how beautiful you home is….and always better in the sushine!!!
Take care, Jane x
October 11, 2010 at 16:03
Everything seems so much better in the sunshine Jane!!
I have to say October so far has been a lovely month, we’ve had absolutely brilliant weather. 🙂
Vivienne x