Walk in the Park – 17 June 2007

About two dozen people gathered at South Lodge in Catton Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon at the start of the summer Walk in the Park. Our walk leaders and guides were Stephen Osborn and Matt Caley (the Park Warden). We set off clockwise along the path bordering the grassland area. At our first stop we saw that work has started on fencing off the picnic area, which will also be dog free. Many of the wild flowers are in bloom all across the grassland area. Stephen also described to us a pit which is in the woodland area near to where we were standing, thought to be a small quarry pit.

We carried on along the path until we reached a clearing by the kissing gate on St Faith’s Road. This is one of the areas where trees and ‘whips’ were planted earlier in the year. Matt explained to us that the planting included firs, native species such as oak, ash and sweet chestnut. He also told us about the importance of keeping the roots of the whips damp at all times when they are being planted and as the young trees establish themselves.

Our next stop was the pond which is a most interesting feature.  It is a brick lined pond, up to ten feet deep in the centre. The pond is thought to have been created originally as an informal area of garden for the Hall. Matt has cleared around the pond and removed some of the water, taking care not to disrupt the frogs that breed there. A number of options for the pond are being considered.

We continued along until we reached the newly created gate which allows access for children at the Hall School into the Park.  This access gate gives the children tremendous opportunity to enjoy the safe environment of the Park.  Matt expects that the teachers at the Hall School and other local schools will increasingly use the Park and integrate this use into lesson plans – for example nature and science lessons.

As we walked along the northern perimeter of the Park we stopped for a sight of Norwich Cathedral and a beautiful view of the trees in the Park. We continued until we reached the main track near the entrance to Church Street. Matt explained that the entrance will be opened up once a design for a gate which allows access for emergency vehicles but keeps out motorcycles has been finalised. Matt showed us the area where the metal detector group had found parts of a plane which crashed in the Park during the Second World War. He also told us about plans for the paths, fencing and kissing gate in the north east area of the Park.

We then returned to South Lodge along the main track, which has just been relaid and was due to have the final layer applied the following week. We passed the oldest tree in the Park, an oak, the 500^th anniversary of which the Friends of Catton Park will be marking with a Picnic in the Park on 14 July. At the Lodge we enjoyed cakes and tea – and the opportunity to ask Matt further questions about the Park. A most informative and enjoyable walk!