Holywells Park is a public

park A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

situated between Nacton Road and Cliff Lane, near to the

Ipswich Waterfront The Ipswich Waterfront is a cultural and historically significant area surrounding the marina in the town of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. The modern dock was constructed in 1842 and the area was a functioning dock up until the 1970s. At the time ...

History

Tools from the stone age have been found on the site, as well as bronze age axes and Roman coins. In the 13th century Holywells was part of the Manor at Bishops Wyke which was held by the

Bishops of Norwich The Bishop of Norwich is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of the county of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The bishop of Norwich is Graham Usher. The see is in th ...

. During the reign of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

the Manor was returned to the crown and then granted to Sir John Jermy. The land was bought by John Cobbold in 1812 who brought his wife Elizabeth Cobbold and their large family here to live in 1814. Cobbold later began using the areas natural springs to produce beer. In 1814 Holywells House was completed on the site of an old farmhouse (this building was demolished in 1962 due to wood rot and only the stable block remains). The estate was sold to Lord Woodbridge in 1930. He presented the estate to the people of Ipswich in 1935 and it was opened to the public by

Ipswich Corporation Ipswich Corporation was the local authority which ran the town of Ipswich in Suffolk, England. It was founded in 1200 and abolished in 1974, being replaced by Ipswich Borough Council. The corporation's formal name until 1835 was the "bailiffs, bu ...

in on 30 May 1936. The park became the responsibility of

Ipswich Borough Council Ipswich Borough Council is the local authority for Ipswich, a non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Suffolk, England. It is the second tier of a two-tier system, fulfilling functions such as refuse ...

in 1974, following the implementation of the

Local Government Act 1972 The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...

. In 1983 the Council established the Holywells Park Conservation Project. This included a

nature trail An educational trail (or sometimes educational path), nature trail or nature walk is a specially developed hiking trail or footpath that runs through the countryside, along which there are marked stations or stops next to points of natural scienc ...

which visited 12

station Station may refer to: Agriculture * Station (Australian agriculture), a large Australian landholding used for livestock production * Station (New Zealand agriculture), a large New Zealand farm used for grazing by sheep and cattle ** Cattle statio ...

s from the Stable Block to Kissing Gate Lane. Holywells park is now a designated a Conservation Area. In July 2012, Ipswich Borough Council received a grant of £2.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) for the Holywells "Parks for People" restoration project. The HLF grant was supplemented by funding from the Friends of Holywells Park and by the Borough Council. The grant was used to improve a range of park facilities and to enable the renovation of the Stable Block, converting it into a vibrant visitor centre and café with an education area and function room. The conservatory was refurbished and turned into a multi-function area that can be used for exhibitions, talks, meetings and other functions. The Stable Block and Conservatory are both listed buildings.

Activities

Established in 2001 the Friends of Holywells Park are a very active volunteer group whose aim is to increase the local knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of Holywells Park. The park hosts numerous events throughout the year organised by Friends of Holywells Park, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Ipswich Borough Council and charitable and private organisations. Popular among the regular events are Family Fun Days (July-August), Practical conservation activities, a bat walk (August), a Cold Fair (January), Holi Festival of Colour (April), The Nearly Music Festival (and other concerts like 'Chopin in the Park'), Tea Dances and many more. The park is frequently used for charity rides, runs and walks.

Sport and leisure

In summer 2007 work was completed on a new play area, situated on the site of the old play area. Work was also carried out to remove the paddling pool and in turn making a new stream joining the 3rd pond to the lake at the Holywells road end of the park. The play area for children, incorporates a hi-tech teen play facility, Water play facility (summer only) kiosk, toilets and changing room. There is a trim trail that provides fitness for all levels of physical ability. From simple Balance Beams to the challenge of Pole Climb or Ladder Walk, it tests upper and lower body strength, co-ordination, agility and overall stamina. The many paths in the park are well trodden by joggers and fitness walkers. The park is home to Holywells Bowling Club. It also has a Victorian conservatory and a

walled garden A walled garden is a garden enclosed by high walls, especially when this is done for horticultural rather than security purposes, although originally all gardens may have been enclosed for protection from animal or human intruders. In temperate c ...

. There are four entrances to the park: Cliff Lane, Myrtle Road, Bishop’s Hill and Nacton Road. Blue Badge parking is available at the Cliff Lane entrance and public parking at Athena Hall off Duke Street, IP3 0DT Holywells Park by Thomas Gainsborough

Water supply

Holywells has played an important role in providing a

water supply Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Th ...

to Ipswich.

Wildlife and ornithology

The park has a variety of different habitats including formal gardens, ponds, fields and woodland, and these support a surprising large number of different species. There are protected bat species like

pipistrelle ''Pipistrellus'' is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae and subfamily Vespertilioninae. The name of the genus is derived from the Italian word , meaning "bat" (from Latin "bird of evening, bat"). The size of the genus has been consi ...

and barbastelle and there is plenty of fallen and standing deadwood which provides homes for stag beetle, five banded weevil-wasp, bee wolf and golden hoverfly. The many ponds attract insects and in turn birds – kingfisher are regularly spotted as are woodpeckers. The

Suffolk Wildlife Trust Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) describes itself as the county's "nature charity – the only organisation dedicated wholly to safeguarding Suffolk's wildlife and countryside." It is a registered charity, and its headquarters is at Brooke House i ...

runs free wildlife sessions for schoolsSuffolk Wildlife Trust
/ref> and the park has an active team of park rangers which encourage young people with a love for nature, to build their practical conservation skills by learning from and working alongside local wildlife experts.

Holywells Park Conservation Area

In 2003 the Park gained

Conservation Area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewoo ...

status, along with the neighbouring Margaret Catchpole Public House. Pond 5 is known as Alder Carr and is a biodiversity action plan habitat.