A walk on the 'green' side
I would welcome ideas and suggestions for how this page might develop however, in the meantime please join me for a 'virtual' walk around the park and a look at what is in place and available to visitors (subject to size in some cases).
We will begin our 'walk' by entering the park from Daisy Lane, this particular entrance point situated between the Leesland Schools and behind the houses of Whitworth Close. From this particular vantage point you can see most of the 5 hectares that comprise the park and in particular the open grassed area that makes up the main parkland. At any time of day expect to see any number of dogs and their owners using the facility. At other times this area is well used by children and adults at play and for such pursuits as kite and model aircraft flying. This is also the venue for our now legendary summer events featuring artists of the calibre of Micky Kemp Band, Rolling Dog, The Teapot Junkies and Slippery Jack.
Having entered the park, we pick up the bark filled pathway that runs along the boundary with Whitworth Close. A ranch style fence forms the park's boundary at this point but a flourishing hedgerow of inherited blackberry brambles and planted hawthorn are developing well. In the event you would like to sit and watch the world go by you will shortly come to our first seat and currently only picnic bench.
Crossing the the main entrance at Lavinia Road we enter the Sensory Garden project area. This particular part of the site subdivided into 4 zones each identified by a unique carved wooden 'totem' pole markers. Along the shingle path you will also find our re-generated telegraph pole, now the home for a number of plaques produced at the 2005 Summer Event - Art for Parks Sake. The Sensory Garden is an on-going development and an area that needs considerable and regular attention. Progress is however being made. Further features in this area include a number of wooden seats and benches, the rapidly maturing hornbeam avenue and at the end of the zone a yet to be completed sundial feature.
Almost opposite the Sensory Garden and on the other side of the main path you will have clearly noticed the children's play area and skate park. The former a fenced area containing a zipwire and climbing frame, the most prominent feature though the small wooden fort atop a grass mound. Observational question now, on your first real visit can you see where our styling idea came from?
Continuing our walk, we come to the skatepark, Gosport's first and we think best, which for those who do not skate is dominated by the quarter and halfpipe structures. While not to everyone's taste the equipment is decorated in typical street art fashion. Hopefully a new coat of paint is in the pipeline for this area.
Passing behind the skatepark you will notice a large and what appears unkempt area of the park running up to the boundry with the cycle track. Development of this area was left due to the possibility of the projected light railway taking up the space. Our path now turning us back towards the original startpoint.
Returning back to the main area of parkland, we pass the conservation area and wild flower meadow. Difficult to find now, but there is also some evidence of our bog garden. This was conceived in a spirit of great enthusiasm but proved to be in the wrong location. Back to the drawing board with that one. And talking of boards, hopefully you have noticed our park signs and the information boards which are slowly appearing in different locations. The board close to Toronto Road entrance depicting an edited history of the park. In the Back on the main parkland, and we should find ourselves close to the small orchard and the Moreland Road allotments.
The orchard area contains a small number of fruit trees which include apple, crab apple, pear, meddler and quince. The site recently gaining it's own boundary marker, a suitably inscribed block of Purbeck stone. The verge between orchard and allotment further acts as something of an additional tree orchard. In the midst of the orchard you will come across a strange curved wood and tile structure - this is our 'soundseat'. The tiled surface of the seat displaying a 'loose' visual history of the site. depicting for example the fact that the railway once ran through the park and that the space was once used as a drying field for a steam laundry. The reason for the name, well the symbols on the seat represent the first work and the lines connecting it to the symbol for the inner ear. Very complex and mystical but it all made sense one particular day in Portsmouth when we had the opportunity to attend an art workshop. Should you wish to know a little more about this feature, please seek out a volunteer at the monthly workday (see Whats On for more details) or send a question via the Enquiry button.
Passing through the orchard we meet our boundary once more, here I should like to draw your attention to the splendid notice board adjacent to Daisy Lane/the allotments. The board hand painted by a local resident depicts some of the flora and fauna to be found on the park. You might be surpirsed to find just who does live here!
Our last leg (no pun intended) takes us along the path running parallel to Daisy Lane and back to our start point. The hedgerow providing the boundry at this point full of wildlife in particular birds and the ever acrobatic grey squirrels. In fact why not take advantage of our suitably placed log pile seat for one last moment of relaxation.
Finally, thank you for joining me on this virtual walk, I hope that you enjoyed it enough to want to go out and explore the site properly. It is after all a much healthier option than sitting in front of your computer monitor. Enjoy
We will begin our 'walk' by entering the park from Daisy Lane, this particular entrance point situated between the Leesland Schools and behind the houses of Whitworth Close. From this particular vantage point you can see most of the 5 hectares that comprise the park and in particular the open grassed area that makes up the main parkland. At any time of day expect to see any number of dogs and their owners using the facility. At other times this area is well used by children and adults at play and for such pursuits as kite and model aircraft flying. This is also the venue for our now legendary summer events featuring artists of the calibre of Micky Kemp Band, Rolling Dog, The Teapot Junkies and Slippery Jack.
Having entered the park, we pick up the bark filled pathway that runs along the boundary with Whitworth Close. A ranch style fence forms the park's boundary at this point but a flourishing hedgerow of inherited blackberry brambles and planted hawthorn are developing well. In the event you would like to sit and watch the world go by you will shortly come to our first seat and currently only picnic bench.
Crossing the the main entrance at Lavinia Road we enter the Sensory Garden project area. This particular part of the site subdivided into 4 zones each identified by a unique carved wooden 'totem' pole markers. Along the shingle path you will also find our re-generated telegraph pole, now the home for a number of plaques produced at the 2005 Summer Event - Art for Parks Sake. The Sensory Garden is an on-going development and an area that needs considerable and regular attention. Progress is however being made. Further features in this area include a number of wooden seats and benches, the rapidly maturing hornbeam avenue and at the end of the zone a yet to be completed sundial feature.
Almost opposite the Sensory Garden and on the other side of the main path you will have clearly noticed the children's play area and skate park. The former a fenced area containing a zipwire and climbing frame, the most prominent feature though the small wooden fort atop a grass mound. Observational question now, on your first real visit can you see where our styling idea came from?
Continuing our walk, we come to the skatepark, Gosport's first and we think best, which for those who do not skate is dominated by the quarter and halfpipe structures. While not to everyone's taste the equipment is decorated in typical street art fashion. Hopefully a new coat of paint is in the pipeline for this area.
Passing behind the skatepark you will notice a large and what appears unkempt area of the park running up to the boundry with the cycle track. Development of this area was left due to the possibility of the projected light railway taking up the space. Our path now turning us back towards the original startpoint.
Returning back to the main area of parkland, we pass the conservation area and wild flower meadow. Difficult to find now, but there is also some evidence of our bog garden. This was conceived in a spirit of great enthusiasm but proved to be in the wrong location. Back to the drawing board with that one. And talking of boards, hopefully you have noticed our park signs and the information boards which are slowly appearing in different locations. The board close to Toronto Road entrance depicting an edited history of the park. In the Back on the main parkland, and we should find ourselves close to the small orchard and the Moreland Road allotments.
The orchard area contains a small number of fruit trees which include apple, crab apple, pear, meddler and quince. The site recently gaining it's own boundary marker, a suitably inscribed block of Purbeck stone. The verge between orchard and allotment further acts as something of an additional tree orchard. In the midst of the orchard you will come across a strange curved wood and tile structure - this is our 'soundseat'. The tiled surface of the seat displaying a 'loose' visual history of the site. depicting for example the fact that the railway once ran through the park and that the space was once used as a drying field for a steam laundry. The reason for the name, well the symbols on the seat represent the first work and the lines connecting it to the symbol for the inner ear. Very complex and mystical but it all made sense one particular day in Portsmouth when we had the opportunity to attend an art workshop. Should you wish to know a little more about this feature, please seek out a volunteer at the monthly workday (see Whats On for more details) or send a question via the Enquiry button.
Passing through the orchard we meet our boundary once more, here I should like to draw your attention to the splendid notice board adjacent to Daisy Lane/the allotments. The board hand painted by a local resident depicts some of the flora and fauna to be found on the park. You might be surpirsed to find just who does live here!
Our last leg (no pun intended) takes us along the path running parallel to Daisy Lane and back to our start point. The hedgerow providing the boundry at this point full of wildlife in particular birds and the ever acrobatic grey squirrels. In fact why not take advantage of our suitably placed log pile seat for one last moment of relaxation.
Finally, thank you for joining me on this virtual walk, I hope that you enjoyed it enough to want to go out and explore the site properly. It is after all a much healthier option than sitting in front of your computer monitor. Enjoy