Rushden Research Group: Pocket Park

Pocket Park

The park is accessed from Crane Close. A narrow strip of gound behind Prospect Avenue is set with trees and the path leads to a pit excavated in earlier times. The path then leads to an area of rough grass and scrub with a sign "Permissive Path" where access is granted by its owner. The footpaths wander throughout to Shirley Road, and to Prospect Avenue and The Hedges. No evidence was seen of bird boxes or play equipment. Visited February 2019.

The trees around a former pit - perhaps a sand pit?

Leading into a field and scrub area

Evening Telegraph, July 2000

Wraps off plans for a wildlife haven

RESIDENTS have been invited to get involved with a new pocket park to be created in Rushden.

The old Calor Gas depot in North Street has been knocked down and the site will eventually include a housing estate and a supermarket.

As part of the development deal, two-and-a-half acres have been set aside for a park, which will be administered by the town council and interested local people.

Anyone who would like to help in any way can find out more at a meeting later this month.

The creation of the park is being overseen by county council pocket parks officer Sue Paice.

She said: "This is to give everyone in Rushden the opportunity to put ideas forward and get involved, whether it is with planting, practical or artistic work."

The site is being developed by Westbury Homes. Foxes, muntjac deer and newts are all found in the area and as part of the project park planners are hoping to restore a pond.

The park should be open by next spring. The meeting is at Rushden Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, July 19.

Town and district councillor Les Rolfe said: "I would encourage people who are interested in that area to go along."

Evening Telegraph, October 2000 article by Simon Deacon

Planners back joint wildlife and play area

DEVELOPERS look set to be given permission to turn part of a spinney into a play area.

Plans to turn part of the woodland in North Street, Rushden, into a play area are being recommended for approval at a meeting of East Northamptonshire Council's development committee next week.

Councillors had hoped developers of homes at the former Calor Gas site would be able maintain the spinney and build a separate play area. But now council officers are confident a satisfactory compromise has been struck.

However, some councillors are opposed to the scheme and are still calling for a separate play area to be built and the spinney to be maintained.

East Northants and Rushden town councillor Les Rolfe said: "I am not certain about the wisdom of having a play area in the spinney.

"Ideally I would like to see a separate play area which would allow the spinney to be a place for wildlife. A play area could discourage the wildlife we want there."

In a report to Wednesday's meeting, officers say the developer of the land, where 62 homes are to be built, will maximise wildlife in the area by removing dead timber and erecting bird and bat boxes.

The report says: "It is considered that the proposed works would provide benefit to both residents of the proposed development and the wider community.

"The developer has also confirmed that an area for play would be provided in a glade in the spinney that has already been cleared and would be overlooked from the proposed dwellings."

The play area would have wooden equipment.


left - house at end of Shirley Road and the new housing on the site of the Gas Works	left - houses on the Gas Works site and (right) houses of the Peck Way development.

Some wartime concrete being taken over by some thick moss - looking across the railway track to warehouses at the top of John Clark Way.	An old railway track used to be here connecting the Gas Works to the Railway Station. This path has a tarmac finish.