Heigham Park is one of a series of formal parks that received government funding after World War I as part of a building and planting programme. Much of the improvement in provision of public parks and open spaces was directly attributable to Captain Arnold Sandys-Winsch, a landscape architect, who was Norwich City Council’s Parks Superintendent from 1919 to 1956.
The Captain
Heigham Park c.1930
The park is located in the city's Golden Triangle district and opened in 1924. Amenities include a children's playground, bowling green, playing field, tennis courts and a small pond. Specimen beech including several copper beech trees form a boundary around much of the park. In addition, there are herbaceous borders, shrubberies and a wisteria covered concrete pergola which was part of the Captains original design.
The Captain was responsible for many of the parks in Norwich including the four grade II listed historic parks: Eaton, Heigham, Wensum and Waterloo, a job he clearly carried out with dedication and meticulous attention to detail. At the time Norwich had very few open spaces (Chapelfield Gardens was one of them) but when he retired Norwich had about 600 acres of parks and open spaces. He also created model allotments and organised the planting of some 20,000 trees in the parks and streets. Norwich Corporation sought to provide for the recreational needs of Norwich citizens and the Captain proved just the person to turn their vision into reality.
Please note that although the cache is available at all times, the park closes in the evening. Opening times vary throughout the year so please check the related web page here before heading out (if you want to visit the park).
Cache contains a log only so please bring your own pen.
Congratulations to ueadave for FTF!!