Queens Park

Queens Park, (33 acres) a traditional urban park on the south east side of Blackburn has won the prestigious Green Flag Award status for 2006. 

Features

• the principle features of the park is the 3.5 acre serpentine lake. The lake is in two sections linked by a narrow channel.  The lake is fed by Audley Brook with the outfall cascading down a steep slope.
•    there is a boat house at one end of the lake

•  at the main entrance there is a lodge house which with its attractive flower beds compliments the formal straight line of the man drive which leads up towards the lake
• a sunken amphitheatre garden with a bright golden privet surround and with a backdrop of mature trees providing a contrasting formal element particularly when viewed from the lakeside path above.  In the centre of the area, the site of a bandstand now houses a youth shelter
• there are both square and circular bowling greens at the lower end of the park
• a children's play area, close to the lodge house is a popular attraction

History

Take a journey back in time by visiting the Cotton Town web site.  On this site there is a wealth of old maps, manuscripts, photos, books, pamphlets and posters illustrating some of Blackburn and Darwen’s fascinating history.  Click Cotton Town.

Queens Park was given to the town by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1882.  It area at that time was on the outskirts of Blackburn and its development included construction of a new road to the site and Queens Road around the boundary of the park.

The park was officially opened on June 20 1887, at a cost of £10,000 when it was dedicated as a Golden Jubilee memorial to Queen Victoria.

The site having once been part of the Audley Hall estate was originally called Audley Recreation Ground.

In 1888 the lake was officially opened but parts of the park were still incomplete.  The aim of the town council was not simply to provide an ornamental park but also facilities for boating, swimming, skating, cricket an other athletic games.  The total estimated cost at that time was £14,000 - 15,000.

The park is now owned and managed by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council with the lodge now a private residence, having been sold in 1985.

Tree planting ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the park's opening took place in 1987 when two oak trees were planted close to the boat house.

A group of forty trees were also planted in 1992 in honour of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Awards

Queens park has retained the prestigious Green Flag Award status.  The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by the Civic Trust, is the national standard for parks and green spaces.  Green Flag award 

Winners vary from Victorian parks and town centre gardens to nature reserves, country parks and cemeteries.

Sites must be judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained with the strong involvement of the local community

To help with the development and maintenance of Queens Park the council has developed a long term management plan especially for the park. If you wish to read the Plan please click here.