Ilkeston -Victoria Park
w/e 15 January 2023
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490 or
a Nikon D3300
Normally at this time of year
we go to Wollaton Park or Shipley Country Park but with rain
in the forecast every day we chose somewhere local instead and
went to the old favourite, Victoria Park from where it's much
easier to find shelter in inclement weather. As it happened,
although there was evidence of previous rainfall in the ground
conditions, it stayed dry whilst we were there.
We entered the park through the gate at the corner of Drummond
Road and Bristol Road although we could have entered anywhere
around the perimeter as the railings that once surrounded the
park were removed many years ago.
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The recent restoration of certain features in the park with the
aid of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant included the construction
of a new pergola and the replanting of the beds around it.
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The marble pillars at the end of the pergola that were once sited
at the gates of Nottingham Jail were also restored as was the
Bandstand seen here in the background.
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Tree surgeons have recently been at work on the park and although
the felling of trees is often necessary on safety grounds it's
always a sad sight to see the resulting stump and sawdust that
is left behind.
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The absence of leaf cover at this time of year though only serves
to enhance the skeletal features of the trees though like this
gnarled trunks of a purpled leaved plum.
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Although all the flower beds in the park have been planted with
primulas, the rainfall of recent days is apparent in the grassed
areas.
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Another Lottery funded addition to the park is the "Park
Keeper" artwork which has a plaque at its foot reading:
“Hello, I'm the park keeper. It was my job to protect and
look after this beautiful park and the stories go that I would
ring my bell to ask everyone to leave before the gates were locked.
I'm made out of 200 pieces of recycled metal by local artist
Gavin Darby (Frailloop). 20th August 2017."
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Gavin Darby is also responsible for "Albert the Dog"
which sits at the entrance to the bowling green and the
Barefeet in the Park kiosk. The bowling green has a "Dog
control order" on it which means that dogs are not allowed
inside the gate but this area is especially provided for dog
owners.
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Also at the entrance to the bowling green and keeping an eye
on "Albert" is a carved wooden owl.
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Not all the animals in the park however are artworks. A squirrel
scampered across the path in front of us and perched in one of
the trees a robin was singing a beautiful song as we passed by.
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