Victoria Park in 2024 - Disappointing
Anniversary
w/e 04 August 2024
All of this week's
pictures were taken with a Nikon D3300.
A month by month look at Ilkeston's
Victoria Park in 2024 - Part 08 August.
Whenever we go to Victoria Park, it's hard to ignore the bandstand
that stands proud in one of the highest points in the park.
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It seemed appropriate that our monthly visit in August was on
the first day of the month exactly 101 years after the official
opening of the bandstand. Of course the bandstand has been renovated
in recent years with Heritage funding but the base with the inscribed
plaque plaque is still the original. The 101st anniversary though
appears to have passed unnoticed by the majority.
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One of the first things we noticed on entering the park was the
height of some of the trees although one by the side of Bristol
Road has had some presumably diseased boughs removed. It was
probably necessary work but it is still disappointing to see
it in its current state.
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It was also disappointing to see the wildflowers have now passed
their best and, although good for nature, they are currently,
interspersed with long grass and weeds, not attractive to the
human eye.
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Further disappointment lies in the central area where the flower
beds have all been removed and replaced with grass.When I started
this series in January I was expecting to record the changing
views of the park through the seasons, the spring flowers, the
summer bedding, the burgeoning growth of the trees and the falling
leaves in autumn. As we approach the latter part of the year,
my hopes remain with those autumnal colours.
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It's grass too in the former flower bed at the Bristol Road/Manners
Road entrance where the Green Flag recognition of excellence
was hanging limply from the flag pole. One has to wonder whether
the same award will be retained this year.
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On a brighter note the bowling green is being used and it looks
to be in excellent condition aprt from a few brown patches.
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The picnic area too overlooking the play area, although deserted
when we were there, looks an inviting area for parents to sit
and supervise their children.
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The play area itself was also deserted even though the schools
have now broken up for the summer holidays. Perhaps the tell
tale tracks of vehicles in the grass from recent travellers who
parked the caravans all around this part of the park may have
acted as a deterrent.
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Of course it wouldn't be a walk in the park without a dog encounter
and this month it was two for the price of one as we met a family
walking their dogs, young Teddy and the elderly Gypsy - and they
both wanted a lot of fuss.
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Part 9 - September 2024 `
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