Coventry’s premier park, The War Memorial Park, is likely to see a series of investments in the next two years which are intended to modernise and broaden the Park’s appeal across all age groups and should ensure that the Park remains a high quality destination for residents and visitors alike. These are exciting times ahead!
A brief history
By way of background, the Park was created by public subscription in 1921. £31,537 was raised to purchase 121 acres (48.5ha) of farmland and part of Stivichall Common in order to create a lasting memorial for the 2,587 men of Coventry killed in the First World War. A memorial park was seen as a simple way to commemorate their sacrifice, and would be a lasting legacy for the people of Coventry to enjoy. A memorial was erected in 1927 and commemorative copper beech trees planted, together with the creation of flower beds, rockery, ponds and a golf course, and tennis, football and cricket pitches over the succeeding years. Further memorial trees were planted after World War Two, part-commemorating the 2,017 Coventrians killed in that war, of which 1,085 were civilians. The Park became a main location for city events and celebrations.
By the Millennium the Park was looking tired, with Council budget cuts contributing to its declining physical condition, and thus attractiveness. The City Council was successful in an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund and The Big Lottery for a grant of £2.8 million to refurbish the Park, funding new landscaping including hedging and spinnies, a major upgrade to the visitor centre and improved paths, car parks and signage. Fundamental to the successful bid was the creation of a ‘friends’ group which came into being in 2006. The main works to the Park were completed by 2010.
Park investments – getting better all the time
Recently the City Council has announced that it wants to replace the outdated play areas in War Memorial Park, including the old water feature. It intends to create a new play area as well as provide a modern open plan Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) for all ages. They say “This upgrade will ensure continued free access to a vital community space that promotes exercise, supports healthy lifestyles and strengthen social interaction and community ties”. To help with the planning of the play areas it is seeking the views of residents on the current play facilities and what is important to visitors. An online survey is on the Council website.
The play area announcement is the latest of a series of planned improvements within the Park. Some are aimed at more active kids and adults. Earlier this year an extension and enhancement of the skate park was granted planning permission. Its development is now contingent on grant funding. There will be no income from the skatepark as it will be free to use. However, its existence is sure to bring more people into the Park especially (but not exclusively) young people, as this is now an Olympic sport with regular tv coverage. The well-used tennis courts are being transferred to a new management and maintenance regime with a ten year lease. And, following an agreement with a padel tennis company to design, build and operate padel courts in War Memorial and Longford Parks, an application for planning permission for up to four new padel tennis courts is expected soon. When/if accepted then a twelve-week construction period is envisaged, meaning the courts may be available from the autumn. Padel is the fastest growing sport in Europe so good use is expected of the new facility. An astroturf surface should enable play throughout the year.
Visitors to the Park in recent years will have seen the conversion of the golf course to footgolf. This hasn’t proved successful. So the Council, with the support of the Friends of The War Memorial Park, is intent on naturalising the area. This foresees the enhancement of existing habitats such as hedgerows and grasslands, and the creation of a pond and two wildflower meadows. These changes are intended to encourage more wildlife into that part of the Park while creating opportunities for bird spotters, bat walks and casual walkers on new paths. There are also plans afoot for the planting of a remembrance orchard near the main entrance of the Park on Kenilworth Road.
Friends of the Park
The Friends of the War Memorial Park is a small community charity, run entirely by volunteers, dedicated to protecting and enhancing our beautiful park. Our activities over the past twenty years have ranged from hands-on practical to the strategic. They have involved bulb and shrub planting to the creation of the Community Sensory Garden; listing and mapping park trees to publishing a book on the Memorial Trees; organising dawn chorus, bat and stargazing walks; funding an outdoor fitness trail and children’s amusements; opening the Memorials Chamber of Silence on Heritage Open Days, creating a labyrinth; undertaking regular litter picks; activities to celebrate the Park’s centenary in 2021; and assisting the Council with its Green Flag and Park Management Plan applications. So, a really diverse set of activities, all undertaken by the efforts of volunteers to raise the profile of the Park and speak up for its special character.
We are always keen to welcome new members and volunteers to all our activities. In the coming year we expect there to be changes in our Committee so if you can assist with secretarial help or can provide website or marketing skills to assist our reach then please do get in touch via the post-box in the Park visitor centre, email (info@fwmpcoventry.org.uk), or Facebook. For only a couple of hours a week anyone can make a real contribution to efforts to maintain and enhance Coventry’s premier park.
The close cooperation between the ‘Friends’ and the City Council staff managing the Park has been a standout feature of the past year. Strategically, this is reflected in the joint update of the Park Management Plan which now sets out the standards of management and key investments over the next decade. At a practical level Council staff and the Friends have further developed the Friends Community Sensory Garden. This was created by the Friends and opened on the centenary day of the Park on 9 July 2021. Volunteers gardeners have maintained and developed the Garden throughout successive summers, the latest addition being a children’s ‘Barefoot Walking Snake’, a path of different surfaces for children to explore barefooted. Adjacent to the sensory garden and aviary is the Japanese Peace Garden part-funded by local schools, and also opened on centenary day. A recent upgrading has seen the planting of three new trees.
The Friends, with Council assistance, have this year created a labyrinth, on a disused bowling green. The labyrinth is a single, non-branching path that winds to the centre and back out. Its purpose is for walking meditation – it is not a maze! A Coventry elephant is at the centre of the labyrinth with the route demarcated by the new wildflower planting. This may in time be replaced by hedging or low bushes depending on usage.
Remembrance
The ‘Friends’ are constant in seeking to ensure that the origins of the Park are respected and remembered. ‘Friends’ are diligent in continually surveying the 629 memorial trees, plinths and plaques to ensure that they are maintained and, where necessary, replaced by the Council. The Friends have documented the memory of seventy people commemorated by trees in the Park in their book ‘The Remembrance Trees of Coventry’s War Memorial Park’. This is obtainable from Gill Mills (see below) at £7.50 plus £2.40 postage, or from the Park Visitor Centre.
October 8th next year will be the centenary of the War Memorial, in the Park. This, too, was created following a public subscription. The unveiling and dedication of the Coventry War Memorial was led by Field Marshal Earl Haig accompanied by the Mayor, Alderman Fred Lee and the Bishop of Coventry, Charles Lisle Carr. There was a parade of 4,000 troops and 50,000 people attended. The ‘Friends’ are keen to ensure that this important centenary in the City’s history is commemorated. We are pleased therefore that early engagement with the Council has started the ball rolling in terms of discussions as to the type and size of event, including some sort of rededication service.
If you have a group or maybe your children/grandchildren’s school who would be interested in having a talk about the Park and the activities of the Friends please contact Gill at gillmills55@gmail.com. She is happy to talk at convenient venues or arrange a meeting in the Park Visitor Centre. The cost is £50.
Trevor Cornfoot,
Chair, Friends of the War Memorial Park
