Parks

It is one of Wolverhampton's district parks and has a rich history. Bequeathed to its present-day custodians in 1938 on the death of Alderman Albert Bantock, this former farm has undergone restoration works, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The park is approximately 16 hectares (39.53 acres). The west of the park is mostly open space, which still retains its 'rural' character, with gently undulating ground, hedgerows and a variety of trees with a nature trail.  The eastern side of the park changes near the house, becoming more formal, consisting of a series of recently restored gardens, reminiscent of the detail emerging around the late nineteenth/twentieth century.

Location

Bantock Park
Finchfield Road
Wolverhampton
WV3 9LQ

Things to do

Bantock Park is a great venue for a range of activities at low or no cost. A picnic in the park is something the whole family can enjoy, from toddlers to grandparents. The children's play area has many challenges for young children, for example, traditional monkey bars and swings to multi-play units. A range of other facilities to enjoy across the age ranges include:

• Re-built changing rooms
• tea room
• Bantock House Museum
• Georgian farm buildings (home to a range of nature, educational, dance, music and theatrical events, activities and exhibitions)

Improvements to Bantock Park

View improvements to Bantock Park.

It is one of Wolverhampton's district parks and has a proud history, going back to 1896. The park is approximately 18 hectares in size. East Park is a focus of great pride for the people living nearby.

Location

East Park
Hickman Avenue
Wolverhampton
WV1 2BS

• bus 529
• Priestfiled Metro stop
• location map

Facilities

• Football pitches
• Tennis courts
• Ranger events
• Splash Pad
  • The Splash Pad is currently closed. Please follow general safety guidance at the Splash Pad. Thank you for your cooperation.
• Large play area, catering for toddlers, juniors and older children.
  • The facility includes; cradle swings, a small trampoline, springy animals, see-saws, a roundabout, climbing walls, multi-play units, as well as giant slides and pendulum swings etc.

It is a fine example of a Victorian municipal park and was one of the best in the country to set a trend for the provision of areas for specific sporting activities (originally bowls, archery and cricket). The park is considered to be one of the best, unspoilt examples of a Victorian park left in England and is Wolverhampton's premier open space.

The park is 17 hectares (roughly 43 acres) in area (including its lake) and provides a beautifully landscaped green space within a ten-minute walk of Wolverhampton city centre. 

Location

West Park
Park Road West
Wolverhampton
WV1 4PH

• bus 525
• location map 

Facilities and attractions

• picnics
• tennis courts
• chalet tearooms
• children's play area
• bowling green (located in Park Crescent)
• disabled access
• heated Victorian Conservatory - closed until further notice.

Prior to COVID, West Park Conservatory was run and maintained by the Friends of West Park, made up of local park users. The group maintained and propagated plants, as well as using their volunteers to staff the Conservatory, so it could be opened to the public. Unfortunately, this group has now dissolved which has meant that the Conservatory has now been temporarily closed. The Parks Team are currently looking into the potential of a joint venture with a local volunteer organisation who, along with maintaining and opening it, wish to use the Conservatory as a training facility. In addition to this, the team are also maintaining details of potential volunteers who may wish to be involved in the Conservatory in the future. Please email MyParkVisit@wolverhampton.gov.uk if you would like your contact details to be recorded as a potential volunteer.

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There are many informal walks through the woodland and opportunities to view or photograph a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitats.

Northycote Farm has on its site a Tudor farmhouse which is steeped in history. The farmhouse itself is not always open to the public, but throughout the year, it is opened to the public for tours and other events.

At the farm

There are many informal walks through the woodland. These offer opportunities to view or photograph a wide variety of wildlife in their natural habitats. Animals at the farm include:

• Norfolk Black Turkeys
• Geese, chickens, ducks and guinea fowl
• Shropshire sheep
• Pigs

Other things to do include regular events held throughout the year, such as:

• Easter Egg Trails
• May Day Celebrations
• Music
• Town and Country Show
• Harvest Festival
• House tours run by the Friend's Group
• Halloween Events
• Christmas Events; log dressing, wreath making, star dedication and traditional Christmas Fayre's with Father Christmas

Also open for all of the farm's events are the tea rooms and picnic area and on-site there are facilities for baby changing and disabled toilets.

Location and contact details

Northycote Farm
Underhill Lane
Bushbury
Wolverhampton
WV10 7JF

• Telephone: 01902 397906
• Tea rooms: 01902 784200
• bus 613
• location map

Opening hours

Northycote Farm operates different open hours to the rest of the city's parks:

• The animal enclosures are open 9am to 4pm
• The car park is open 8am to 5pm
• Christmas Day: closed 

Entry

There is free entry to the farm and woodland, car park and tea rooms. However, some events may charge a small fee.

The park is located half a mile from Bilston Town Centre. The park opened in 1911 as a memorial to Sir Alfred Hickman, a local industrialist and former MP.

Hickman Park is currently undergoing restoration, in a project funded by the Heritage Lottery.  The park will be returned to its original splendour, with the benefits of modern facilities.

There is now a new building to house the park rangers; a meeting room, toilet and baby changing facilities.

There is also an open-air theatre which has been restored, alongside the Park Shelter, after funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The theatre has, in the past, held many events and once again is starting to gain attention by being used regularly.

Location

Hickman Park
Wolverhampton Street
Bilston
Wolverhampton
WV14 0LZ

Things to do

As well as the theatre, there is a sports arena with terracing. The arena is an ideal place for both playing sports and for spectators. In addition to all of the usual things to enjoy in parks, walking, exercising well-behaved and controlled dogs etc. there is also:

• mini football pitches
• toddler/children's play area
• urban sports court (multi-ball)
• rangers events
• wildflower meadow
• Sons of Rest group

Location

Dudley Road
Blakenhall
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV2 3JU

Facilities

Visitors to the park can enjoy:

• Children's play area
• Seated amphitheatre
• Two ball courts
• Lighting
• Network of paths
• Outdoor fitness equipment
• Playing fields
• Horticultural improvements
• Wildflower meadow areas
• Revamped entrance area, signage
• Car Park
• Toilet
• Parks clock
• Play facilities for all ages
• BMX track through the woods
• Woodland area

These have improved visitor numbers - use of park facilities and community use of the park (including Walking for Health etc.).

If you would like to tell us about your visit to Phoenix Park, or if you are interested in becoming a ‘Friend of Phoenix Park’, please email us at MyParkVisit@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

St Peter's Collegiate Church and Lich Gate War Memorial Gardens

Occupying a site of great historical importance; the settlement of Wolverhampton became a centre of local religious, political and economic importance during the 10th Century, although the original church had its origins in the 7th Century.

Since the decline of the gardens from the 1940s onward; various restoration phases have been undertaken, including the many heritage structures.

• Horsman Fountain (also listed)
• Harris Memorial (known locally as the 'sailor statue')
• Saxon Pillar
• Bargaining Stone. 

The Horsman Fountain dates from 1896, and commemorates Philip Horsman, a local businessman who founded Wolverhampton Art Gallery, and the Wolverhampton & Staffordshire Eye Infirmary; whilst the Harris Memorial commemorates a wireless operator in World War I who, whilst posted to an Italian ship, continued to send messages whilst under heavy fire until he was killed by shrapnel on 15 May 1917.

Representing one of the few areas of green space located in the Wolverhampton City Centre Conservation Area (designated in 1972). The gardens form the setting for St Peter's Collegiate Church, which is one of two Grade I Listed Buildings in the City.  Providing the setting for other important buildings such as the nearby Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

The gardens were originally part of the church's graveyard. They were handed over to the town at the end of the 19th century and turned into gardens.

Awards

The gardens successfully achieved Green Flag status again this year, following a successful first bid in 2010.  

Access

The gardens are located on a hill in the centre of the city and can present difficulties for those with impaired mobility.

Opportunities to improve site accessibility are limited due to the historic sensitivity and the gradients involved.

Wheelchair/pushchair users access via lower south/east gardens and to the south porch of the church.