This hugely popular park is an ideal place to spend the day. A boating lake, tree trail, trim trail and children’s play area are available, as well as a paddling pool and a crazy golf course.
The River Loddon runs through the park, feeding into a balancing pond in the Wildlife Area, where a dipping platform allows you to observe wildlife on, below and beside the water at close quarters (caution is recommended in wet conditions). Many birds inhabit this area including a resident kingfisher which can be seen hunting along the river.
A programme of events is run throughout summer, including band concerts under the canopy and the annual Family Play Day. All events are advertised in the What's On guide.
LOCATION AND ACCESS
Eastrop Park is accessible by a short walk from Festival Place and the bus station or the Eastrop Lane bus stop. Alternatively, the purple bus from the town’s park and ride stops at City Wall House on Basing View, where a short walk across the footbridge leads to the park.
CAFE AND BOATHOUSE
This facility is weather dependent but generally open from 11:30 to 17:30 as follows:
Easter weekend / Easter school holiday
May half term
School summer holiday
Bank holidays between Easter and the end of September
At weekends from Easter until the end of September.
NEW!!! NATIONAL PLAY DAY (FAMILY FUN DAY)
Last summer saw another hugely successful family fun day when thousands of visitors came to the park to enjoy fun activities with an environmental theme.
So what plans do we have for 2009?
Well, the date has been set for 5th August 2009 and bookings have been made to ensure that we have your favourite free family activities again. These include:
Dance Academy
Pond Dipping
Wild Trek Trailer
Arts and crafts workshops
Story Telling
Circus skills
Climbing Wall
Library, museums and rights of way service
and some new ones:
Den building
Roke Farm animals
Drum Runners
Ball pool
We shall also have the cycle and park service which was new this year and proved highly popular and of course for those who must travel by car we will organise the free shuttle bus to and from the Old Common car park as in past years, with disabled parking at the park itself.
The biggest achievement is joining forces with Basingstoke Play Limited to promote National Play Day and the event at Eastrop Park is going to be one of three in the Borough - watch out for posters in your local libraries and play centres. Their theme this year is 'MAKE TIME' so why don't you make time to come along and see what is going on?
GREEN FLAG SUCCESS
The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales and both recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country. Winning a Green Flag Award brings excellent publicity especially since both the media and the public are becoming increasingly aware that a site flying a Green Flag is a high quality green space.
Eastrop Park was visited by two Green Flag judges on 28th May 2008 and despite the wet weather we showed off the parks with pride. Both judges appeared impressed by the community involvement, educational use and hard work put into maintenance and development and as a result the Borough, has been successful again in achieving the award for Eastrop Park and for the first time for the War Memorial Park.
NEW!!! FRIENDS OF EASTROP AND WAR MEMORIAL PARKS GROUP
Do you love your local parks?
Do you have some time to spare?
Would you like to join the Friends of Parks group and get involved in conservation work, public consultations, and preparations for the ‘Green Flag’ awards?
Then I would love to hear from you!
Please contact me at karen.evans-prosser@basingstoke.gov.uk or call me on 01256 845649.
EASTROP PARK TREE TRAIL
The Eastrop Park Tree Trail was written and developed by the Basingstoke Tree Wardens and encourages you to stop, look and admire the beautiful trees in the park. The leaflet includes interesting details about the history and use of 23 different tree species, highlighting aspects for you to observe, whatever the season.
The majority of this trail follows a hard tarmac path and is therefore suitable for prams, buggies, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Where direct access to a tree is difficult it will be visible from the path. Maps are included for your reference, directing you to the park and guiding you around the trail. Each tree is identified by a wooden marker post.
Information about the Tree Warden Scheme can be found on the Tree Council website.
WALKING
The park is a wonderful place in which to walk, with a new aspect to look at as you turn every corner and plenty of resting places.
There is also a self guided walk linking this park top the wear Memorial Park for the more athletic. the guide can be downloaded from the walking section on this website. The guide includes a walk summary, 'step by step' directions and interesting information about the features that you will pass along the way.
HEALTH WALKS
As part of a national initiative, Basingstoke & Deane’s “Walking the Way to Health” programme is working towards encouraging physical activity for all. The walk programme is a gentle way to introduce you to exercise. All walks are led by a trained walk leader and have a back marker, so no matter what your pace you can join in our friendly walks programme.
Walks are run from Eastrop Park every Monday, except bank holidays. Meet at the Boathouse in the park at 11am, where you can join either of two walks:
Leisure Walk - This walk is generally about 3.5 miles and takes around 75 minutes.
Health Walk - Between 50 - 60 minutes at a more leisurely pace, ideal for any one wishing to improve their health.
Please follow this link for more information on Health Walks in the Borough.
NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK
Route 23 of the National Cycle Network runs through the park along with other off road routes. Click here for information on cycling in the Borough.
BASINGSTOKE CANAL HERITAGE FOOTPATH
The Basingstoke Canal Heritage Footpath runs approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from Festival Place, through Eastrop Park, across Basing Fen and on to Basing House, closely following the original canal route. A linear walk the footpath does connect to other paths, including a route through Crabtree Plantation and Black Dam Nature Reserve, allowing you to take an alternative route back to Basingstoke. For the weary it is possible to return by bus from Old Basing and travel information can be obtained from Stagecoach. Recently refurbished wooden information boards along the path provide walkers with information about the canal and the local wildlife.
The first section of the footpath from Festival Place to the start of Basing Fen is tarmacked however after that the terrain is uneven and walkers must cross grassland, a narrow boardwalk and follow tracks which can be muddy at times.
The Walk guide is available for collection from the Civic Offices or for you to print below.
The Fountains
The fountains were installed in winter and are so far doing a grand job of enhancing the look and feel of the park, reducing the impact of road noise and keeping the dreaded algae at bay.
Image by Brian Self