Ashbourne Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden at Ashbourne is maintained by Derbyshire Dales District Council, and is very lovingly looked after. Adjoining the Recreation Ground, the Memorial Gardens are designed for relaxation and rest and are dedicated to those who died for their country.
There is a bandstand which is shelter in the very heart of the gardens and there is also a statue to be admired, commemorating the life of Catherine Boothby, co-founder of the Salvation Army who was born in Ashbourne.
The formal gardens fringe Cockayne Avenue and Park Road and are beautifully offset by the gorgeous open spaces of Fish Pond Meadow, which is accessed via two river bridges. The meadow is an attractive wildlife and conservation area which surrounds the Old Hall Boating Lake and it has well laid out paths, benches and picnic tables, making it a wonderful place for a picnic on a hot summer’s day.
The Memorial Gardens really are a place for reflection and are a wonderful way to remember those who lost their lives in the war, but it isn’t a sad place by any means, with the noise of happy children playing in the distance lifting everyone’s spirits from the adjacent recreation ground.
Ashbourne Recreation Ground
Ashbourne Recreation Ground has had a bit of a makeover recently and in 2009, there was extensive re – turfing work and new interactive splash pads for the children’s play area. The play area also had an upgrade with exciting new dry play equipment. Securing lottery funding, the council created new play areas, both in Ashbourne and at the Recreation Ground in Bakewell and the two parks are very similar. The Park revamp also included upgrades to boundary fencing, gates and upgraded paths, making it a very safe and secure place to take the children.
The Recreation Ground is a centre for activity with playing fields for football and rugby clubs, a multi-use games area for five aside football, tennis and basketball, and a haven for bowls. It is a hive of activity in the summer, especially, but it is very picturesque and a perfect place to take the children or walk the dog, escaping the hustle and bustle of Ashbourne town centre. There is a car park on the edge of the park, which can be accessed from Cokayne Avenue.
Local sporting organisations use the District Council’s recreation ground, which includes two sports pavilions, a bowling green, a cricket pitch, two football pitches, the junior football pitch and rugby pitch. It is home to Ashbourne Park Bowls club, Ashbourne Cricket and clubs and also Ashbourne FC.
Both gardens have a small toilet facility and the council’s main Ashbourne public conveniences which were rebuilt in the summer of 2011, are situated in the Shaw Croft car park.
The council take great care to keep the parks litter free, but the public are encouraged to enjoy the play recreation facilities but to use the litter bins and look after the trees and shrubs which have been lovingly planted.
In addition to the major parks, there are a number of smaller parks and gardens, including Brickyard cottages and Highfield Road recreation ground.