Grosvenor and Hilbert Park
ave Barnett offered to take me up Grosvenor and Hilbert Park the other day, which wasn't a euphemism - he was offering to do just that. You see, Dave's very proud of his local park, and with good reason.
Opened in June 1889 to cater for what is traditionally the industrial area of town, this is Tunbridge Wells's oldest park. It originally boasted a massive outdoor swimming pool, but it was deemed a health hazard, and too costly to maintain. It was closed down in 1948, and finally filled in in 1954. Which was a shame, because that marked the end of the Tunbridge Wells Water Polo Team, by all accounts a very good team indeed. But even without the attraction of a pool, this is still a cracking little park with something for everyone - skateboarding, footie, bowls, paninis...the list goes on and on. For the keen photographer, there are plenty of great photo opportunities, thanks in no small measure to the landscaping skills of Robert Marnock, the man behind the more celebrated Dunorlan. I've helped myself to Mr Anke's secret store of snaps because mine are shockers.
The bowling club celebrates its centenary this year. Tunbridge Wells has had a fair few bowling greens in the past, but these days we just have this one, and Grove Bowling Club. That dashing, silver-haired gentleman you can just about make out on the bench is Dave.
One of my favourite features of the park are these strange little grottos by the upper lake. Bit of spit and polish, maybe the addition of a nick nack or two, and they'll look amazing. The upper lake is where Dave's been lucky enough to spot the local kingfisher. Sadly he didn't come out to play for me, but I was happy with a few randy ducks, black-headed gulls, moorhens, and, rather spectacularly, a hawk of some sort having an aerial tussle with a gull.
No local photographer's portfolio is complete without a shot of this spooky tree, rising like a spectre out of the marshes. There is talk of a walkway being built over the marshes (come on Lottery, give them some dosh), so hopefully you'll be able to get up close to it soon.
The woodland area up the back is my favourite part of the park; it's a nature lover's dream. Just give me a pair of thermals and I could spend hours here. The trees are alive with a fine assortment of birds - jays, woodpeckers and tits galore to name but a few.
The water here is that spectacular hue of Chalybeate-esque orange. It looks amazing, but if Lord North looked at this and thought "mmm, I'll have some of that", then I'm not sure his elevator was going all the way up to the top floor. Good job he was a bit loopy, or where would we all be now? Tonbridge. (And there's nowt wrong with that, of course).
So if you're looking for something to do this coming Saturday, then why not pop down the park? They're having an Open Day, so it'd be a great chance to have a look for yourselves.
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