The Friends of Queen's Park are a constituted voluntary group and meet once a month on the third Thursday of the month.

Meetings are held from 7pm to 9pm in the cricket pavilion.

History of the Friends of Queen's Park

The first public meeting was held on 31 July 2002. This was initially set up by Chesterfield Borough Council as a general meeting to notify people of the restoration project, what disruption it may cause and the future prospects of the park. It was also intended to identify if there was an interest in the formation of a Friends group to consult with through the duration of the project and to take the park forward after the project had been completed. Seventeen members of the public attended.

As a result of the level of interest from the first meeting, the first Friends of Queen’s Park meeting was held on 16 September 2002; 24 people attended. At this meeting a constitution was set up and a committee was formed.

The friends hold a common interest with the council – this being the new development of Queen's Park and protecting its future.

Aim of the group

The aim of the organisation is to work solely or work with partners to develop and maintain Queen's Park.

Objectives

To preserve, promote and protect the heritage of Queen’s Park. The management committee will work to achieve the aim by:

• helping inform the local community about issues / happenings in the park
• providing representation at user groups
• being actively involved in the delivery of future programmes within the park and the organisation, running and/or assistance of events
• being actively involved in the detail and delivery of future development in the park
• obtaining funding to aid implementation of supplementary work, such as artwork
• positively promoting the park such as through publicity, newsletters and lectures

Anyone wishing to join the Friends of Queen's Park should send their details to:

Sarah Poulton
Development Team Leader
Environmental Services,
Green Spaces Team,
Chesterfield Borough Council Depot,
Old Brickworks Lane,
Chesterfield,
S41 7LF 

Phone: 01246 345123
Mobile: 07929 000796

Email: sarah.poulton@chesterfield.gov.uk

About Queen's Park

Queen's Park is a short walk to the south of the town centre. It is fully accessible to disabled users.

The park is recognised as being historically important and has been designated as a Grade II listed park by English Heritage. As well as the cricket ground and the lake there is a grassed area around the bandstand, which is available for informal ball games and picnics. There are two play areas suitable for children of all ages. A miniature railway and rowing boats are available during the summer months and a café and toilet facilities are available throughout the year.

A wide range of events are held in the park throughout the year, ranging from band concerts and cricket matches to a community fun day and bird box workshops.

There is a mixture of formal bedding and informal planting with a potted plant display in the conservatory. The collection of trees includes common species such as holly and horse chestnut and also the rarer. The river corridor, woodland strip, lakeside and mature vegetation are managed to support nature conservation and the lake is home to a resident collection of waterfowl with other species visiting.