Herschel Park

Herschel Park is a local nature reserve within Upton Park, a suburb of Slough, Berkshire, England.[1] The nature reserve is owned and managed by Slough Borough Council.[2] It is a Grade II listed park and nature reserve.[3]

Geography and site

The reserve is 4.15 hectares (10.3 acres) in size.[1] The parkland has two lakes, ponds and a Grade II listed park land.[3] The larger lake features an island planted with mature trees.[4] The park also features a set of mature specimen and ornamental trees.[5]

History

The park has been in existence from at least 1843, when James Bedborough bought the land in the area and used it to built twenty-nine terraced houses and large villas that looked out over the park.[6] It is believed that Sir Joseph Paxton laid out the original park grounds.[6] The park when opened was called Upton Park.[7]

In 1949 the park was sold to Slough Borough Council.[8] In 1952 the council changed its name from Upton Park Pleasure Grounds to Herschel Park, after the astronomer Sir William Herschel.[9] In 1962–63, Slough Corporation purchased a further 10 acres from Eton College, which by 1982 had become part of Herschel Park.[9]

In 2000 the water in the lakes suddenly disappeared, and a group was set up called Friends of Herschel Park, who together with Slough Borough Council started to apply for funds to return the park to its original Victorian design.[10] In January 2009 the park was granted £2.7 million of council and lottery funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund.[8] In 2011 work was finished; the lakes were refilled with water, and the original paths were restored.[8]

In 2013 the site was declared as a local nature reserve by Slough Borough Council.[2]

Fauna

The site has the following fauna:[5][11][12]

Mammals

Invertebrates

Birds

Amphibians & reptiles

Flora

The site has the following flora:[5][11][12][13][14][15]

Trees

Plants

References

  1. 1 2 "Magic Map Application". Magic.defra.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  2. 1 2 "Natural England - Special Sites". Lnr.naturalengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  3. 1 2 "Herschel Park - Slough Borough Council". Slough.gov.uk. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  4. ↑ "Herschel Park". Parksandgardens.org. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  5. 1 2 3 "THE HERSCHEL NATURAL HISTORY TRAIL GUIDE" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  6. 1 2 "Herschel Park (formerly Upton Park)". Sloughhistoryonline.org.uk. 2004-10-01. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  7. ↑ Park lifeBy Linda Serck (2014-11-13). "Berkshire - Places - Park life". BBC. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  8. 1 2 3 "BBC - Slough's Grade II listed park to return to former glory". BBC News. 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  9. 1 2 "THE HERSCHEL PARK HISTORY TRAIL GUIDE" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  10. ↑ "Restoration of Herschel Park". Friendsofherschelpark.org. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  11. 1 2 "The Herschel Park Tree-mendous Tree Trail Map" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  12. 1 2 "Herschel Park Natural History". Friendsofherschelpark.org. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  13. ↑ "Herschel Park Arboretum - Postcards from Slough". Postcards-from-slough.co.uk. 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  14. ↑ "THE HERSCHEL PARK TREE TRAIL GUIDE" (PDF). Slough Borough Council. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  15. ↑ "Herschel Park - Postcards from Slough". Postcards-from-slough.co.uk. 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2017-04-27.

Coordinates: 51°30′06″N 0°35′36″W / 51.5018°N 0.5933°W / 51.5018; -0.5933

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