Wicksteed Park, Kettering
Wicksteed Park, as well as having rides and attractions, is also an English Heritage Grade II Listed Park and Garden. Visitors can walk into the Park 365 days a year, free of charge, and the vehicle gates are only closed on Christmas Day.
The grounds and gardens of Wicksteed Park cover 147 acres, and include:
- 3 areas of Rides and Attractions
- The Wicksteed Railway
- Large Free Playground
- Smaller free playground and sandpit area
- The Pavilion (largest events venue in the county)
- Sunken Memorial Garden (location of Charles Wicksteed memorial)
- Tree lined walks
- Nature Trail & Arboretum
- Orienteering course
- Fishing Lake
- BBQ & Picnic Areas
- Campsite
Each year the Gardening team plant 12,000 bedding plants, 1,000 new shrubs and 25 trees of native origin - just watering all of these during the summer months is a full time job!
Probably the oldest inhabitant of the Park is the 200 year old Oak Tree located close to the Playground area. In honour of this tree, we named the catering outlet next to it the 'Oaktree Takeaway!'
In terms of wildlife, you could see Canada Geese, Mallards, Shoveller Duck, Grey Lag Geese, Feral Common Peafowl, Kingfishers, Treecreeper, Weasels, Mink, Foxes, Squirrels, Grass snakes, Frogs, Toads and Newts as well as a wide variety of colourful birds in our aviaries.
