Abbey Gardens   

These stunning public gardens surround the ruins of the Abbey and have a prize-winning record. Bedding displays between May and September set the tone for the annual Bury in Bloom campaign. The gardens include a host of ducks, a children's play area, tennis courts, a bowling green, a teashop and a riverside walk leading towards a local nature reserve known as No Man's Meadows.

Find out more about the Abbey Gardens.

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East Town Park 

Located in Haverhill, East Town Park consists of approximately 50 acres of meadows and tree belts. With a play area, maze, easy access trail and picnic area among other things, there is lots for all the family to do.

Find out more about East Town Park.

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Hardwick Heath 

Hardwick Heath is about fifty-five acres of open parkland and is a popular venue for events like St Nicholas’ Hospice’s annual fete and the visiting circus. Facilities include a play area, trim trail and football pitches.

Find out more about Hardwick Heath.

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Haverhill Recreation Ground

Also known as Haverhill Town Park, this recreation ground is located on Camps Road in Haverhill. The park is surrounded by an avenue of lime trees and other features include a bandstand, children's play area and toilets. The park is open from 8:30am until dusk.

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Ickworth Park and gardens

This National Trust property is located in Horringer, on the edge of Bury St Edmunds. It boasts a number of formal gardens and carefully designed parkland, including a sensory garden and deer park.

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Nowton Park

Consisting of almost 200 acres, Nowton Park is St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s largest park. Visitors in the spring are dazzled by the spectacular avenue of daffodils, whilst the maze, totem pole and arboretum provide enjoyment all year round. In addition to the play area, picnic area and sports pitches, a number of park ranger events take place during the year, including the popular Nowton Park Country Fair, held on the third Sunday each June.

Find out more about Nowton Park.

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West Stow Country Park

There is plenty to see and do at West Stow Country Park, which consists of 125 acres of unspoilt countryside. It has:

• a river;
• lake;
• heathland and woodland;
• nature trails and walks;
• bird hides and feeding area; and 
• visitor centres, cafe and shop.

Find out more about West Stow Country Park.

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West Town Park

This park is located on Withersfield Road, opposite Sainsbury's Supermarket, in Haverhill. West Town Park, also known locally as Meldham Washlands, the Floodpark, or just ‘The Res', consists of about 70 acres of damp grassland, owned by and managed by the Environment Agency. St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s park rangers assist with promotion and some conservation management. The circular walk around the site, along the raised banks, takes about 30 to 40 minutes. There is no public access around the fishing lakes, which are leased by Haverhill Angling Club. It has been designated a County Wildlife Site by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust due to it's important local communities of grassland birds, butterflies and flowering plants. Notable species include:

• a large colony of pyramidal orchids, with bee and common spotted orchid also occurring;
• sulphur clover;
• grass vetchling;
• common broomrape;
• grassland butterflies - ringlet, meadow brown, small heath, common blue;
• three species of skipper; and
• breeding birds include skylark, meadow pipit and reed bunting.

Dog owners are reminded that they are requested to clean up after their pets, making use of the dog bins provided.

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Bury in Bloom

The Bury in Bloom campaign, founded 22 years ago, is responsible for Bury St Edmund’s status as one of the country’s foremost Floral Towns. A walk through town, particularly during the summer months, leaves no doubt in people’s minds that this accolade is well and truly earned.

Conservation projects are also encouraged and community-led schemes enhance the more natural areas of the town. These include Woodland Ways, Springfield Reserve, the Greene King Water Meadows and Saxon Gate nature reserve. All these sites, with walkways for people to enjoy, provide havens for wildlife and flowers.

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Anglia in Bloom

Bury St Edmunds was chosen to represent Anglia in Bloom in the 2007 RHS Britain in Bloom competition and was awarded Gold and Best Large Town/Small City.

In 2008 Bury St Edmunds again achieved the Gold award for the RHS Britain in Bloom competition.

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Hidden Gardens in Bury St Edmunds

On Sunday 15 June 2008 it was the 22nd year that the event was held here in Bury St Edmunds.

You would be surprised at what lies behind the garden walls of our delightful town streets; the diversity of plots and planting; the willingness of gardeners to welcome you. In 2008 we had 31 venues all walkable within the town centre and, as usual, there were refreshments offered and plants for sale from some gardens and from our very popular Pennycross Plants nursery stall.

Contact details:

Haverhill In Bloom

Since its inception in August 2004 Haverhill in Bloom has been seeking to provide residents, retail area, business industrial estates and schools with an opportunity to create a pleasing environment in which to live and work. This is attained by the use of sustainable landscapes and floral colour, including hanging basket displays. More basic things such as litter and graffiti removal are achieved by organising some community based competitions, encouraging local people to have civic pride in their town and a general feel good factor about their area of work and home. An 'in bloom' style competition in not particularly new. However, it is a new initiative to Haverhill and a range of 'Best' competitions have been created to recognise the work and achievements of various individuals and businesses. Categories include best garden, industrial frontage, town centre premises and school. There are also adult and children floral art competitions. Tim Radford Chairman Haverhill In Bloom.

For more information contact:

Tim Radford
Phone: 01440 707922
Email:tim@haverhillinbloom.org.uk
Website:www.haverhillinbloom.org.uk

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