Next spring will mark the 100th anniversary of Alexandra Park, possibly Oxford’s oldest public park, situated between Middle Way and Woodstock Road, just a block from Summertown’s shops. Over the past four years local volunteers have been working to transform the park into a welcoming, safe place for people of all ages – a place to meet friends or enjoy quiet contemplation, to rest and to play, and to connect with nature. More projects are planned, including a community sensory garden and haven for local biodiversity. Summertown and St Margaret’s Neighbourhood Forum are now calling for more people to join them and to be part of next summer’s Centenary celebrations. Email the Forum (sstmnf.secretary@gmail.com) if you would like to find out more.
Local architect Geoffrey Randell (a member of the Neighbourhood Forum and local volunteer) explains more below:
The origins of Alexandra Park – from pasture to play
Alexandra Park is Oxford’s (possibly) oldest public park and Summertown’s only local public green space. It may be small but its value for well-being and mental health is high. The park was opened in April 1925 for public recreation with the purchase of some four acres of pasture by the City Council from the Wibling family, well known Oxford butchers and pork sausage makers. Their land at the rear of their house in South Parade (now the home of Northern House School) was grazed by their pigs. Tennis was a popular pastime then and remains an important activity in the park to this day along with a children’s play area and a basketball pitch popular with teenagers.
Transforming the park – an inviting and safe place for all
Led by the Summertown and St Margaret’s Neighbourhood Forum, public consultations since 2018 have developed a new vision for the park, informed by the aspirations of residents, and designed by local architect Geoffrey Randell. The objective is to create an attractive, safe place appreciated by all age groups for generations to come.
As a result, local volunteers have been working hard to develop the park into a more inviting place for children, families and visitors. Overseen by the Neighbourhood Forum and using CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) funding, over the past four years the group have planted trees to form an Avenue along the park’s west boundary, carried out resurfacing and sandpit renovations in the play area, and organized the provision of picnic tables, seating and waste bins, as well as sign-posting to raise awareness of the park.
Promoting biodiversity and connection with nature
There are plans for further landscape design projects to prioritise biodiversity, the planting of native species and pollinators, creating variety of visual experiences, screening imposing buildings, defining spaces for gentle play, picnics, contemplation and sensory experience. The group has begun to construct a community sensory garden for all to enjoy and promote children’s understanding of the natural world. It has the support and planting skills of the University Wytham Woods team, who through their schools’ education programme have already made a significant difference. The Forum is also grateful to The Chown Trust and residents of nearby Charles Ponsonby House for their very welcome support. The Garden encapsulates the thinking behind the work in the park. It will be a special place offering somewhere different for contemplation and learning about nature in all her seasons. It will have plants for pollinators and native species to delight the senses for all who visit it.
Further changes to create a place of delight and opportunity
And we want to do more, in particular prevent illegal access to the grass courts and to improve the safety and appeal of the park by promoting people rather than parking. Visitors frequently suggest making a public perimeter path and attractive routes around the park. We would also like to see the original park buildings located at the entrance converted or replaced to help transform the perception of the park to a place of delight and opportunity – they could, for example, become a tennis club facility, and a refreshment kiosk and public toilet.
How to get involved
The Summertown St. Margarets Neighbourhood Forum is grateful for this opportunity to broadcast the exciting work being achieved in its local park. Your help is needed and if you would like to join in, please leave your contact details with the address below and check out the website.
sstmnf.secretary@gmail.com and www.summertownstmargaretsforum.org.uk
Thank you!
