Love Parks – Green Flag award, Rotary Garden, Garden of Remembrance, Memorial Ground and the Friends of Woodford Park

We are delighted to be taking part in Keep Britain Tidy’s #LoveParks campaign. Today we celebrate Woodford Park’s Green Flag status for the fifth year running, as well as the Garden of Remembrance, the Memorial Ground, the lake and the Rotary Garden in Woodford Park. 

We’d like to thank our fantastic team for all the work they do in the park, as well as the Friends of Woodford Park and all the volunteers.

Improvements to the park

We are delighted that Woodford Park has been awarded Green Flag status for the fifth year running and we are very proud of the work that has been done to improve the park. 

These include:

• New play area
• Skate park
• War memorial and civic space
• Memorial gates
• Lake refurbishment
• New pathways
• Rotary Garden
• Friends Group Gardens
• 3G pitch
• Works to improve land drainage.

We have more plans to improve the area, which include:

• Knee rail fencing replacement
• Extending pathway near Garden of Remembrance
• Replacing timber planters 
• Creating more shrub bed areas
• Continue improving the biodiversity and planting around the lake
• Creating more bug habitat
• New seating 
• Tree planting
• New rose garden – more being added all the time
• Create a nature trail with informative signage around the park 
• Look at improving the drainage in areas prone to flooding.

Climate change facts about the park

We are very keen to develop and maintain climate opportunities to achieve carbon neutral status by 2030. These include:

• Wild margins around the sports pitches
• Wildlife habitat around the lake
• Rainwater harvesting for use in the park
• Solar panels on park buildings.

Tell us what you love about this park…

How you can help: 

• Take your litter home
• Pick up dog poop
• Report any issues to us
• Tell us how it can be improved

Email: admin@woodley.gov.uk Call: 0118 9690356 

Plaque unveiled at ceremony to honour the late Cllr David Stares

The sensory garden in the new play area at Woodford Park was planted in Cllr David Stare’s memory and a plaque commemorating David was unveiled today by the Woodley Town Mayor, Cllr Janet Sartorel.

Cllr David Stares was chairman of the Leisure Services Committee when the new play area in Woodford Park was first suggested and was at the forefront of driving the project forward. 

The event was attended by his family, councillors, local residents and members of the running club Reading Roadrunners of which David and his wife Diane were members.

“David was kind and caring and always wanted to do the very best for the local residents of Woodley. He would have been delighted to see so many happy children playing in the new play area. I am honoured to unveil the plaque, dedicating the sensory garden to David,” said Janet. 

David and his wife Diane were a huge part of Reading Roadrunners and were always helpful, working together to raise money for charities, volunteering to help,” said one Reading Roadrunners member.

“David was always happy to help. I can remember us working together as marshals at the London Olympics 10 years ago for the men’s and women’s marathons and road cycling events. It was a memorable time and an example of how David was always happy to volunteer,” said Carl Woffington, Reading Roadrunner member. 

“I’d like to thank everyone who came today to commemorate David. It was a pleasure to work with him and it is especially touching to have a permanent memorial for him in the play area that he was so instrumental in getting off the ground. He has left a wonderful legacy for the residents of Woodley,” said Woodley Town Council leader, Cllr Keith Baker.