Boleyn Gardens, an award-winning urban park in Essex, is believed to have been visited by none other than Henry VIII. The tranquil spot was named after Anne Boleyn, who is thought to have resided at the nearby Tudor Palace of Beaulieu.
The Chelmsford-based Boleyn Gardens has been honoured with the Green Flag Award, a prestigious accolade that recognises and rewards well-maintained parks and green spaces. This award sets the standard for outdoor recreational space management not just in the UK, but globally.
The scheme was launched in 1996 by the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities (previously known as the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government) and has been managed by Keep Britain Tidy since 2012.
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As we welcome longer days and sunnier weather, Boleyn Gardens offers the perfect setting for a springtime outing. The park boasts a range of features, including wildflower meadows planted by local school children.
These meadows are teeming with a variety of grasses, ox-eye daisies, teasels, and wild carrots, providing an ideal habitat for butterflies and bees. They also offer a hiding place for small mammals, making the gardens a true sanctuary for local wildlife.
The park's two ponds, brimming with reeds, provide further protection for wildlife such as moorhens and dragonflies.
In addition to the park's natural beauty, visitors can also admire five large chess piece sculptures, carved from oak and nestled among the shrubs. There's also a yew hedge maze, providing an ideal springtime activity for both kids and adults.
This maze is planted on a small snail mound and elevated in the centre, replicating techniques used by our Tudor ancestors. The area boasts a comprehensive network of cycle tracks and footpaths, connecting Beaulieu Park and Boleyn Gardens with numerous other green spaces, parks and playgrounds within the Beaulieu development.
Access to Boleyn Gardens is via pedestrian entrances located on Shardlow Avenue and Beaulieu Boulevard. From here, you can explore the stunning displays of nature that the park has to offer.
