£55,000 Sky Climber installed in the Upper Playground
After successfully fundraising for the revamp of the Lakeside Playground, the Little Friends of Roundhay Park turned their attention to the Upper Playground on Soldiers Field, which was often overcrowded. Their goal was to add a large, exciting new play structure.
Thanks to generous contributions from Leeds City Council, Councillor Jacob Goddard, the Co-op, and Veolia, they raised £50,000 to purchase and install the Sky Climber.
Standing at nearly 5 metres high, this innovative network of ropes and frames offers challenging, physical play for multiple children at once, providing an exciting new feature for the playground. The project was completed in November 2020.
Refurbishment of the canal gardens shelter
Built into the walls surrounding Canal Gardens the shelter has been a feature of the area since Thomas Nicholson built the Mansion and the surrounding out- buildings. Last refurbished many years ago the shelter was looking very run down. Funded by the Friends a complete refurbishment of the roof, inside seating and the front panels and mouldings was completed in March 2020.
LAKESIDE PLAYGROUND
A revamped children’s playground was officially unveiled at Roundhay Park in December 2018 after a successful fundraising campaign by a group of mums.
The Friends of Roundhay Park team of five mums started fundraising in April to raise cash to replace dilapidated play equipment at the under sevens play area near the Lakeside Cafe.
The Roundhay Playground Appeal captured the hearts of the local community and businesses and a total of £159,000 was raised.
Mary’S TREE
Thanks to funding from FoRP and a generous bequest from Mary Hill—a Roundhay resident and passionate park lover—we commissioned local artist Shane Green to bring new life to a dead tree.
Using a chainsaw, he transformed it into a stunning 3D sculpture, carved with a variety of creatures inspired by Tropical World.
In March 2017, Mary’s Tree was short listed by the The Leeds Architecture Awards professional jury in the category Public Realm and Landscape Design where it won a Highly Commended certificate.d in March 2020.
Sadly the sculptured tree had to be felled as it was deemed unsafe, but again, Shane worked his magic on the wood.
We now have two sculptures set on secure concrete posts and at a lower level so that visitors can admire and identify the creatures of Tropical World more easily.
How many can you find?
Tree TRail App
Tucked away in a corner of the walled garden in Canal Gardens, the Sensory Garden is a peaceful space de- signed to stimulate the senses with fragrant plants, textured foliage, and colourful flowers.
Duck Food
After concerns were raised by the White Rose Canoe Club about rotting bread in the lake near the boathouse, FoRP created an informative poster to highlight the issue.
To provide a better alternative, we also introduced proper duck food, available for a small donation from the rack in the entrance of the Lakeside Café. The rack is regularly restocked by FoRP volunteers, helping to keep the ducks and swans healthy.
Floral Walk Leaflet
Roundhay Park is known for its stunning floral displays in spring and summer, particularly east of Princes Avenue and around Canal Gardens. Two FoRP mem- bers provided the photographs and text, while FoRP funded the design and printing of the leaflet.
Copies are available free of charge from the Tropical World reception.
History Trail Leaflet
Partially funded by Dine at The Mansion, this leaflet guides visitors through Roundhay Park’s rich history, from its origins as a private country estate to the public park we enjoy today. The leaflet won the Leeds Civic Trust Snaith Award for its contribution to increasing understanding of the built and natural environment.
Copies are available free of charge from Tropical World reception.
The Sensory Garden
The Friends’ Sensory Garden is located in what was once the walled kitchen garden (laid out c 1816) for the estate belonging to the Nicholson family in the 19th century.
The L-shaped area is prone to shade and difficult to plant, so the location had been identified by the Parks team as being best suited to paths, tactile planting and willow trails. The Little Friends of Roundhay Park (Little FoRPers) team then began fundraising and managed to raise £10,000 with grants from Bettys and Wades.
Installed by Kingdom Gardens alongside FORP and REAP (Roundhay Environmental Action Project) volunteers and staff from Leeds Parks and Countryside Service, the garden is now maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers.
Officially opened during the Roundhay Open Gardens event on 4th July 2021, the area encompasses various different zones in which learning and nature can be freely explored, it is filled with colourful and tactile planting, with plenty to see and smell, as well as encouraging wildlife. The volunteers who maintain this garden were proud to be presented with The Bee Friendly Award in 2024.
Suitable plants were carefully selected to provide interest for every month and to stimulate the five senses. Garden highlights include the willow tunnel and den, the raised herb beds, the Roundhay Adder pebble snake created during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the winding path, and more than 50 varieties of plants and herbs.
It is now a completely accessible space for everyone to enjoy.
