Lydiard Park looked very different when I moved to West Swindon with my young family thirty years ago. For one thing the restored 18th century lake wasn't there. Created by John (Jack) Viscount St John who ploughed his wife's fortune into remodelling Lydiard House and landscaping the grounds, the lake had been lost at the beginning of the 20th century when the dam wall burst.
I remember thirty years ago the whole area was - well, I'm not sure exactly what I remember now. I wish I had taken photographs before it was transformed during the Landscape Restoration Project in 2006.
Today there is a large play-park behind the Forest Cafe. When my children were young the play-park was slightly removed and in the trees. There was a tall slide with a perilous rocky climb to get back to the top, swings, balancing equipment and a busy zip-line.
With the creation of the new play-park, the old one was demolished and the area received a makeover. Today it is an enclosed area for private functions, evocatively named St John Hollow. A meandering path leads you through the Quarr Plantation and back to the Forest Cafe.
My three children loved playing in the old play-park, but now my grandchildren play in the modern one while I love the restored parkland scenery. And this time I've taken photographs, just in case it all changes again!
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I remember thirty years ago the whole area was - well, I'm not sure exactly what I remember now. I wish I had taken photographs before it was transformed during the Landscape Restoration Project in 2006.
Today there is a large play-park behind the Forest Cafe. When my children were young the play-park was slightly removed and in the trees. There was a tall slide with a perilous rocky climb to get back to the top, swings, balancing equipment and a busy zip-line.
With the creation of the new play-park, the old one was demolished and the area received a makeover. Today it is an enclosed area for private functions, evocatively named St John Hollow. A meandering path leads you through the Quarr Plantation and back to the Forest Cafe.
My three children loved playing in the old play-park, but now my grandchildren play in the modern one while I love the restored parkland scenery. And this time I've taken photographs, just in case it all changes again!
