18/07/2014
MANSFIELD PARK CELEBRATES ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY WITH A SING-ALONG
Children from King Edward Primary School celebrated Titchfield Park's 100th birthday at an activity day organised by Maun Conservation Group.
A total of 250 children wearing Edwardian costumes had a picnic in the Mansfield town centre park, which was decorated with bunting made by the children.
They then sang songs popular at that time before taking part in a range of old-fashioned games and activities. These included hopscotch, marbles, hook-a-duck, hula hoop, skipping, splat-the-rat, egg and spoon and sack races. They also did drawings based on pictures of what the park, which is owned and managed by Mansfield District Council, looked like in 1914.
Cllr Philip Shields, Portfolio Holder for the Environment at Mansfield District Council, acted as town crier, ringing a bell every 15 minutes so the children knew to swap activities.
There was also a duck race, which raised £150 for the Beacon Project which supports homeless people in Mansfield.
The event finished with school staff taking part in a sack race before everyone sang Happy Birthday to the park.
The activity day was held as part of Love Parks Week, which runs from 25 July to 3 August, but was held early so the school could be involved before the summer holidays. The national initiative encourages people to visit, enjoy and take pride in their local parks and green spaces.
Sarah Spurry, Secretary of Maun Conservation Group, said it was a fantastic event and it was lovely to see so many children with big smiles on their faces.
In 1914, the park was renamed Titchfield Park to mark the coming of age of the Duke of Portland's son, Marquis of Titchfield. At this time the Duke of Portland, the former landowner, gave the park to The Mansfield Corporation, now known as Mansfield District Council.