The Friends of Edgar’s Field Park was founded in 2005 with the support of local Councillors. The group’s Constitution confirms that it is open to all and there are currently more than 15 active members, mostly resident in Handbridge and Queen’s Park. The group’s members are dedicated to the wellbeing of Edgar’s Field and work with the Council to promote this as well as physically helping to maintain the park and acting as a voice for local people.
The group holds regular monthly working meetings throughout the year while volunteers clear the park of litter on a regular basis. From time to time, groups of volunteers are organised to tackle any bigger maintenance jobs that become necessary. Anyone wishing to join in or just wanting to find out more is welcome to come along to one of the work sessions or drop us a line via the contacts page. 2023 work sessions usually last about 2 hours.
Originally, Edgar’s Field was the site of a Roman quarry used to provide stone to build the walls of the fortress of Deva in the first century AD. It still has two large Triassic sandstone outcrops that display a number of significant and easily accessible geological features. Because of this, it has been designated as a Regionally Important Geodiversity Site. One of the outcrops displays the UK’s only in-situ Roman shrine to the goddess Minerva, which is of national importance.
Historical aspects of the park are enhanced by its connection to the 10th century Saxon king, Edgar the Peaceful as well as its closeness to the River Dee’s salmon fisheries and popular landmarks including the Weir, the Old Dee Bridge, Chester Castle and the Grosvenor Bridge, which can all be seen from it.
Edgar’s Field was given in trust to the people of Chester by the First Duke of Westminster in 1892, in particular for the use and enjoyment of the inhabitants of Handbridge. It has been an important community asset since that time and is well loved by local residents.
For many years, the children’s playground in Edgar’s Field was uninspiring and outdated. The Local Authority and the Friends group considered ways in which the existing area might be improved but concluded that a complete replacement was the only solution. This was made possible with a successful application to the environmental funding group, WREN who awarded a large sum of money to pay most of the cost of the renovation project.
In 2010, the children’s playground was completely refurbished, relocated slightly nearer the entrance and given a more interesting and attractive shape and layout. This also had the advantage of freeing a larger grassed area in the centre of the park for ball games for older children. The award-winning design also included an interesting welcome and interpretation sign at the entrance to the park, an innovative three-dimensional mosaic as well as new seating and plantings. The park railings, cut down as part of the war effort in 1940, were replaced in a modern format after an absence of 70 years.
The refurbished park was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Chester on 5th November 2010. The huge number of children now using the park confirms the success of the renovation project, which has also been recognised in design and conservation awards from Chester Civic Trust.
The group holds regular monthly working meetings throughout the year while volunteers clear the park of litter on a regular basis. From time to time, groups of volunteers are organised to tackle any bigger maintenance jobs that become necessary. Anyone wishing to join in or just wanting to find out more is welcome to come along to one of the work sessions or drop us a line via the contacts page. 2023 work sessions usually last about 2 hours.
Originally, Edgar’s Field was the site of a Roman quarry used to provide stone to build the walls of the fortress of Deva in the first century AD. It still has two large Triassic sandstone outcrops that display a number of significant and easily accessible geological features. Because of this, it has been designated as a Regionally Important Geodiversity Site. One of the outcrops displays the UK’s only in-situ Roman shrine to the goddess Minerva, which is of national importance.
Historical aspects of the park are enhanced by its connection to the 10th century Saxon king, Edgar the Peaceful as well as its closeness to the River Dee’s salmon fisheries and popular landmarks including the Weir, the Old Dee Bridge, Chester Castle and the Grosvenor Bridge, which can all be seen from it.
Edgar’s Field was given in trust to the people of Chester by the First Duke of Westminster in 1892, in particular for the use and enjoyment of the inhabitants of Handbridge. It has been an important community asset since that time and is well loved by local residents.
For many years, the children’s playground in Edgar’s Field was uninspiring and outdated. The Local Authority and the Friends group considered ways in which the existing area might be improved but concluded that a complete replacement was the only solution. This was made possible with a successful application to the environmental funding group, WREN who awarded a large sum of money to pay most of the cost of the renovation project.
In 2010, the children’s playground was completely refurbished, relocated slightly nearer the entrance and given a more interesting and attractive shape and layout. This also had the advantage of freeing a larger grassed area in the centre of the park for ball games for older children. The award-winning design also included an interesting welcome and interpretation sign at the entrance to the park, an innovative three-dimensional mosaic as well as new seating and plantings. The park railings, cut down as part of the war effort in 1940, were replaced in a modern format after an absence of 70 years.
The refurbished park was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Chester on 5th November 2010. The huge number of children now using the park confirms the success of the renovation project, which has also been recognised in design and conservation awards from Chester Civic Trust.