The Tree Trail
The Trail starts and finishes at the Highfield Park Centre. Car parking is free and leaflets are available at the Centre or by clicking on the link below you can download a copy.

The Trail – 3km (2miles) - follows surfaced and grass paths.  In late April/early May it is well worthwhile diverting into Winchfield Wood to admire the carpet of bluebells. In the autumn – the leaf colour is particularly stunning. There are over 40 species of tree and shrubs to identify…. the leaflet helps you with quite a few!  Many of the largest trees on the Hill End side of the Park were planted in 1900 when Hill End Hospital was built. Around the Maze area, the trees and hedgerows pre-date Cell Barnes Hospital and reflect the former field boundaries of Beastney’s Farm.

Since 1996 over 10,000 trees and shrubs have been planted - many by volunteers - particularly through the Paper Planet Initiative organised by a local recycling firm; Pearce Recycling. This scheme nicely completes the circle whereby the staff of the companies who recycled their office waste, help with the planting of new native trees and shrubs in the Park. Much of the new planting has also been grant aided by Watling Chase Community Forest.

Click here to download a copy of the Tree Trail


Flora and Fauna
The Trust aims to encourage wildlife in the Park and a mowing regime has been adopted that encourages wildlife. Many areas of grassland are left uncut with only one cut in the autumn. This type of management encourages a whole host of butterflies and moths and a survey has shown two of the "Browns" the Marbled White and Ringlet. The Brown Argus has also been recorded. The Village Green area is particularly rich in species. The flora of the grassland whilst having nothing rare, is species rich and the red campion, ox-eye daisy and knapweed are all eye catching.
The birdlife of the Park is also diverse and the range of woodland and mature parkland habitat with strong hedgerows and undergrowth provides good habitat and cover. Little Owl, sparrowhawks and buzzards have been observed in the allotment area. The dipping flight of the green woodpecker is also a common sight. The two orchard areas are also a good place to observe birds’ goldfinches and greenfinches in particular.

Of the larger mammals, both roe deer and muntjak have been seen in the Park. Foxes and rabbits are also relatively common, particularly in the allotment area, though, to date badgers have not been found.

Near the Trust office there is a fine example of a Hertfordshire Puddingstone a naturally occurring rock – likened to old-fashioned plum pudding! Curious and would like to know more? Then why not pick up a leaflet at the Trust office or ask us to e-mail it to you.

The Woodland Garden is a partnership with the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust to recreate, in the long term, woodland ground floor species.

The Trust would like to produce a Bird Trail for the Park and we need to know where the bird species are frequently seen. So if you are a bird watcher and can help us - why not download the bird species list and accompanying plan which divides the Park into specific areas, and record any sitings you make. You can then e-mail the form to us at anytime. Over time we will be able to build up a picture of what to see, and when, and translate it into a leaflet. On your walks do look out for our bird boxes - several near the circular seat opposite the Stenmore Chase pedestrian entrance are specifically for owls and woodpeckers

The Millennium Maze
The maze was constructed by Earthworks in 2000 to mark the Millennium. There is a plaque at the entrance to the Maze giving you more information. Built as a wildflower earth mounded maze and designed for use by young children, it has now lost many of its flowering plants. The Trust is considering planting a low hedge to make it more attractive. Nevertheless it is ideal for toddlers to burn off excess energy!


The Mediterranean Garden and Petanque (Boules) Courts
The Garden was created in 2000 following a design competition with Oaklands College. It is designed to be low maintenance, drought resistant and to adapt to climate change.
Also at the Garden are two boules courts. You are most welcome to bring your own boules along and play with family or friends. Why not take a picnic along and have your own mini-tournament!
If you are interested in forming a Petanque Team and take part in a social league then e-mail the Park Office and we will set up a database of interested people/teams and bring you together.
See our events diary for the tournament on Saturday 9th August 2008.

Sets of Boules are available for hire from the Park Office for a small fee (£2.50 per night or £5 weekend). Plus a refundable deposit of £20.

Click to download a copy of the Rules for Playing Boules.

Cell Barnes Pond
Tucked away in the corner of Cell Barnes Orchard is the Pond. Usually covered in duckweed - it is nevertheless has a very interesting history. We did not know it was there in 1996!  It was dredged in 1998 and opened up to allow more light in and a pond dipping platform was constructed. The pond serves as an overflow to a new pond (behind the wooden fencing) and also receives stormwater from the Emmaus building nearby. Both help to stabilise the pond levels throughout the year.

For a brief history of the pond click here for Fact Sheet 3 - History of Cell Barnes Pond

Hill End and Cell Barnes Orchards
Both of the hospitals had a tradition of self-sufficiency with their own farms (in the case of Hill End Hospital this was Home Farm – now due for demolition and new housing), gardens for growing fruit, flowers and vegetables.  Each hospital had its own orchard and although much reduced in size, as a consequence of the housing redevelopment, the Trust has over the past 10 years gone to considerable lengths to restore the orchards (including a small plum orchard) to make them both a feature of the Park. New trees have been planted, selecting varieties that once originated from Hertfordshire. The Trust is a founder member of the Hertfordshire Orchard Initiative and through its close ties with the nearby Shenley Park we produce our very own delicious apple juice. We celebrate all things apple at our annual APPLE DAY each year on the first Sunday in October – when the apples from our orchard and the juice are on sale.

 
Hill End Garden of Rest
This area of the Park is undergoing redevelopment and this section will be updated later in the year.