Sconce and Devon Park

An award-winning park in Newark is set for another upgrade in a bid to go even “greener”, thanks to investment from Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Sconce and Devon Park is Newark’s largest open space and a popular area for residents of all ages. For several years running, it has been awarded the internationally recognised Green Flag status in recognition of its excellent range of visitor facilities, high environmental and maintenance standards and opportunities for community involvement.

In the last 12 months the park has benefitted from a series of environmental improvements, ranging from new play park and fitness equipment, solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installations, orchard restoration, new footpaths and rejuvenated football pitches.

It is now set to benefit from a new scheme to change all the internal and external lighting to LED, which is one of the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lightings.

LED lights last more than 30 times longer than other light bulbs, are the most energy efficient, and are mercury-free so are not toxic to the environment and can be 100% recycled.

Last year, Sconce and Devon’s play park was reimagined into a castle-themed play area, taking inspiration from Newark’s Civil War history, creating a magical space for families to enjoy. Brand new fitness equipment was also installed to complement already established park runs, walking trails and personal training classes that take place at the park.

Both upgrades were developed following a public consultation where residents provided feedback and ideas to shape the plans before they were finalised. Materials for both projects were sourced from recycled goods in keeping with the District Council’s ambition to be greener.

Earlier this year, planting for the park’s orchard restoration project began, and once it is thriving will allow visitors and residents to forage from a variety of native fruit trees including plum, crab apple, medlars and cherry. An area adjacent to the orchid was marked out as the site for a new memorial rose garden, providing a place to remember loved ones with surrounding seating allowing peaceful reflection. The new areas will enhance biodiversity and wildlife in and around the area, supporting a variety of flora and fauna, insects, birds, bees, bats and small mammals.

Park rangers and volunteers also created new footpaths for visitors to explore the park, improving accessibility by linking existing paved routes and allowing wheelchair and mobility scooter users to access areas they could not before.

More recently, Sconce and Devon Park became the district council’s fifth site to be fitted with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Rumbles café and other park buildings now feature a total of 53 solar panels, harnessing solar energy for a more sustainable future for Newark and Sherwood.

The park’s football pitches, which regularly host a variety of local sports groups and clubs, were also renovated and refreshed in time for football season – providing a high quality and robust grass surface for players to enjoy and avoiding problems of thinning grass, compacted soil and uneven surfaces.

Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services at Newark and Sherwood District Council said: “Sconce and Devon Park already boasts a mark of excellence with its Gold Flag status, and we have spent months implementing a range of sustainable facilities, however we will not just stop there.

“We are always looking at ways we can improve our open spaces and enhance the natural environment, particularly in a way that will combat Climate Change, and the move to internal and external LED lighting will allow us to go even further with those plans and add to the park’s credentials as an exemplar green site.

“The park is maintained by a dedicated team of environmental officers and park rangers from the District Council, as well as a passionate group of volunteers and it will continue to help set the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the country and beyond.”

The lighting upgrade will be complete this week with minimal disruption for park visitors and volunteers. Further planned lighting upgrades are scheduled to take place at further District Council owned facilities later this year.

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