Shirley Park, Solihull - A wonderful open space!

Shirley Park is situated in Shirley, Solihull on the Stratford Road.


Shirley Park is located between the Stratford Road (the high street in Shirley Town Centre) and Hurdis Road in Shirley, Solihull.

Originally farmland, the landscaping of Shirley Park has wonderful ornamental gardens and walkways which takes you through journeys through the park. Shirley Park reopened in June 2014 following £600,000 of improvement work. 

Shirley Park

One of the three pavement mosaics in Shirley Park (August 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

When Parkgate Shirley was completed in 2014, there was a new side entrance, plus a new war memorial installed.

Shirley Park

The new war memorial in Shirley Park close to Shirley Parkgate (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The park is maintained by the Friends of Shirley Park.

Shirley Park

Welcome to Shirley Park. Notice board near the Hurdis Road entrance (June 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Winter in Shirley Park

Shirley Park

People out for their daily exercise in Shirley Park (January 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Spring in Shirley Park

Shirley Park

New outdoor gym equipment at Shirley Park (March 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Summer in Shirley Park

Shirley Park

New entrance arch from the Stratford Road at Shirley Park (August 2014). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Project dates

16 Oct 2019 - On-going

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Photography, Environment & green action, People & community
Green open spaces

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Green open spaces
01 Jul 2020 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Sunday evening walk around Shirley Park on the 7th June 2020

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On the evening of Sunday 7th June 2020 we went to Shirley in Solihull for a walk around Shirley Park and some of the surrounding roads such as Haslucks Green Road and Hurdis Road. Heading back into the park, found a field that led to a secret wooded walk. Also in the former putting green was daisies and carnations. Due to the pandemic the playground and dog agility area were both closed.

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Sunday evening walk around Shirley Park on the 7th June 2020





On the evening of Sunday 7th June 2020 we went to Shirley in Solihull for a walk around Shirley Park and some of the surrounding roads such as Haslucks Green Road and Hurdis Road. Heading back into the park, found a field that led to a secret wooded walk. Also in the former putting green was daisies and carnations. Due to the pandemic the playground and dog agility area were both closed.


Most days of lockdown, not been going out that much. And some weekends at home all day. We went in the car down to Shirley, parking on the Stratford Road (before the lay-bys were closed off), and had another walk around Shirley Park after 7pm in the evening. This was on the evening of Sunday 7th June 2020 (3 weeks ago at the time of writing this).

My previous Shirley Park post is here: Shirley Park over the years off the Stratford Road in Shirley.

 

Entering the main entrance on the Stratford Road in Shirley saw this War Memorial bench. It was part of the Fields in Trust commemorative war memorial benches, that have been placed all over the country marking the Centenary of the First World War (The Great War 1914-18). (during 2014-18).

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Not far from Shirley Parkgate was another War Memorial bench. This one commemorating those lost during the Second World War (1939-45). There is also a war memorial here.

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Looking to the Shirley Park Play Area / playground. Closed during lockdown / the pandemic. But saw a pair sitting on the swings.

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Near a bench heading to the Haslucks Green Road exit / entrance was this hopscotch board on the path. Probably drawn in chalk.

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Walked down Haslucks Green Road and re-entered the park from the Hurdis Road entrance / exit.

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Cyclists going past the Welcome to Shirley Park noticeboard.

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Turned right into this former football field. There was markings on the grass that showed that something used to be here. Also the edges of the field were raised up for some reason or other.

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This view was after briefly going down the secret wooded path. The main footpath in the park can be seen near that line of trees.

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The former football field had paths going into the wood, so we checked it out. Never been round this part before.

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It is part of a Wetland Walk. Trees cover the walk, while the path seemed to be covered in leaves and wood chippings.

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The path wasn't very long. Normally my Shirley Park walks would take me back into the park via Grenville Road.

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Near the end of the wooded walk, there is a barrier up ahead.

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Looking back into the former football field where the exit to the secret path was.

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A close up look at the Dog Agility Area while it is closed during the lockdown. Dogs can go up the ramp and jump through the hoop.

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Dog owners could sit on a bench. But instead with it closed, dog owners have to walk their dog around the park. It seems like they keep taking them off the leash a lot. Plus they bark a lot if another dog goes past (or a human they are not familiar with). I prefer cats.

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Final section through the former putting green. Now a wildflower meadow. Saw this Common Starling on the grass.

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The Wildflower Meadow had a lot of daisies and carnations. Which looked nice.

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Close up look at some daisies.

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Close up look at the carnations.

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On the way out near ALDI, saw this bin with the message: "If the bin is full, take your litter home. Think First!".

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Love Solihull and the Friends of Shirley Park.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.

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Green open spaces
19 Dec 2019 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Shirley Park over the years off the Stratford Road in Shirley

Post image

Down the Shirley High Street which is still called the Stratford Road is Shirley Park. Paths for walking, a playground for kids. An area for dogs to do tricks. There used to be a putting green here years ago, but it's long since gone. Since Parkgate opened, there has been a new entrance and war memorial. Recent developments over the last 5 years have included various sculptures.

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Shirley Park over the years off the Stratford Road in Shirley





Down the Shirley High Street which is still called the Stratford Road is Shirley Park. Paths for walking, a playground for kids. An area for dogs to do tricks. There used to be a putting green here years ago, but it's long since gone. Since Parkgate opened, there has been a new entrance and war memorial. Recent developments over the last 5 years have included various sculptures.


There is another Shirley Park further down the Stratford Road near Monkspath and the M42 but that's a golf club. Here we are looking at the main Shirley Park at the heart of the main shopping area in Shirley, behind ALDI (recently rebuilt). The Parkgate retail park opened in 2014 and is also nearby the park. The park is located on the Stratford Road and goes down to Hurdis Road. To the west is Haslucks Green Road and to the east is Grenville Road and Halifax Road. A walk around this park doesn't take too long.

 

2009

These were taken on my then mobile phone camera during May 2009. Lush green trees and green grass.

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The putting green was still there at the time so you could see the flag poles over the other side of bushes.

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I used to go putting here in the 1990s, I did OK, suppose it was fun. But eventually stopped going here.

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Tennis courts on the other side of the now gone putting green.

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Path to the bricked canopy.

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Pinkish reddish flowers hanging from the top of the wooden beams.

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2014

The Parkgate development was completed in 2014, and this included upgrades to Shirley Park. In this August 2014 visit, from the Stratford Road, there was new war memorial plaque on the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 from Shirley Royal British Legion.

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Brand new entrance gateway from the Stratford Road to the main path into the park.

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There was also three of these new pavement mosaics. In good condition in 2014, in recent years I've noticed that some are missing many of the coloured tiles (hopefully someone will come back and repair them). They have also become quite weathered.

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A curcved path around the park. By 2014 the putting green had long since been removed from the park.

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The entrance gate at Hurdis Road, is the same as at the Stratford Road entrance. Just less busy at this end.

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2015

The next visit during March 2015. The playground, no kids here so got this shot of the slides and other equipment. Looked new.

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A wooden climbing frame (I think).

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Wooden sculpture of a giant tortoise.

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Wooden sculpture of a wildlife totem pole. Including a frog, rabbit and an owl that I can see here.

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Colourful slide for kids to climb up and slide down in the playground.

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Some of the outdoor gym equipment.

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One of the pavement mosaics with a rose in the centre and a maze design.

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This pavement mosaic had butterflies on it.

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This is the area that dog walkers can take their dogs into and let them run around and do tricks like at Crufts. They call it the Dog Agility Area. This is close to Grenville Road and Halifax Road. The tennis courts are nearby here. They were built on the land formerly used by the putting green.

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2018

This was during March 2018. Daffodils near a tree in spring.

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The new war memorial in the park. Not far from Shirley Parkgate and the ASDA supermarket.

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The sun breaking through the clouds over this field.

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Ice cream van - Mr Yummy. Birmingham finest ice cream.

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A walk around the park in December 2018. Looking to the playground, looking empty again.

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The same play equipment from a few years ago, looks to be in good condition.

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Probably a weekday, the kids at school. Otherwise if this was a weekend it would be full of kids.

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Where this slide is, is one of the oldest parts of the playground. I probably went up there as a kid. Not sure if it's the same slide as 25 to 30 years ago, or one installed 5 years ago?

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Squirrel in the park.

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2019

These days I would first pop to Costa Coffee in Shirley for drink before walking around the park. Used to be a Coffee #1 at Parkgate but that closed down and is now a TUI travel shop. This walk in the park during May 2019. Wooden climbing frame and totem pole again.

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The skate park area in the park. Bit hard to find something new to take photos of around here.

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A December 2019 walk around Shirley Park on a Sunday lunchtime. Starting from Parkgate after leaving Costa. Saw this Christmas tree in front of the Rugby goal posts.

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The Rugby goal posts.

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Above the war memorial, saw this Remembrance flag. Just over a month since the last Remembrance commemorations. Lest We Forget. We Will Remember Them.

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Semi circle climbing frame. I think kids have to stand on that snake thing connected by the chains.

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Football goal posts.

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Another view of the outdoor gym equipment. Behind the bushes used to be the putting green, but is just now paths and shrubs to walk around near the tennis courts.

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Welcome to Shirley Park - this noticeboard near the exit at Hurdis Road.

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The rebuilt ALDI supermarket. It was closed for a year during 209, but opened in time for Christmas. Where this path is was close to the site of the former putting green. But is hard to tell the way it is now.

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No rivers, no ponds or lakes. So the only water on the ground is puddles on paths from recent rain.

dndimg alt="Shirley Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shirley Park (Dec 2019) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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