Play Areas & Open Spaces
The Wildlife of Gillingham’s Green Spaces
Take some time out of the hustle and bustle of life to enjoy our public open spaces, which offer peace and quiet, fresh air and an opportunity to enjoy wildlife and nature.
Gillingham Town Council and Dorset Wildlife Trust have been working in partnership to record and enhance the town’s biodiversity. The Town Council own and manage a number of important green-spaces in Gillingham including Rolls Bridge, Shreen Meadow and Ham Farm, and these sites provide a valuable network of wildlife-friendly habitats which link out into the wider countryside.
Survey work has shown that the wide range of habitats, from woodland to open grassland, supports a wealth of wildlife. There are also three rivers associated with the sites; the Lodden, Stour and Shreen, which also enhance the ecological interest.
Over 200 species of wildflower have been recorded including 14 ‘Dorset Notables’. In turn, these support a large number of insects including 23 different types of butterflies, over 50 hoverflies and nearly 40 species of bee. This wealth of insects is reflected in Gillingham’s official status as a Bee-friendly Town.
Regular sightings of water voles and reports of otters highlight the importance of the area for mammals. Over 70 species of breeding and migrant birds have also been recorded with kingfishers a regular sight along with other less common species such as firecrest and lesser whitethroat.
The Town Council’s public open spaces are carefully managed by our enthusiastic and dedicated grounds team who are often joined by volunteers from the Gillingham Action for Nature Group and Green Gang. It is thanks to their dedication that Gillingham has achieved the prestigious Green Flag Award for it’s sites at Rolls Bridge, Lodden and Shiresgate.
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Hardings Park
Located next to RiversMeet Leisure Centre in Hardings Lane, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4HX
Hardings Park is a place to meet and make new friends, a place to enjoy being outside and keeping fit, a place to play and, most especially, a place to be proud of and cherished for generations to come.
Read More about Hardings Park
All Parks and open spaces
Marlott Road / Jubilee Fields (Peacemarsh)
SP8 4FA : The site is located in an area of public open space and is partially overlooked by properties.
Accessible : An area totally to those with disability.
We are delighted to announce that the new play equipment at Marlott Road is open and ready for use. The site is noticeably much drier now that it has been drained and there is more choice of equipment including an array of swings to suit all.
The play equipment is suitable for toddlers and children up to the age of 12 years. Children should always be supervised when using the equipment.
Cresscombe Close (rear of)
SP8 4GR: The site located in an area of public open space and is overlooked by properties in the local community.
Shires Gate
SP8 4HH : The site is located in an area of public open space and is partially overlooked by properties. A community orchard was planted in 2018.
The site partially floods during the winter months
Shreen Meadow
SP8 4TJ : The site is located in an area of public open space and is partially overlooked by properties. The site is often flooded during the winter months
Gyllas Green
SP8 4RL: The facility is located on a public open space between housing estates. Large grassed area suitable for informal recreation.
Lodbourne (near Co-op Store)
SP8 4DQ: The site is located in an area of public open space and is overlooked by a number of properties.
Hyde Road
SP8 4DD: This site is partially overlooked by a number of properties. Refurbished 2007. New swings and a goal-end installed 2015.
Fernbrook Lane
SP8 4FL: This site is located within a public open space adjacent to a housing estate.
Barnaby Meadows (off Barnaby Mead)
SP8 4AL: The site is located in an area of public open space and is overlooked by a number of properties.
Hawthorne Avenue
Small wooden pieces of equipment suitable for toddlers only. This play area is not the responsibility of Gillingham Town Council.
Rolls Bridge
King Edmund Green
SP8 4DL Public open space with outdoor green gym equipment.
King Edmund Green
SP8 4DL Public open space with outdoor green gym equipment.
The Gillings (by Wyke Primary School)
SP8 4SH: The site is located in an area of public open space and is overlooked by a number of properties.
Church View (opposite Waitrose Supermarket)
SP8 4XE: This area of public open space and is overlooked by a number of properties. This area was planned for a play area but was never equipped by the developer. A teen-zone goal will be installed in Spring 2016.
Chantry Fields
SP8 4UA The site is located in an area of public open space behind the library and Waitrose. The site is liable to flood during the winter months.
Hardings Park - Multi use Games Area (MUGA)
SP8 4HX (site adjoins RiversMeet Leisure Centre): The facility is located at Hardings Park near an adventure playground. Installed in March 2017.
Accessible: An area accessible to those with disability.
Hardings Park - Outside Table Tennis Facility
SP8 4HX (site adjoins RiversMeet Leisure Centre): This facility is located at Hardings Park. Installed in January 2017.
Harding Park - Skate Park
SP8 4HX (site adjoins RiversMeet Leisure Centre): The facility is located at Hardings Park near an adventure playground. New facility in June 2016.
Warning!: Wheeled sports is a high risk activity and protective clothing should be worn when using this facility.
Hardings Lane - Adventure Play Area
SP8 4HX (site adjoins RiversMeet Leisure Centre): The site is partially overlooked by properties in the local community. Significant refurbishment works undertaken in 2015/16.
Accessible: An accessible space for those with disabilities.
King John Road Play area and Upper Loddon
SP8 4PG: The site located in an area of public open space and is overlooked by properties in the local community. Refurbished and new equipment added in 2015.
Addison Close
This play area is not the responsibility of Gillingham Town Council
Lower Lodden
SP8 4TZ Green gym
Lower Lodden
SP8 4TZ: Open space with outside gym equipment and teen goal.
Wren Place (Ham Farm Estate)
SP8 4WE: The site is located in an area of public open space.
Jay Walk/Deer Gardens (Ham Farm Estate)
SP8 4GY: The site is partially overlooked by a number of properties.
Chaffinch Chase (Ham Farm Estate)
SP8 4GT: The site is located in an area of public open space and is overlooked by a number of properties.
Wathen Court
SP8 4YS The site is located in an area of public open space and is overlooked by a number of properties next to the river Shreen..
GILLINGHAM ORIENTEERING
A new free to use public orienteering course has been created for Gillingham, linking urban and rural green spaces and parks.
The Town Council’s Pollinator Pledge
Plant bee-friendly flowers, shrubs and trees. All these things provide nectar and pollen throughout the year. It is essential to have flowering plants rich in pollen and nectar from February through to October with no gaps.
Read More about the Town Council Pollinator Pledge
Help Yourself to our Herbs
Our herbs are for sharing, please help yourself. We have various herb planters around Gillingham.
Gillingham Town Council aims to protect, conserve, and enhance the town’s natural environment and its biodiversity whilst improving public open spaces, public rights of ways and green corridors.
In February 2020 Gillingham in Bloom (GIB) was awarded funding by South Western Railway’s Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF). This funding enabled the Town Council to purchase self-watering sustainable containers which have been placed at various locations around the town, enhancing the street scene, which in turn promotes community wellbeing and pride.