A walk in THE PARK
If you are looking for somewhere different for a family fun day out, head to Cobtree Manor Park, Aylesford, near Maidstone.
The 50-acre park — close to the heart of our county town — has had a £1.1million make-over in recent months, with the addition of a sculpture trail, a running route and children’s play park. In fact, the fabulous face-lift earned Cobtree park its first
Green Flag in 2014. As well as its fantastic open spaces, diverse collection of
trees and shrubs, the charity-run recreation area now boasts a new visitor centre, along with a café. The £300,000 centre — funded by the Cobtree Charity Trust
— officially opened in September to provide visitors with new toilets, a seating area and a restaurant offering hot and cold meals, using local produce, as well as an office for the park ranger.
The history of the park
Cobtree Manor
The park is open from 7am to dusk, visitor
The visitor centre’s walls carry the fascinating history of the
park and its founder, Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, who opened a zoo, which attracted thousands of visitors and celebrities during its 25 years open to the public, before being bequeathed to the town. Today, the park attracts more than a quarter of a million
visitors each year, as an excellent base for further adventures in the area, to access the popular North Downs Way or simply to walk,
go running, or to exercise the dog and the children. Its play area, which takes the theme of the park’s famous
zoo, has proved particularly popular, as has the sculpture trail, which was designed and crafted by Kent artist Jason Mulligan. Admission to the park is free, while parking is £1.50 for the whole day. And while you are there, why not pop along to Aylesford?
This charming village, with its stone bridge over the river, has shops, a pub, places to eat and some beautiful buildings, as well as the working friary at the top of the hill, which is also open to the public.
18 Mid Kent Living
Cobtree Manor Park forms part of the Cobtree Estate, the former home of Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake (1881-1964). The 12-times mayor of Maidstone fulfilled his passion for animals by opening a zoo at the park on March 26, 1934. It was opened by the well-known circus owner Bertram Mills and attracted a string of celebrity visitors including singer and actress Gracie Fields. The zoo programme from 1939 lists 36 kinds of animals, including bears, camels, cheetahs, chimpanzees, kangaroos, lions, zebras, a stud of cream ponies (one of only two in the country) and two elephants named Gert and Daisy. There were also pony and elephant rides; a miniature railway with a petrol powered “steam engine” and two carriages ran on tracks along the carriage drive, saving visitors the walk from the main road to the zoo.
centre and café open 10am-4pm every day (except Dec 25th).
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