‘Forgotten’ ancient park rediscovered in lockdown
COMMUNITY GROUP’S REVAMP
LOCKDOWN has led to group of volunteers giving a forgotten park a much-needed new lease of life.
St Peter’s Park is tucked away between some of the city centre’s busiest roads, including Great Union Street and Roger Millward Way.
It was originally part of the churchyard of the former St Peter’s Church, which was destroyed in a wartime bombing raid in 1941.
That church dated from 1823 but records show a church building first occupied the site as far back as the 13th century and formed part of the ancient village of Drypool.
Recently, the park was included in a Hull Live list of the city’s hidden places – much to the surprise of Matt Wilcock, who leads a small community gardening group working to keep it neat and tidy.
The group meets there every Wednesday between 10am and 1pm, carrying out a weekly litter pick.
Over the summer, volunteers have also planted new herbs and flowers, uncovered 15 gravestones previously swamped under ivy, created a number of small wildlife habitats and installed an interpretation board telling the site’s history.
“We were surprised to find our community garden was counted among Hull’s hidden places, “said Mr Wilcock.
“It certainly was hidden when I stumbled across it when I got lost during my hour’s exercise at the start of lockdown, but I’m pleased to say it’s not hidden any more.”
The gardening group call themselves Friends of Thinker’s Corner in recognition of a statue in the middle of the park created by sculptor Kevin Storch, which was installed in 1989 to mark the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War.
Simply known as Peter, the sculpture depicts the saint as a modern-day fisherman deep in thought while sitting on a giant boulder.
As well as looking after the park’s greenery, Mr Wilcock said one of the group’s aims is to replace the statue’s missing nose, which was snapped off some years ago, with a “renosing ceremony” pencilled in for next summer.
Over the summer the group has attracted volunteers from a nearby homeless shelter, donations from the neighbouring Rooted in Hull project, help and advice from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Andrew Gibson and support from Humber Galvanising Ltd.
While relatively off the beaten track at the moment, the park is also close to a proposed new housing development along the East Bank of the River Hull where up to 800 new homes are planned on currently derelict land.
When they are built, it is likely become a popular spot once again.
Mr Wilcock said: “We are an informal, friendly bunch and we welcome anyone to join us.
“During lockdown this has been a peaceful, mindful way to get some exercise, grow a community and garden at the same time.” to