Oliver’s Playground Refurbishment
The public consultation on our plans to refurbish Oliver’s Playground has now closed.
You can see the alternative options for refurbishing Oliver’s Park Playground under consideration, focusing on the needs of infants age 1 to 8.
Overview of Oliver’s Park and Churchmoor Copse
Oliver’s Park is a large area of green open space which is accessible through a number of pathways off Cutlers Place. It is a great place to play football, have a picnic or walk the dog (please pick up any mess though).
At Oliver’s Park there is a play area which is ideal for children aged 12 years and under. It is a fenced area with adventurous play equipment surrounded by soft play bark. Children can climb, jump, swing and slide on all the equipment without too much supervision, however there is also a multi play unit and some cradle swings specifically for younger children. Park benches are provided so parents, grandparents and minders can sit and watch their children having fun.
For the truly adventurous Churchmoor Copse woodland is close to the play area. Great for a game of hide and seek.
Fires & BBQs
The lighting of fires or bbqs at woodlands and public spaces across Dorset is banned, including at Oliver’s Park, Churchmoor Copse, Cannonhill Plantation & ByTheWay field. The police can now issue on-the-spot fines of £100. Please help to keep our woodlands safe and report any fire or bbq to the emergency services.
Covid-19 Guidance
In line with the government’s guidance for ‘Safer public places – managing public outdoor settings’, issued July 2021:-
- You should not use the playground if you have Covid symptoms.
- Limit any close contact with people you do not normally live with.
- Wash your hands and/or sanitise after using the playground.
Queens Green Canopy 2022
On 20th January 2022 we planted 7 ornamental trees in Oliver’s Park field in conjunction with the HM The Queen’s Green Canopy. Each tree represents a decade that HM The Queen has been on the throne and forms part of the Colehill Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The trees planted are:
- Bramley Apple
- Prunus Serrulata Kiku Shidare Zakur (Cherry)
- Liquidamber Styraciflua Worplesdon (Sweet Gum)
- Cornus Controversa Varigata (Wedding Cake Tree)
- Betula Nigra (Black Birch)
- Sorbus Aucuparia (Rowan)
- Tilia Cordata Greenspire (small leaved lime)
Oliver’s Park Improvements in 2021
Since taking ownership of Oliver’s Park and the adjacent woodland area of Churchmoor Copse from Dorset Council in December 2020, we have embarked on a series of improvements:
- The football pitch has been repaired, with holes filled, ground de-compacted and worn grass areas re-seeded.
- The fences and gates around the children’s playground have been replaced, and the play area enlarged to allow more space for families inside.
- We’ve cut back the brambles and nettles along all the main pathways within Churchmoor Copse.
- We’ve held a volunteer workday, supported by Ultra Electronics, to cut back brambles and undergrowth behind the Scout/Guide hall, around the car park and by the entrance nearest Churchnoor Rd.
Additional Improvements in 2022
In January 2022 we installed a new pathway between Cutlers Place and Oliver’s Park field to alleviate the problems with the muddy track, making the field more accessible for everyone.
During 2022 we hope to make many more implrovements to Oliver’s Park and Churchmoor Copse. Our current ideas include:
- New signage boards at the main entrances.
- A sensory garden area near the Scout / Guide hut.
- Additional benches near the Scouts/Guides hut, including a new pathway to improve access from the car park.
These improvements are being overseen by our Oliver’s Park Working Group. Please let us know what you think, and let us have any additional ideas you have for improving the facilities using the feedback form on this site.
