City park celebrates centenary with community

Heigham Park was opened to the public in 1924

A "intimate" city park which opened 100 years ago is celebrating its centenary with the community.

Heigham Park in Jessop Road, Norwich, was designed and built by Capt Arnold Sandys-Winsch, the city's first parks superintendent.

Now Grade II listed, it is also registered as a Site of Special Historic Interest.

Speaking to Radio Norfolk ahead of the celebration on Saturday, Danusia Latosinki, of Friends of Heigham Park, said: "The park has got a special personality and that's why it's so loved."

"It's a very small, intimate park, it's surrounded by schools and it's very well-used by the local community and children and dog walkers and people who just want to be in a quiet and peaceful place," added Ms Latosinki.

"It has a very distinctive atmosphere."

Born in 1888, Capt Sandys-Winsch went on to create allotments and the larger Eaton and Waterloo parks in Norwich, with Heigham his first park when it opened in 1924.

Like his other designs, it has herbaceous borders, circular flowerbeds and mock stone structures such as pergolas, and areas for sport.

"This was his first design, so it's very special and there's a lot of history around it because it's the first," said Ms Latosinki.

The celebration from 11:00 to 16:00 BST includes live music, a dog show, children's activities, an exhibition of the park's history, food and drink, bowls and tennis.