Sheffield Park Project

We were kindly offered a tour of High Hazels Park in Darnall. So on a blustery February day we set off to meet Paul Campbell from the Friends of High Hazels Park.

High Hazels park is one of Sheffield’s heritage parks and is undoubtedly one of the city’s finest. It’s life as a park started in 1895, having been purchased by Sheffield Corporation from the Duke of Norfolk the year before. The history of the park goes back further, to 1850 when High Hazels House was built by William Jeffcock, the first Mayor of Sheffield, and the landscaping that was carried out is still very evident across the park.

We took a slow walk around High Hazels that meanders down a gentle slope which offers lovely views over the city. Our first stop was a charming sensory garden, we

were sorry that we were paying a visit in the winter so we couldn’t enjoy the garden in all its glory. Carrying on down the hill we next came to the park’s formal garden, sometimes called the Peace Garden and spotted some early signs of spring.

Paul dutifully took us to a green sign so we could take our selfie then we headed back up the hill. We passed a very vibrant rainbow bench, sculptures and a Victorian water fountain whilst Paul pointed out work that the Friends group does to keep the park looking smart.

We then paid a visit to the grand High Hazels House which is the head quarters of the nearby golf club and a cafe. It has some beautiful original features including a magnificent stained glass window.

Our final stop was the Friends of High Hazels Park’s base which was in what used to be the park’s cafe. There were some wonderful photos and paintings tracking the history of the park.

Paul’s tour was a lovely way to experience the park and we fully intend to come back when the weather is better to see it in all its glory. The Friends of High Hazels park are keen to bring on board new volunteers to help them with the upkeep of the park. If you’re interested you can get in touch through their Facebook Page