Graves Park

{{Short description|Park in Sheffield, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2020}}

File:Graves Park 16-04-06.jpg

Graves Park is a large parkland area in the South of Sheffield, between the districts of Norton, Woodseats and Meadowhead. The park was developed by Alderman J. G. Graves between 1926 and 1936, to protect the thousand year old woodland from building development. Mr Graves donated the 100.362 hectares (248 acres) park to the city.{{Cite web|title=Friends Of Graves Park|url=http://www.gravespark.org/history.html|access-date=13 November 2020|website=www.gravespark.org}}

File:Graves Park - The animal farm 16-04-06.jpg

The park is a mixture of open and woodland, with several streams flowing through it. There are three small lakes bordered by mature trees. To the north-east of the park is the animal farm, home of many rare breeds of cattle, pigs, chickens and donkeys.{{Cite web|title=Public appeal to reveal the history of Graves Park in Sheffield|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/public-appeal-reveal-history-graves-park-sheffield-491123|access-date=13 November 2020|website=www.thestar.co.uk}}

Near the Charles Ashmore Road entrance are a practice golf course, two bowling greens and several hard tennis courts.

At the north side of the park (Derbyshire Lane entrance) there is a large open area which has 2 cricket pitches and around 10 football pitches. The football pitches are regularly used by the public, particularly on Sundays for the Sheffield and District Junior Sunday League.{{Cite news|title=Sheffield group set to rediscover lost history of Graves Park|url=https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/sheffield-group-set-rediscover-lost-history-graves-park-143350|access-date=13 November 2020|issn=0307-1235}}

The park is managed by a charitable trust owned wholly by Sheffield Council.{{cite web |title=Graves Park – Trustees |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/510841/trustees |publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales |access-date=5 February 2025}} In recent times however, the council has been criticised by the Charity Commission over its management of the park.{{cite news |last1=Armstrong |first1=Julia |title=Row intensifies over future of old nurseries at Graves Park in Sheffield |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/council/row-intensifies-over-future-of-old-nurseries-at-graves-park-in-sheffield-4943245 |access-date=5 February 2025 |publisher=The Yorkshire Post |date=15 January 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Whitehead |first1=Harriet |title=Commission warns Sheffield council it is ‘acting in breach’ of charity law |url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/commission-warns-sheffield-council-it-is-acting-in-breach-of-charity-law.html |access-date=5 February 2025 |publisher=Civil Society |date=18 July 2024}}

{{Clear}}