We’ve used the phrase “The Picnic District” for our district before, and over the spring , summer and autumn we’re going to mention some of the possible places to have a picnic here.
Let’s start with Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park, stretching all the way from Rochford to the edge of Rayleigh. The first part of the park was obtained by the deal with the County Council that allowed the building of the Priory Chase / Temple Way development in Rayleigh. These photos were taken on Sunday, there were clear blue skies (with the moon in the sky, just visible in the second photo). Lots of fresh air, a mostly open landscape and some bird song….
Cherry Orchard park was developed in Rochford from the Section 106 payments from the developers of the areas mention in the above post in west Rayleigh / Rawreth e.g. Asda, Temple Way housing estate, Industrial site etc.etc. So we got the building and Rochford got the park. Why didn’t RDC buy the Greenbelt along Rawreth Lane for an extended Country Park for our the area where the money was generated? Why didn’t they build the 1000’s of houses they claim are needed on the land at Cherry Orchard Park (Who goes there?) for the employment being created by the Airport expansion? (It is next door to the area involved.) Silly question!
But would also have the pet cemetery in Rawreth? Not sure how this impacts a picnic area/
I imagine lots of people go to Cherry Orchard Park, especially once the weather picks up and is more like Sunday, which was lovely.