Revealing the magic: volunteers restoring Boston Park's historical pathways

The dell area was designed in a former quarry section of the surroundings of the 18th century landmark at Moorgate.

The castle had been built in 1776 as a hunting lodge by Thomas Howard, the 3rd Earl of Effingham, who named it after the Boston Tea Party as a show of support for American independence.

The surrounding green space was opened as Rotherham first public park to mark the centenary of this independence.

Now the Natural Neighbours project from Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust is restoring the dell to its former glory — using just a couple of old photos and a map found in Scotland.

With support from the Friends of Boston Castle and Parklands, the trust has been steadily making improvements since 2017.

Anna Mayo, community project officer with the trust, said: “We carried out extensive consultation to find out how people used it and how they would like to see it improved. 

“The results of this, combined with advice from our ecologists, has enabled us to produce a new management plan, which is being used as a base to make small improvements in the park funded through a grant from the National Lottery’s Communities Fund.”

Casting Innovations — based just south of the park, at Canklow — supported with workshops at Oakwood High and Canklow Woods Primary to make bird and bat boxes.

The children also created metal markings for wayfinder posts on two newly-restored walking routes — a heritage trail and a nature trail.

Anna said: “We heard from a lot of people that they didn’t make full use of the park because they were worried about getting lost.

“We have cut areas of shorter grass along the section of path below the castle. This will increase the diversity of species of grasses and wildflowers that we will see among the oak trees in this area.

“With the help of local volunteers, we installed steps down to the dell garden to replace the old set that were rotten and had become difficult to use.”

How the dell at Boston Park used to look

It hoped by Christmas that new display boards will be erected — one by the castle and one on the path up from Canklow — mapping the new walking routes and explaining about the improvement works.

The Natural Neighbours project has also run engagement events like children’s play, conservation volunteering, wildlife and local history walks and training sessions. 

Volunteer and friends group member Brian Thomson, a retired steelworks industry engineer and project manager, said: “I’m a walk leader with the Ramblers and I’ve lived on Moorgate for 35 years. I just thought now I’ve got more time on my hands that I’d get myself involved.

“I’ve been walking my dogs on here for 35 years, my daughters have grown up with family walks in the park, then I’ve brought the grandchildren up here. They love it around the castle.

“This is a phenomenal asset that’s been grossly neglected by Rotherham Council. It’s probably the best asset they have, with the history and heritage value. Going down behind the houses, there’s evidence of a settlement dating back 5,500 years.”

Friends secretary Janet Worrall said: “We’re trying to reclaim the old pathways. I was sent an old article from the Advertiser in 1889, which shows what a big deal it was when a pathway from Canklow was opened.”

A map from around the same time was obtained — randomly — from Scotland’s national map registry.

“The dell was a quarry, which might have been where Boston Castle was quarried from,” said Janet. “The rhododendrons are the same ones here as by the bowling green.

“The view is the thing at Boston. The idea was to create a dell and small woodland, and it’s a magical place.”

Friends group member David Shenton found some old plant supports, which he said suggested a previous attempt to mark out the paths, possibly in the 1940s or 50s.

The 1889 Advertiser article reported on how the opening of a 10ft-wide footpath from Canklow to the park was a major event.

It said hundreds of people turned out to try it — adding: “That the making of the road was appreciated by the inhabitants of the town was unquestionable, and those passing down Westgate could not but come to the conclusion that the residents had shown their gratification most loyally.

“From almost every upper window flags and banners were flying, house doors were decorated and streamers spanned the roadway.”

•  New volunteers are welcome to join the group, which meets every other Tuesday. Visit 

wildsheffield.com/discover/your-community/natural-neighbours or email Anna at [email protected].