East Town Park

Made up of approximately 50 acres, East Town Park lies at the heart of a network of footpaths that extend around Haverhill. Snaking along a disused railway track, the multitude of paths link up to the Stour Valley walk that runs for 60 miles from Cambridgeshire through West Suffolk and then to Essex.

Open

  • April 7am to 8pm
  • May to August 7am to 9pm
  • September 7am to 8pm
  • October to March 7am to 6pm

Please note all of the above times are subject to ranger availability.

Cost

Free to enjoy.

Address

Coupals Road
Haverhill
Suffolk
CB9 7UW

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Map

Friends of East Town Park

About East Town Park

East Town Park features some unique wildlife habitats and beautiful natural woodland that is being expanded through a tree planting programme. Dogs are allowed off lead. The park has established itself as a firm family favourite with seasonal activities such as the Easter egg hunt and Halloween trail. Highlights include:

Ann Webb plantation

Planted in 1996, this area of East Town Park has a diverse mix of native trees and shrubs which are particularly colourful in Autumn.

East meadow

A home to squirrels and rooks, East meadow is a beautiful area of mature walnut trees. This is a meadow for all seasons with early snowdrops, yellow aconites and nest building in February through to pond dipping in the summer.

Easy access trail

The 400 metre trail weaves its way through the millennium meadow and offers those with reduced mobility an opportunity to enjoy the diverse wildlife in the park. Ideal for wheelchairs and pushchairs, the trail loops past the pond which attracts frogs and toads in spring and in the summer sees a burst of colourful wildflowers and a range of dragonflies.

Osier beds

These serve as a reminder of the willows that once grew here and were used by local Haverhill basket weavers. The stumps are managed and cut back and can grow more than six feet in a season, providing welcome shelter for birds such as bullfinches. The occasional muntjac deer can be seen here early in the morning.

Railway walk

A five kilometre walk runs on the disused Haverhill to Sudbury line which operated from 1865 until 1967. The railway has become a corridor brimming with wildlife where you can expect to see orange tipped, speckled wood butterflies. Wildflowers and shrubs provide a carpet of colour and the blossoming blackthorn produces fruit that can be made into sloe gin.

Stable yard

Made up of borders, raised beds and ponds, this is a wildlife area abundant with native plants and insects. The area is a fascinating place for visiting schools to explore. In winter, a bird feeding station is maintained, providing sustenance throughout the season for woodpeckers, finches and many other birds.

Sturmer meadow

This former arable field is now home to a variety of lizards that like to bask on log piles on sunny days. The meadow is the perfect place for them to reside as the grassland provides them with plenty of food that they can forage.

The avenue

The avenue once led up to the The Coupals, a large Victorian house that was home to the Gurteen family whose fortunes were founded in textiles. The avenue is lined by lime and horse chestnut trees which provide shelter for nesting rooks.

The brook

The brook plays an important role in supplying local wildlife with habitats and food. Kingfishers and grey wagtails can be seen fishing alongside moorhens and water voles. During the summer months, fish such as roach and chub have been known to swim in the deeper parts of the brook and the banded demoiselle damselfly has been known to make an appearance.

Visitor centre

The visitor centre is a converted stable block, open most weekends from 11.30am to 4.30pm and during the school holidays. Drinks and snacks are available.

Visitor centre room hire

There is also a small function room to the side of the visitor centre building.

  • The maximum capacity is 40 people for theatre style seating.
  • Hire charge is £11 per hour.
  • Crockery and urn available at £11 per day.
  • For availability and a booking form, please call the site ranger team on 01440 710745.

Activities

Seasonal events and productions take place on a regular basis. Keep checking What's on West Suffolk for new events.

Facilities

  • Children's play area (for ages 2 to 12)
  • Parking (including spaces for disabled visitors)
  • Picnic area - no barbecues allowed in the park
  • Recycling point
  • Toilets (including accessible toilets and baby changing facilities)
  • Room hire

Dedications

Benches and trees dedicated to a loved one are available to purchase at East Town Park.

All dedication options are subject to availability and are offered for a 10-year period in the first instance starting from the date of installation and include a plaque for your dedication. 

Dedications are ordered and installed twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, please contact the Parks department at any time for a price list and to be added to the waiting list.

Events and group visits

To host an event or hire our parks for a group visit, please visit West Suffolk Parks, outdoor spaces and venues for more details.