The Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr Andrew Palfreeman, officially opened a new Faith Garden at Oakwell Hall in Birstall on Tuesday, June 29 2010. The aim of the garden is to provide 'a special place', inspired by the world's major faiths and the natural environment of the park, which can be used for quiet reflection and as an outdoor classroom where children will learn about common themes of faith and understanding between different communities.

Summer and the gardens are a riot of colour. Lavender edges many of the beds and attracts butterflies is large numbers. Red valerian, mallow, campanulas and day lilies are just a few of the pre‑ 1690 flowers that fill the beds, among clipped box and yew.

Built in a partnership between the Biffaward scheme (£50,000.00 funding through landfill tax credits), Kirklees Council (who provided extra funding, site and project management) and BTCV (who were the lead organisation for an army of volunteers) the "Wild about Water" scheme represents a major addition to Oakwell Hall Country Park's facilities.

Why not have a wander around our lovely park? The Nature Trail follows a figure of eight route and is just under two miles long. It is possible to walk either loop on its own in about 45 minutes, or to do the complete circuit in roughly an hour and a half.

Voting is taking place for the Green Flag Awards, which recognise well managed parks and open spaces for all to enjoy. Please vote for Oakwell Hall in 2010 by clicking here!

Click on 'read more' to see details of previous awards won.

Following many months of detailed research, the Friends and staff of Oakwell Hall have used the existing hard landscaping of the site and restored the gardens to the condition they would have been seen in around 1690. Come for a stroll with us and see the finished product.

Oakwell Hall Country Park's new public sculpture was officially launched on Sunday, October 19 2008. The steel sculpture, "Fiddlehead and Fernblades", stands over six metres tall and takes pride of place on Colliery Field, land that was reclaimed from the former Gomersal Colliery.

Visit Oakwell Hall Country Park and the odds are you will see some young person astride the beautiful carved stone ram either posing for the family album or just for fun.