If you’re looking for an autumnal leg stretch whilst visiting Shepton Mallet then a visit to Collett Park should be on the list.
Recognised as the first park in the Mendip area of our county to be awarded the prestigious Green Flag award it certainly ticks the list for being welcoming, biodiverse and safe.
This year has also seen the grand opening of the new play area which saw £200,000 being invested in the play equipment to suit all ages. There’s even table tennis and table football for the older kids too. The next phase of improvements at the park will see a new shelter being constructed, Shepton Mallett Town Council have called for design idea submissions from the public and are looking to invest about £6000 in a new shelter to be built beside the pond.
The reason behind the name, ‘Collett Park’ is all thanks to a local lad growing up in the town in the 19th century. As a child, John Kyte Collett used to be told off for playing in the privately-owned fields so after many years of hard work, he gradually bought small parcels of the land and presented them as a gift to the town in 1906. To honour John and commemorate his gift to the town, the park plays host to a ‘Collett Park Day’ every year. Chair of Shepton Mallet Town Council, Matt Harrison says, ‘Collet Park is often described as the 'jewel in Shepton's crown'. The council undertook a procurement process whereby the three criteria we requested from potential constructors were that a new park be larger and cater for able-bodied and disabled people, cater for a wider age range, and finally, must reflect the natural beauty of the park. We don't measure visitor numbers to the site because it is open 24/7 to members of the public. However, the rubbish bins are being emptied four times as often since we installed the new equipment so we presume we are getting four times as many visitors!’
If you’re a keen runner then the parkrun is held here on Saturday, with a junior version on Sunday mornings. For those with a keen interest in model boats, feel free to meet the Drifters Model Boat Club who congregate here on the first Sunday of every month. All other events at Collett Park and the wider town can be found on the recently launched website helloshepton.com. Whether you’re interested in shopping at Kilver Court, farming at The Good Life Projects, or even fancy a swim in the lido, the website will keep you up-to-date with all the latest happenings from across this market town.
