Culture - Stoke-On-Trent - A Long Time Coming

It's no big secret that I really don't like the area of Stoke-On-Trent. I find it dirty, repulsive and extremely dull and lacking all aspects of culture. But I was recently asked by a friend of mine to post on nice thing about Stoke on my blog. So I've been searching and searching - and I think I may have finally found a little bit of Stoke-On-Trent that I'm in love it. It's been a long time coming, but I've finally found a little bit of home. 

Hanley park has around 900,000 visitors each year and is open 24 hours a day to the public. I went there this Saturday, after a trip into Hanley town, and I loved it. I didn't realise that it has so many facilities to offer to the local community as well as being a place of such beauty. I sat for an hour enjoying the pond and watching the wildlife. It was a nice change from the nature reserve near my accommodation where the only wildlife you are likely to see it rats and school children who are skiving school. 

Perhaps the most romantic thing about the park is the feature of artist, Emily Campbell's work 'Love Ties' - which although may appear to be a little cheesy, does help the atmosphere of the park. At various points around the park is this text sculpture which gives the audience something to consider when walking around Hanley Park.

As well as being a little patch of greenery amongst a dull and exhausting Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley Park also acts as a focal point for the community to get together. I found that there are many events going on throughout the year at Hanley park - all aimed at either improving the park or the communication of the people who live near the park. This sense of security and community makes me feel more at ease, because often at times walking in between campuses, the area can feel very threatening and quite dangerous. 

So if you're ever bored of grey Stoke buildings, or fancy some fresh air not filled with carcinogens from exhaust fumes, try Hanley Park. 

Information found via;

http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/other-parks-folder/hanley-park.en

http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/xml-feeds/events/events---search-results.en?bbp.s=1&form.events---search-results=visited&bbp.i=d0.1