Press Release

7 December 2022

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Park opens

A new 40-acre park dedicated to her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is now open to the public following an official opening ceremony led by Fareham’s Mayor, Cllr Mike Ford.  A memorial tree was also planted by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Seán Woodward, at the entrance adjacent to the children’s play area which has also been renamed.

Originally referred to as Daedalus Common, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Park is now open to the public in good time for the Christmas holidays.  Already featuring a network of accessible paths and cycle routes, a dog exercise area and various habitats, works such as replacement and new tree and shrub planting will continue as the seasons allow to further enhance the park.

To date, around 21,000 trees have already been planted but the memorial tree planted by Cllr Seán Woodward is particularly special as the mulch used for the planting is the product of condolence flowers left by the public as a tribute to our late Queen.

Cllr Seán Woodward, Leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: "I am honoured to have planted the memorial tree today which I hope will serve as a permanent reminder to all those who felt compelled to leave condolence flowers as a tribute to her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  I would also like to place on record my thanks to both the Gosport Access Group and Disability Forum and the Fareham Disability Forum who took the time to walk the space with officers to test its accessibility."

Cllr Mike Ford, Mayor of Fareham, said: "I was delighted to formally declare this new park open to the public as it is a superb new area for Fareham residents to enjoy.  There is a lot here, but I think the sculpture of Daedalus that was chosen following a public vote will be a real talking point.  Although it has been clearly visible since being installed in August 2021, people will be surprised just how high it is now that they can get close to it."

The children’s aviation-themed play area adjacent to the entrance has also been renamed from Daedalus Common to the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee play area.

For more information, go to: Daedalus Common (fareham.gov.uk)

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Funding for the park has been provided by National Grid IFA2 Limited as a community benefit, linked to the development of their IFA2 Interconnector. National Grid has spent an estimated £3.8m on getting the site ready, largely as a result of extensive drainage works that were required before the site could be handed back to the Council.  National Grid has also agreed to pay around £1m to the Council for the Gate Guardian sculpture, the children’s play area and the ongoing maintenance of the sites.

IFA2 launched in 2021 is one of five National Grid interconnectors currently in operation. The subsea electricity cable stretches for 127 miles between Fareham and Tourbe in France and can bring in enough electricity to power 1 million UK homes. The company also has another link to France (IFA) as well as interconnectors to The Netherlands (BritNed), Belgium (Nemo Link) and most recently Norway (North Sea Link). National Grid’s sixth interconnector, Viking Link, is currently in construction and due to be complete by the end of 2023 linking the UK with Denmark.

For further information contact:

Customer Enquiries

Tel: 01329 236100
Email: customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk

Media Enquiries

The Communications Team
Tel: 01329 824310
Email: publicity@fareham.gov.uk
Fax: 01329 550576

Keep in touch on the go