This Derby park was the first in the country - and now it's 180 years old

It was the blueprint for Central Park in New York

A nine-day online festival celebrating the 180th anniversary of Derby's Arboretum Park - the first public park in Britain and the model for New York's Central Park - starts in a week's time on September 12.

The Friends of Derby Arboretum will be presenting a series of events through live streaming on YouTube and Zoom, including guest interviews, premieres of community-made films, competitions and videos submitted by local performers.

The short videos will cover the history of the Arboretum, the story behind the Florentine Boar, the development of the community garden and the refurbishment of the old bowls club building.

Live interviews with people who have memories of the park and those that can talk about its history will be broadcast.

In 1840, Derby ground to a virtual standstill as residents spent three days celebrating the opening of the park.

Derby Arboretum was laid out 1839-40 by JC Loudon, and extended again in1845. It was the first park to be specifically designed for and owned by the public as a direct result of the Movement for Public Walks.

The land on which the park stands was given to Derby by Joseph Strutt, a wealthy industrialist. The Arboretum originally comprised 11 acres and was landscaped by the distinguished Regency architect and landscape gardener, John Claudius Loudon. It included undulating hills, gravel walks and more than 1,000 trees.

Derby historian Maxwell Craven said: “The Strutts were super-rich, on a par with someone like Rupert Murdoch in the modern-day, and this was their way of giving something back to the workers of Derby.

“It opened on September 16, 1840, with a great procession – 6,000 people in the park itself, dancing to a band in an adjacent field, a ball at the Mechanics’ Institute and a children’s day on the following day.” It also featured a hot air balloon flying overhead.

This was the first attempt to entertain 6,000 people in one place in Derby. Many of those in attendance were reported to be “young, full of animal spirits and disposed to fun and frolic” but despite this, “not a single tree or shrub was destroyed”.

The park was open to the public every Sunday and Wednesday for free, otherwise there was an entrance fee.

The main central path had a fountain as its focal point, and a circuit path took in the whole park.

Interconnecting paths led visitors to particular features such as ornaments or statues. The trees were planted on undulating mounds up to 8ft in height so that every tree in the park could be seen, while visitors on other paths were shielded from view.

To prevent distraction, the entire park was enclosed in similar grassy banks that screened visitors from the urban sprawl beyond. Loudon also planted evergreens and 100 different types of rose, all of which were labelled for the education of the visitor.

Shape and balance were of the utmost importance, too. Should a tree reach more than 50ft in height, Loudon intended that it should be cropped or replaced with a smaller specimen.

Lodges and pavilions were built where visitors could rest, or picnic. The fountain was created in 1850 by R Blore of Derby. It is made of cast iron and stone. and has a large circular basin. A central circular shaft has decoration supporting a smaller upper cast iron basin, containing a triple-decker central fountain spout.

More recently, the park underwent an 11-year £6.2 million restoration project which was completed in 2006.

Friends chair Jo Simister said: "We want as many people as possible to help to promote the live event. You’ll find us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook so please get onto your smartphones, laptops, desktops and share the event with anyone and everyone."

The Friends group comprises local residents and other organisations keen to encourage greater and safer use of this asset near the centre of Derby of international significance.

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Members of the Rotary Club of Derby provide expertise were required in developing the Friends group. The club is keen to engage with the local community through this association.

It has been particularly proactive in the refurbishment of the old bowls club building which will soon be returned to full use as a base for the friends group as well as a community hub serving the Arboretum and Normanton areas.