Work underway in Croyland Gardens

The boulders are engraved with designs from local children and reflect the zoo theme of the play area.

A competition was open to all children living in Wellingborough under the age of 7 years to design an image to go on one of the boulders or stepping stones, and 28 designs were chosen. The winners range in age from as young as 3 years up to 7 years old, and Holly Walker's (aged 7) design was chosen as the project logo. The stepping stones will be laid after Christmas.

Public consultation on the project took place at the beginning of the year. The designs were changed following the consultation to take into account the views of the public and the police. The play area was amended to appeal to the under 5s in response to police concerns about antisocial behaviour, and the position and design was changed to be more sympathetic to the existing environment and in support of public preference for the gardens to remain formal.

The zoo theme was chosen to reflect the heritage of the site. The original zoo was situated in the gardens of Croyland Abbey and it was opened to the public on 13 June 1943. The zoo housed a private collection of exotic animals, including monkeys, lions, panthers, a baby elephant and a giant tortoise amongst others. Behind the Horseshoe pub there was a penguin pool. The lion was taken to the cinema, the local park and generally treated like a pet.

The zoo expanded during the 50s, and other species were imported, however the RSPCA criticised the poor conditions that the animals were kept in. Matters came to a head when a man broke into the zoo and was mauled by a leopard, losing part of his arm. The zoo closed in 1970 and became the borough council offices and Swansgate shopping centre.

The work in Croyland Gardens has been funded by money the council received from the government to enhance Wellingborough's public spaces.