Oakfield Park this Easter

Oakfield Park is an 18th Century Georgian Deanery which has won several national awards for the restoration of its gardens and buildings. Sitting in a lush landscape of parklands and mature woodlands, overlooking the Croaghan Mountain, the grounds include a traditional walled garden and kitchen garden. Flowers, meadows, lakes and streams, as well as wild and wetland areas are entwined with over 4km of narrow gauge railway.

In the 1950s Oakland Park was effectively stripped of all its oak trees by a previous owner. This has now thankfully been reversed and over 60,000 trees have been lovingly planted by the current owners with a mixture of hollies, limes, a lot of beech, chestnuts and, of course, oak. In fact there are up to 140 species of oak now planted.

 A hugely popular feature of Oakfield Park is a wonderful miniature railway. This railway is based on the now defunct Co. Donegal Railways. Over 4km of track has been laid and the narrow gauge railway has a miniature steam engine and carriages in the old CDR livery.

The train winds around the lake and woodlands and offers an excellent opportunity to view the lower gardens in comfort. There are two trains operating at Oakfield Park – The Earl of Oakfield diesel locomotive and the Duchess of Difflin steam engine.

This Easter join the Easter Eggstravaganza’ for the Childhood Cancer Foundation on Easter Monday (21st April) between 12 and 6pm. There is lots to do and see and the children will be entertained. The event will feature Easter-themed activities including an egg trail, face painting and a balloon artist, as well as train rides around the park and a visit from Emerald Garrison, Ireland’s premier Star Wars costuming club. There will be a vintage-themed tea tent for grown-ups and home-baked goods, perfect for an Easter picnic.

In the gardens of Oakfield Park the visitor can discover willow tunnels, oak circles, boardwalks, a par terre and a classical Nymphaeum by the formal lake. The gardens include:-

·                       Formal Walled garden & Kitchen Garden

·                       Parkland, Woodland and Riverside Walks

·                       Abundant Wildlife

·                       Train Rides (Saturday & Sunday only)

·                       Garden Group Tours by arrangement

·                       Picnic Benches

·                       Free Car Parking

Oatfield Park, a video of the railway at Oakfield Park 

and its connection to Percy French.