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The ‘Singing- Ringing Tree’
At Crown Point high above the town stands Burnley’s exciting new panopticon the ‘Singing-Ringing Tree’ – a unique musical sculpture in the form of a tree bending against the wind, designed by award-winning architects Tonkin-Liu. As the wind blows it produces a low and mellow hum through pipes which are tuned so that they do not disturb the wildlife.
The folklore and mythology surrounding the ‘Singing-Ringing Tree’ involves handsome princes, beautiful princesses and wicked dwarfs and dates from the time when Europe was covered in primeaval forest. If you remember the BBC children’s television series of the late 1960’s that gripped children with its scary tales and fairy stories based around the legends of the ‘Singing-Ringing Tree’, you cannot fail to be intrigued by this amazing structure.

Queen’s Park
Designed by Robert Murray and opened in 1893, Queen’s Park was Burnley’s first public park. Within its 28-acres much of the original design can still be seen today with the ornamental flower-beds, urban arboretum tree, sculptures and bandstand. A range of excellent sports facilities including football pitches, bowling green, tennis courts, a basketball court and Queen’s Park Skate Park attract all ages.

Thompson Park
Opened in July 1930, Thompson Park is a delight. For the horticulturalist its award-winning Italian garden, rose garden, Forest of Burnley arboretum trees and community orchard offer a real treat. A three-acre boating lake, children’s playground and paddling pool, miniature railway and 9-hole putting green are great for families and a small café is open during the summer.

Towneley Park
The largest park in Burnley is Towneley Park with its history, heritage and wide-open spaces it is home to most of the major outdoor events in Burnley including the Burnley Balloon Festival. You can walk through the woods, feed the ducks, play golf, tennis or bowls, let the kids loose in the new play area or have a nice cup of tea in the café.
The parkland contains many beautiful trees and shrubs as well as a traditional Victorian flower garden. The surrounding woodlands have nature trails marked through them with fascinating outdoor sculptures hewn from the trees around; these include everything from a giant magpie to a crocodile emerging from its watery home, abstract sculptures to an enormous cricket. A range of interesting guided walks and rambles around Towneley Park take place throughout the year.
Also in the grounds is Offshoots Permaculture Centre - where visitors can see organic gardening and recycling in action including reed beds, herb gardens, an outdoor bread oven and a Mongolian yurt and Towneley Garden Centre where you will find alpines, herbaceous plants, perennials, conifers and trees which you can buy to transform your own garden.
 

January - March
October - December

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