Weelsby Woods

Weelsby Woods Early Summer.

Weelsby Woods is a large public park in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. With mature trees, woodland, and large open grassy areas, the park is widely used for recreation.

History

During the First World War, the woods were a training ground for locally recruited soldiers.

During the Second World War, the Woods were used as a camp for Italian prisoners of war, prisoners were held in a series of single floor buildings. Two of which serviced the woods in the form of toilets and a cafe, they remained - in a derelict and disused state until July 2006, when they were replaced to make way for a children's play area. Foundations of the former buildings can still be made out on the main hilltop due to a difference in grass growth.

Donated in 1950 to the Borough of Grimsby by the Fred Parks Esq. the land was once the grounds of Weelsby Villa. Victorian maps of the area display a Manor House to one side of the park, and to the other side the Villa Plantation, a Pheasantry and a large pond.

The park has a wide variety of mature trees and associated wildlife. Some of the untended areas of the parkland have considerable numbers of birds, foxes, and small mammals.

For recreational use, the woods are popular with dog walkers, sports teams, joggers, and families with children.

There is a statue of Wojtek, the famous Second World War bear, in the grounds.

Lions

Weelsby Woods is famous for the two large lion statues that stand, one on either side, of the main entrance. The lions date from around 1876 and were moved to the park from Grimsby Zoo in 1951. They were temporarily removed for cleaning and refurbishment in 2006. One of the lions was damaged by a car in April 2023.