It was like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie or game. When the protagonists are wandering through a deserted town and glimpse aspects of life which are almost what they used to be. An abandoned decaying playground, the forest growing around it to claim it back, and signs that it had a half-hearted attempt to save it before the powers that be gave up (or possibly died out from radiation poisoning!).
But this wasn’t a computer game from Blizzard, it wasn’t a trip to a city overcome by starvation or disease or war, and it certainly wasn’t an unfamiliar place to us at all. This was Witton Park, a park that we had all been to in our childhood and a few times over the years since. More precisely it was The Wits, the adventure playground opened in 2010 by Jack Straw, and dedicated by Prince William and his soon-to-be wife, Kate Middleton in 2011. At this time it was a fantastic park, with more play equipment than you could shake a stick at, and an imposing monolithic climbing tower as a centrepiece with a huge snaking slide bounding from the peak. This was everybody’s idea of the best playground ever, designed with the help of children, paid for by the National Lottery, and placed in Blackburn’s flagship country park, Witton. Surely it wouldn’t just cease to exist in a few short years?
But today we walked up from the car park, past another monolith called the Witton Arena, and eventually reached the playground. It is still operational, just, but most of the equipment is out of action. Old building site fences have been put in place to block off the big slide and tower, and somebody has even nailed pieces of wood to the various entry ways to prevent people getting past. But there are no signs at all which explain the fencing or the general state of the playground. This is perhaps the oddest part of it all – no explanation.
The signage is decaying, and while it is still easy to read you would be forgiven for thinking that this park had been closed down years ago.
There was a giant animal sculpture when the park was opened, part of which can be seen below. Not sure if it was actually a snake with other local animals climbing on its back, but it has severely rotted away now.
Everywhere you look there is neglect and overgrowth. It is as though the maintenance team just suddenly disappeared. Perhaps they did? Perhaps the real apocalypse was the COVID pandemic, and the team got furloughed? I don’t know the true reason, but the outcome is clear. The trees have become overgrown around the obstacles, the weeds and bushes have pushed outwards over the low-lying bridges, rot has become endemic throughout the park, damage to the roundabout has not been repaired (and the roundabout is not even out of action because of it!) and the lake of water around the roundabout points to neglect.
An entire section of the climbing frame has collapsed and lies where it fell. Perhaps this happened before the fencing went up, or after. It isn’t clear. The willow shelter in the centre looks as though it hasn’t been trimmed or formed in years – although it is growing brilliantly! This really demonstrates how well the forces of nature are working to bring the park back under their control. I wonder how long it will be before there is no sign at all of The Wits?
And finally, the centre-piece of the playground. The obelisk and slide which involved marathon climbs on various routes to reach the top, and then a death-defying descent in the darkness to the bottom. At least, that’s what it seems when you’re 10 years old! But this fabulous piece of construction is now fenced off, rotting, falling apart, and abandoned to the elements and the forest.
How did The Wits get like this? Not certain, but neglect is certainly an option. Could it have been lack of money, lack of resource, COVID, or lack of interest? Perhaps significant failings in the structures were found? The collapse of part of the park would point in that direction. There is definitely a lot of rot in the general area. I suspect it was a combination of a lot of these factors, plus a little bit of ‘just wait – we’ve got a new one coming’ as well…
In October 2022 it was reported in the Lancashire Telegraph that Witton Park’s ‘The Wits’ and the younger children’s playground were to receive £350,000 to revamp them, courtesy of a major new housing estate being developed on Brokenstone Road. The work was being drawn up and was planned to be completed by Spring 2023 (now passed). The council recognises that the playgrounds have ‘declined’ in recent years, but it seems that they are dependent on external funding to do anything about it.
Also, there is a new Go Ape course currently under construction 100 yards from The Wits. While this looks to be a great adventurous activity, it in no way replaces a fantastic adventure playground that can be played on for free at any time. The two activities are completely different in scope and delivery. This was supposed to be opening this summer, but it does look like a fair amount of building work needs to be completed first.
So is the neglect subconsciously caused by the prospect of these two new developments? It could be, but it also seems like it has been abandoned for many years prior. Hopefully Blackburn with Darwen Council will soon be able to have The Wits revamped, for it would be a shame for the woods to claim it back entirely.