Introduction to Elder Park
Elder Park is a beautiful green space in Govan Conservation Area, located just south of the River Clyde. It’s named after John Elder (1810-1892), who was born in Govan and became an engineer who helped build many ships for the Royal Navy.
Elder Park has lots of features that make it a great place for families to visit: there are swings, slides and climbing frames for kids; benches where you can sit down and enjoy the view; paths for walking around or cycling on; even a pond full of ducks!
Wildlife and Nature at Elder Park
Elder Park is a haven for wildlife and nature. The park is home to many species of birds, including herons, cormorants and ducks. There are also several different types of trees in the park which provide food for animals such as squirrels.
There are many environmental protection efforts being made at Elder Park by local residents and visitors alike. For example, volunteers regularly help clear litter from the area so it stays clean for everyone who visits this beautiful space in Govan Conservation Area
The park and it’s people
For almost 140 years Elder Park has belonged to the people of Govan. On the day it opened on the 27th June 1885, there was a huge celebration with more than 14,000 Govanites parading the streets. The park was very beautiful at this time, designed by John Honeyman who was a leading figure in Scottish Architecture and Landscape Design (he later became Charle Rennie Mackintosh’s boss.) It was full of delightful things that people hadn’t experienced before, like a llama from south America in the park’s very own mini zoo!
The park is 37 acres, which is just under the size of 25 football pitches, or 25,787,520 post-its.
Find out more about the heritage of the park here.
Friends of Elder Park 