Insider guide to Brent: artful jogging in Gladstone Park

February 9 2010 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Bupa 10K, #Fitness, #Gladstone Park, #London, #NW London, #Ola Fagbohun, #public art, #Recommendations & Rants (tips, links and reviews)

Despite its reputation as built up area, Brent has 1000 acres of parkland that's one fifth of all the land in Brent. And over half of Brent's residents say they use one of Brent's park at least once a week.

Last Sunday was my first visit to one of Brent's best parks, Gladstone Park, a ninety-seven acre oasis situated in NW London.

The park area was purchased for the people of Willesden in 1900 by the Willesden Urban District Council (with a little help from their friends) for just under £52,000.00. And it was named for British Prime Minister, W.E. Gladstone who had spent many happy hours in the nearby area.

I was in Gladstone Park to kick off my training for the Bupa 10K run in London on May 31st, 2010 on behalf of the VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas). Sunday was the first time, since the great snow of 2009/10, I had taken my training outside. In order to keep myself motivated, I have decided to do my training in each of Brent's many parks, starting with Gladstone Park.

When it comes to jogging / walking outside in the Winter I am a chicken. Despite the blue sky, it was felt very cold, so I left my flat at 8am, warm in my numerous layers. Not for me jogging in next to nothing to show the world how hard I am.

Gladstone Park is about a mile away from my flat or it should have been if I hadn't misread my mobile GPS, don't ask, and walked a half mile the wrong way; hey it's all exercise.

On entering the park, I came across two sculptures one a memorial dedicated to prisoners and victims of concentration camps 1914 to 1945. The other a stone bird atop a mound, I still don't know what it's about.

As I jog/walked through the park, I came across more unique public art, intricately carved wooden sculptures made from tree trunks.

You can probably tell by now that I did very little jogging. But I have no regrets, as I was told that when you visit Gladstone Park for the first time, you'll be happy to be distracted from jogging by the many unique pieces of art on display.

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