CHAMPIONS of a historic parkland, which has been saved from development, have told how its increasing popularity since lockdown restrictions started is helping shape its future.

Members of the Parkland Heritage Network said “desire lines” - paths formed naturally on routes people have chosen to follow - had formed through undergrowth at Blackwell Grange, two years after residents protested over nearly 200 trees being cut down to make way for a nearby 59-home development.

In 2018 residents said the area looked like a hurricane had struck it and following a campaign to preserve the site were delighted to see part of the grounds surrounding the grade II-star listed Blackwell Grange Hotel removed from the Local Plan, which Darlington Borough Council is producing to guide future developments.

Last July the authority’s leader, Councillor Heather Scott said the volume and strength of historical and environmental information put forward by the network had highlighted the importance of protecting the area, which has been dubbed “the last of Darlington’s Georgian Pleasure Grounds”.

The document also revealed how the parkland had been based on designs by 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown and still had ridge and furrow features, indicating how it was farmed in the Middle Ages.

Michael Green, of the network, said recent weeks had seen a significant upsurge in residents using the parkland and that they had forged two and three-mile routes around the Georgian parkland.

He said the paths were being created on routes that had proved popular, following the Norwegian style of park development at the site – once the seat of the Baronetcy of the Havelock-Allans – which has barely changed since it was landscaped in the 18th century.

Mr Green said: “We are pleased that exactly a year on since community’s efforts to save the parkland were recognised with an accolade by Friends of the Earth to see so many people enjoying and using the area.

“There has never been a better time to appreciate the value of our parks and green spaces and to put into practice what we know about the benefits to our health, both mental and physical, of the natural environment.

“Along the Blackwell Lane perimeters has appeared a beautiful woodland walk between the ancient trees, and near to the side of the ice-house a pathway is being forged through a gap in the fools parsley bed.”

Mr Green said residents were now using the parkland from 6am in the morning until dusk.

He said: “There are many more people using it than before lockdown. For example, you wouldn’t have seen many young people out with their parents in the past.”

Mr Green said the network hoped to work alongside the council to come up with a name for the parkland and their next move would be to get the area designated as a green space to give it the protections afforded to other parks in the borough.