Mote Park
This article brings together the most important information about the trip. All updates will be posted on our Facebook page.
General Information
Departure and Return
About Mote Park
Address and Map
Information for parents of pupils taking part in the trip to Mote Park on 24 June 2017.
Meeting place and time: St Elpheges Church car park, 120 Stafford Road, Wallington SM6 9AY!!! Please note that the coach does not leave from Regina Coeli school!!!!!! For the children’s safety, and because of the number of coaches going on the trip, departure will be from the car park of St Elpheges Church. This is the patron parish of St Elpheges School, which is federated with Regina Coeli school. Our school and St Elpheges parish are 2 miles apart, about an 8-minute drive. Please check your route. It will NOT be possible to park or leave your car on St. Elpheges parish grounds for the duration of the trip. The car park is run by a private company that issues heavy fines to people who park there and do not belong to the parish. Please find alternative parking. Assembly between 8:00 and 8:15, departure at 8:30
Place and expected time of return from the trip: St Elpheges Church car park, 120 Stafford Road, Wallington SM6 9AY – at around 16:00
Address of the venue and contact telephone number: Mote Park,Mote Avenue ME157RN
07587743423 or 07427547020
At the end of the trip, parents must collect their children at the designated place and time. If a child is to be collected by another person, the parent must inform the class teacher or the Headteacher of this in writing.
Please bring:
A packed lunch and still water. Please do not give children any sweet fizzy drinks for the trip (such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, etc.). Tissues, preferably wet wipes.
If your child suffers from travel sickness, please provide them with plastic bags and suitable medication for the trip and the journey home, and give them medication at home half an hour before the journey. Please also let us know in advance which children have problems travelling by coach.
The terms of our agreement with the coach company state that eating is not allowed on the coach. We therefore ask that children eat a light breakfast at home before departure. On the day of the trip, please also do not give children eggs, cheese spreads or other dairy products.
Depending on the weather, children should be suitably dressed and, in hot weather, should also have a sun hat. Please make sure children wear sports shoes, e.g. trainers. On arrival, before getting off the coach, the children will be given school vests with the school logo. Children must wear them for the duration of the trip.
Children may bring picnic blankets (preferably labelled, or ones they will recognise as their own). They may bring a small, soft ball (sponge football ball), a skipping rope, etc.
The school accepts no responsibility for pupils’ electronic equipment (games, consoles, phones) that is lost or damaged. Children have such equipment with their parents’ knowledge and consent and at their parents’ own risk. The children will travel in six coaches, operated by Westway Coach Services Limited and Edward Thomas&Son. The journey is insured by the coach operators. Insurance for the time spent at the destination is covered by our school policy, which parents may inspect on request. You will receive information about which classes are allocated to which coaches in a separate e-mail. If you have any questions, please contact me or your child’s class teacher. Irena Kukuła Headteacher
Meeting place and time: St Elpheges Church car park, 120 Stafford Road, Wallington SM6 9AY!!! Please note that the coach does not leave from Regina Coeli school!!!!!!
For the children’s safety, and because of the number of coaches going on the trip, departure will be from the car park of St Elpheges Church. This is the patron parish of St Elpheges School, which is federated with Regina Coeli school. Our school and St Elpheges parish are 2 miles apart, about an 8-minute drive. Please check your route. It will NOT be possible to park or leave your car on St. Elpheges parish grounds for the duration of the trip. The car park is run by a private company that issues heavy fines to people who park there and do not belong to the parish. Please find alternative parking. Assembly between 8:00 and 8:15, departure at 8:30
Place and expected time of return from the trip: St Elpheges Church car park, 120 Stafford Road, Wallington SM6 9AY – at around 16:00
Address of the venue and contact telephone number: Mote Park,Mote Avenue ME157RN
TRIP 24/06/2017 – CLASS ALLOCATION Westway coach NO. 1 – classes: P1, P2, Z2, D2 – 86 people in total Edward Thomas&Son coaches NO. 2 – classes: Z1, B1, G – 51 people in total NO. 3 – classes – B2, B3 – 51 people in total No. 4 – A1, A2, E – 51 people in total No. 5 – C, D1, F – 50 people in total
Discover why Mote Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Maidstone. Find out how this magnificent park has survived since medieval times and what there is to see and do here now.
An award-winning park
Mote Park is a huge green space in the heart of Maidstone and is extremely popular with both visitors and locals alike. In 2015, it placed third in the People’s Choice for their Favourite Green Flag Park.
Covering over 450 acres, it includes natural features such as grassland, woodland, rivers and a 30 acre lake.
The vast numbers of mature trees create a beautiful, tranquil landscape offering cool shade in the summer and glorious colour in autumn. It is also home to over-wintering birds, many of whom stay to nest and raise their chicks here in the spring.
A brief history
Mote Park was originally the main water source for a Roman villa. Then, in later years, Mote Park House became a country estate and the owners planted and developed the park around their home.
The original mansion house was demolished in 1793 and rebuilt by 1800. At this time, the River Len was also dammed to form the lake and internal roads were added, along with walls, a boathouse and a bridge over the lake (now demolished). The lake was then expanded to 30 acres and surrounding land was purchased to extend the park.
The park was bought by Maidstone Borough Council in 1929 at a cost of £50,000 and is now looked after by the Council and an amazing team of volunteers.
Things to do
Mote Park is great for walking and cycling with lots of paths and trails to follow throughout the park.
For the more adventurous, there is a BMX track. This is great fun and free and, with practice, it’s possible to get faster at completing the course. The jumps and spins add an extra dimension and the track offers a great challenge for those bringing their bikes on holiday.
For a different two-wheeled experience, Segways are available for hire around a dedicated course for one week every month. Please check the operator’s website for dates and availability ( www.segwayevents.co.uk )
Model enthusiasts will love the model railway. Operated by the Maidstone Model Engineering Society, this is ideal for all the family. It runs every Sunday during British Summer Time and on Boxing Day from 2.30pm to 5pm. Cost is 30p per ride. Model boats can also be found on the lake. These are organised and run by The Maidstone Cygnets Model Boat Club.
To keep the kids entertained, there are two children’s play areas. The largest is near the main car park and a smaller area can be found near the School Lane entrance.
If all this activity is making you hungry, then stop off at the Mote Park Café for a delicious snack. The café offers a selection of hot and cold drinks, warm food and snacks with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Events and Festivals
Mote Park plays host to a variety of events throughout the year. These include large music festivals, ticketed events, outdoor theatre and charity fun runs. Smaller events are also organised by the volunteers, such as wildlife data capture and bird/bat watching.
Check our What’s On pages for more details about dates and times.
Sports facilities
Mote Park is a great place to get active. Whatever your current fitness level or sporting interest, you are sure to find something to suit you.
Water babies are spoilt for choice with the Mote Park Watersports Centre offering a variety of sailing, boating, diving and swimming facilities on the lake. You can try out rowing and windsurfing too, or just get the family into a pedalo swan and explore the islands, reeds and trees.
Maidstone Leisure Centre backs on to the park and includes a fitness pool, diving pool, teaching pools and a leisure pool with waves and flume. The centre also has a fitness gym, sports hall, children’s play area and café making it an ideal venue whatever the weather.
If you prefer to exercise in the open air, then head towards the main car park in Mote Park where you will find some outdoor training equipment.
Keen fishermen can apply for a daily permit to fish in the park. You will need your rod licence to buy a permit and the service is managed by Maidstone Victory Angling and Medway Preservation Society.
Mote Cricket Club provides cricket facilities for all levels and has existed at the park since 1857.
Maidstone Rugby Club also has a long association with the park having been founded in 1880. It plays at the cricket club in Mote Park.
There are many public football and rugby pitches available for hire too, which can be booked through the Leisure Centre.
Next door to the Leisure Centre is Mote Park Indoor Bowls Club. This is a private members club with 8 rinks, a restaurant and bar. New members are always welcome.
Road Directions
A229 Town Centre, keep right (signed Hastings), take A249 (Signed Sheerness) Mote Road and at traffic lights right (signed Mote Park)
Public Transport Directions
Within walking distance of Maidstone Town Centre railway stations.
Tel: 01622 602169
