Willow Park is a part of the Killarney Parks group of three parks in Nottinghamshire. Many of the homes here surround a lake or border a golf course; it's an enticingly peaceful location.

Words by Val Chapman
Photography by Richard Chapman

Until six years ago, Willow Park, on the edge of the village of Calverton, was a holiday home park. Gradually, since its transformation into a residential park home estate began in 2012, this park has completely changed its character.

It's a gated community now, with homes arranged around a lake; some even have decking stretching out over the edge of the water. Each home has its own private garden with a driveway for two cars.

Director Sophie Brown, who runs the park with her brother, Alex, gave me a guided tour of this pretty place – and explained a rather amusing beginning…

"My dad ordered the first residential home, from a brochure. When it came, he didn't like the look of it. So he sent it back! It was replaced by a Stately-Albion Arundel lodge, which he had specified up to residential standard, with extra insulation."

"We had four Arundels in a short time. Their open-plan layout is popular.

From there, the park grew steadily; now, we aim to install six homes a year."

Currently the park has two show homes, a Stately-Albion Windsor and a Stately-Albion Woburn. A Prestige Homeseeker Avanti and a Prestige Homeseeker Residence have also just arrived.

"All the homes we buy are bespoke. We change the fabrics, the fireplaces, for example. All have triple glazing and all are 22 feet wide. We change the exterior colours and sometimes the windows," Sophie tells me. Sometimes even the layouts are changed, "to make the layout flow better for where the plot may be."

Willow Park's location is one reason for its popularity, within easy distance of the A1, train lines and A46. It's on the edge of the village Calverton, which has a supermarket, leisure centre, golf course, post office, pubs, restaurants and more.

"This area of Nottinghamshire is sought-after and expensive in terms of property – the Trent Valley is nearby – so park homes offer an affordable option," Sophie explains as we walk around the park.

"Homes here start at around £180;000. There's a good size variation. The smallest is 38 ft x 22 ft; the largest that we could fit on some plots would be 48ft or 50ft."

All have utility rooms.

Tree planting is taking place and the park had a topographical survey done in March; the results will be used in future plot planning "so that we will know exactly how many homes to install, how many trees will come out and how many trees are to be replaced."

It's a small team here: just three maintenance staff, and they're recruiting for a fourth: "We do everything ourselves, including the decking designed by Alex and constructed by the park's own carpenter."

We reach the edge of a little lake. Ducks are quacking to attract our attention. The willow trees that gave rise to the name of the park are dipping their filigree branches towards the water.

Then we get a surprise: Willow Park has allotments! Residents simply make use of them – no rent, nothing formal. Raised beds are here, constructed by the park's carpenter.

I notice each home has its own Calor gas tank and Sophie explains the park is on the best rate available; 35 pence per litre; "It's a group rate," says Sophie, "We pay for the tanks to be installed and the residents can set up direct debits."

The park's water supply comes from a natural spring on the park, so water rates are low.

We progress around the park and see some homes back onto a little brook with a golf course beyond.

Some homes border the larger lake; carp are here in abundance, and they rise for the camera as we approach! The lake has an island where willow trees grow. I ask if the lake is natural. Sophie explains: "The pond was already there and Dad dug it out to make it deeper and larger."

Willow Park is created, developed and tended by a family and team with so much passion for its attractive appearance, we quickly learn during our day there.

Stately-Albion Woburn

In this 38ft x 22ft home the dining room is totally separate from the lounge. A unique-design large, triangular window, high up close to the ceiling, stretches the length of the dividing wall between the lounge and the dining room. It's a unique feature which lets light penetrate from room to room.

Another Woburn hallmark is an angled wall on one corner of the lounge, where the fireplace sits. An alcove is above the fireplace, for media equipment.

Floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides of the room ensures it's a light room.

The main bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and a shower en suite. The second room's eye-catching feature is fabric; almost deckchair striped curtains and bed head.

Horizontally-aligned feature tiles are a keynote of the bathroom; the tile panel emphasises the ladder radiator, which sits over it.

Stately-Albion Windsor

This 46ft x 22ft show home overlooks the lake. The Windsor has a galley kitchen which leads to the dining room that forms an L-shape with the lounge; a feature here is a white fireplace with a stone-effect fire.

Like all the homes here, it has a utility room. Two big cupboards are in the corridor that leads to the bedroom area, well separated from the day rooms.

The large master bedroom has sliding doors to a whole wall of wardrobes. The generously-sized en suite, with a large shower, is fully-tiled in a rock effect.

Its bathroom has a feature tiled wall and a tiled panel behind the ladder-style feature radiator.

The spare bedroom has plenty of cabinet space and a desk-style dressing table in attractive pale grey wood.

Contact

Willow Park, Killarney Homes
Address Moor Lane, Calverton NG14 6FZ
Website killarneyhomes.co.uk
Telephone 0845 340 2861