Seaton Park is a much-loved treasure on the banks of the Don to the north of the city, with 27 hectares of beautiful formal beds, a walled garden, stunning walks among mature deciduous trees and beside the River Don, open green spaces and a children's play park.
Cathedral Walk is a stunning floral display that leads the eye and the walker to nearby St Machar Cathedral. The beautiful arrangements are freshly planted every year and are very popular with visitors and locals alike.
The walled garden is a hidden gem providing a secluded sheltered spot to show off an array of beautiful flowers and plants.
The meandering River Don provides a natural boundary at the west of the park. A lovely riverside walk is part of the corepaths network and links the park to the historic Brig o' Balgownie and beyond to the North Sea.
The popular children's play area has the unusual and popular attraction of an old brake van and railway wagons. These proved to be a hit in 1974 when they were first installed and remain a firm favourite today with all children.
Community involvement is vital for the continued success of Seaton Park and the public is often encouraged to help shape the future of the park, particularly in recent months with the Seaton Park Wetlands Project to help with flooding issues in recent years.
There had been attempts to drain the areas susceptible to flooding but the park continued to flood and wetland plants started to colonise naturally, along with visits from different types of birds, particularly around the large area of standing water. In August 2015, The council approved plans to make it a designated Wetlands, and is now continuing to work with the local community and schools including the Friends of Seaton Park group to help implement the design as well as get involved with looking after it.
The plan includes a viewing platform as well as appropriate wetland planting which will help to increase biodiversity as well looking visually appealing, and will also be structured in a way that will discourage children and dogs from entering areas of deeper water. The construction phase was expected to begin in spring 2016 and completion is anticipated to be in the summer of 2016.
The park experienced its worst flooding after Storm Frank at the beginning of 2016, with even the formal gardens covered in several feet of water and considered too dangerous. The community spirit has shone through as Friends of Seaton Park and other local groups made huge efforts to help clear the debris and start to make the park beautiful again.