Butts Close

Butts Close is an 11-acre (45,000 m2) park in the town of Hitchin, Hertfordshire that used to once be a sporting ground for archery. Claimed to be the oldest open space in Hitchin, the name refers to the archery butts that used to be on it during the Late medieval and Tudor times. During those years it was much larger but in the last centuries buildings such as a leisure centre and grammar school have been built on it. The remaining Butts Close is still used for modern fêtes and other special occasions though. The park is divided into two areas. The western area is an open cut grassland used for outdoor recreation activities such as fitness classes. The eastern counterpart is a nature preserve with a wildlife pond, alder trees and a large weeping willow.