Earmarked originally for a relief road around Sunbury, this land was generally known locally by its code name TP26. It is a narrow strip of land that runs from Bramwell Close in the east to Green Street in the west, crossing French Street and The Avenue en route. It is probably 2/3 mile long. It was in the 1930’s that planners identified the need for a road, but clearly, at some time later the idea was abandoned and the land left largely neglected. Eighty years later in 2010 following a deal with Surrey County Council, who financed the building of a path through it, Spelthorne Council agreed to take responsibility for the land. The idea being to bring it into use for pedestrians and cyclists. At that time there were few trees on the site. The line of lime trees, and six other trees near to Queens Way were there. As were three London plane at the eastern end, one or two yews and a large pear in the west. These mature trees survive still. There were no hedges. The Tree Wardens Volunteers wanted to increase tree cover to the area and to make it a more attractive site, and so with consent from Spelthorne Council they began planting hedging and trees along the length of the now linear park. LOSRA then invited ideas from local people for a name, and as a result, Hawke Park was born. The Tree Wardens plant and care for roughly 150 trees around Spelthorne every year, and with consent of Surrey C.C highways, many are on road verges.
David Woods