Snaprails Park is an attractive 3.5 hectare park located to the west of Owlsmoor in Sandhurst.
The park provides an important recreation area as well as a through-route for many local residents.
Snaprails Park used to be part of a Victorian Estate which contained an orchard, tennis courts and specimen trees.
In 1934, during the Second World War, Frederic Robinson, the then owner, invited local children to visit for boat rides after having tea parties at the Working Men’s Club on Wellington Road.
The estate fell into disrepair after the Second World War and the site was sold for development in the 1970s. Snaprails Park and the bulk of the surrounding estates were created in the 1980s.
The Victorian house is no longer there, but remnants of the historic landscape still remain, such as the specimen trees and the park lodge (a private residence) which still stands at the end of the main drive.
The park was transferred into the ownership of the council and opened to the public in 1985.
Much has been done since then to make this site an attractive place for local residents.
Features
Snaprails Park has:
- open grassy areas, a stream and pond and native woodland
- children’s play area suitable for toddlers and juniors
- picnic benches and seating areas
- 3 footbridges, which enable access to the island over the lake
- a living willow tunnel in the Secret Garden
- a cycle way that passes through the central part of the site, linking Wellington Road with Sandhurst Sports Centre
- a selection of historic ornamental trees
Getting there
By car
Parking is available on the surrounding streets, with a small lay-by at the end of Evenlode Way.
The nearest main car park is at Sandhurst Memorial Park, located off Yorktown Road, GU47 9BJ.
By foot or bike
The main pedestrian entrance to Snaprails Park is off Wellington Road, which links Little Sandhurst with the A321 Yorktown Road.
There are entrances off Atrebatti Road and Abingdon Road. The main access is through the cycleway, which runs north from Wellington Road and exits to the eastern side, continuing under Rackstraw Road.
By bus or train
The nearest bus stop is off Yorktown Road, next to Sandhurst Memorial Park.
Sandhurst Train Station is a 17 minute walk away, through Yorktown Road, Crowthorne Road and then Wellington Road.
what3words
A what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Select the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it:
- park location: ///gilding.track.explored
- parking is available at: ///trader.bolsters.meanings
Park management
Our park rangers work closely with local residents, including the Snaprails Residents’ Association. They help play a key role in managing the park and helping to make sure the park remains a safe and enjoyable place to visit.
Wildlife
The woodland provides a habitat for nesting birds and roosting bats. The loggery and habitat piles provide places for small mammals and invertebrates. There is also a live willow tunnel in the ‘Secret Garden’ and native wildflower areas.
The original resident of Snaprails House was a keen plant collector and landscaper. Today the park benefits from a range of mature trees and ornamental shrubs such as giant redwood, swamp cypress, a tulip tree and 3 large Wellingtonias.
Pond
In 2024 we completed work to remove silt from the pond.
This will have the following benefits:
- improve the pond's capacity to hold water, which is its function as a balancing pond
- increase water flow, with improved oxygen levels benefiting wildlife such as fish and amphibians
- make the pond look nicer