Pond dipping with brightly-coloured nets is something I fondly remember from my childhood.

Wilton Park – or Batley Park, as it is more commonly known – was a regular destination for days out when I was young.

The difference between Batley Park then and now is the range of things to do.

The boating lake, a dam crossing the small beck flowing through the park – with its resident water birds – and a slightly less well-equipped play area is all I vaguely remember of the happy times I spent there as a child. Oh, and the boats; the miniature pleasure cruisers still regularly brought here by enthusiasts who gather to sail them around the water.

Batley Park is an intriguing place. Today it is a well-equipped modern park with swings and things. There are tennis courts, a basketball court and bowling greens, along with plenty of activities taking place there during the year, particularly during the summer.

But the magical element to this 36-acre park is its wonderful ancient woodland and gardens, which provide a recreational opportunity for the many visitors who come here. A network of pathways weave through the sloping forest of flora and fauna. Eventually, through the trees as you make your way to the top of the wood, you can see the roofline of the mansion in the midst of this peace and tranquillity.

On a previous visit to the park, we discovered the Gothic house was closed for the installation of a lift and gallery developments, jointly funded by Kirklees Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund. We’d long awaited its reopening and, on a recent visit to the park, were delighted to see it was once again welcoming visitors.

Woodlands, as it was known when it belonged to mill owner George Sheard, was built in 1876. In 1909, the house was auctioned and purchased for just £5 by a local businessman. He gave the house to the Batley Corporation, and it became a museum in 1911.

Bagshaw Museum, as it is now known, is christened after its first curator, Walter Bagshaw, a well-known local businessman, scientist and speaker. He was asked to transform the house into a museum providing an educational experience, and not solely to learn about the local area.

The informative displays and collections not only tell us about life in Batley and surrounding areas, but in other parts of the world.

Displaying artefacts from his own collection and loans from local people, Walter was able to realise his ambition of ‘bringing the world to Batley’.

The displays and exhibitions have changed over time as the museum has become more interactive. The purpose-built education room is the only significant change to the building’s floor plan in the last century.

One of the permanent displays in the Egyptology gallery is the Kingdom of Osiris; I remember the ancient mummy from my childhood visits here. Technology has transformed this collection, and dramatic lighting has enabled the recreation of the interior of an ancient tomb.

The Gods, Divine Creatures And Mythical Beasts gallery showcases decorative arts from Africa, India, China, and Japan.

Art-lovers will marvel at the stunning Victorian and Edwardian paintings in the home’s original billiard room. A table of stationery gives young visitors the opportunity to create their own masterpiece.

Local people in particular will delight in the recollections of Batley’s glory days in the Batley Local Histories galleries, which include Batley Variety Club, now the Frontier, where big names such as Dame Shirley Bassey performed. Fox’s Biscuits is another of Batley’s famous exports whose history and artefacts are on view.

The Spirit Of South Asia gallery is another new addition to the museum, introduced as part of a Heritage Lottery Project.

Guaranteed to raise a smile is the temporary gallery, Secrets Of The Saucy Postcard. The comical showcase of some of the saucy seaside postcards from Bamforth’s of Holmfirth runs until October.

This year, the museum is also participating in Precious Cargo, the 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme of activities highlighting Yorkshire’s museum links to the rest of the world through collections and stories. Over the coming year, Bagshaw will take young visitors on a global tour through crafts and activities inspired by and reflecting some of the collections on display.

The Butterfly House, in the museum’s grounds, is a tranquil oasis and an educational experience in itself. It is home to more than 40 tropical butterflies, lovingly cared for by a team of dedicated volunteers.

The Butterfly House was opened by the Friends of Wilton Park in memory of butterfly expert David Crozier, who looked after the estate’s greenhouse until his death.

Factfile: * Bagshaw Museum is situated in Wilton Park, off Bradford Road, Batley. It is open all year round and has free admission.

* Opening hours are 11am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and noon to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Visiting groups are advised to pre-book.

* For more information call (01924) 326155, go to kirklees.gov.uk or e-mail bagshaw.museum@kirklees.gov.uk.

* Fire regulations mean there are restrictions on the use of prams and pushchairs indoors. However, there is wheelchair access to the first floor galleries.

* Opening times for the Butterfly House are 11am to 4pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.