Whitchurch Waterways Country Park facts for kids

Staggs Brook, which forms part of the park, is an important habitat for water voles photo: Espresso Adict, geograph.org.uk

Whitchurch Waterways Country Park showing canal end at Chemistry Bridge photo: Espresso Adict, geograph.org.uk

View from the other side of Chemistry Bridge, where it is planned to extend the canal photo: Espresso Adict, geograph.org.uk

The Whitchurch Waterways Country Park is a large open space located west of the town of Whitchurch in Shropshire, England. It officially opened in 2002. This park is a fun place for recreation and also acts as a "green corridor." A green corridor is like a natural pathway that connects different habitats, helping wildlife move safely.

The park includes several important areas:

• A town park
• Greenfields Nature Reserve
• Staggs Brook (a small stream)
• The Whitchurch Arm of the Llangollen Canal

The park is looked after by Whitchurch Town Council and owned by the Whitchurch Waterway Trust. There are exciting plans to make the canal longer within the park. They also want to create a special area called a "basin" where narrowboats can stop and stay, which is called "moorings."

Park History and Location

The Whitchurch Waterways Country Park was created as part of a bigger plan to improve the Whitchurch area. The idea started in the 1980s. Local councils wanted to bring an old, unused canal back to life. They hoped it would attract tourists to Whitchurch.

This canal was once a branch of the Llangollen Canal. It first opened way back in 1811 but was officially closed in 1944. To protect the area, land near Sherrymill Hill was bought so it couldn't be built on. The Whitchurch Waterway Trust was also set up to lead this important project.

The country park officially opened its gates in 2002. You can find it on the west side of Whitchurch, very close to the A41 road.

The park is made up of several different parts:

• Greenfields Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
• Staggs Brook.
• The town's Jubilee Park.
• The Whitchurch Arm of the canal.

Wildlife and Natural Features

The park is a great home for many plants and animals. It has water, natural grasslands, and small areas of woodland, especially around Greenfields Nature Reserve. These different habitats help various species thrive.

You can find beautiful cuckoo flowers growing here. The park is also home to water voles, which are small, furry animals that look a bit like rats but are actually voles. They are a protected species in the UK because their numbers have dropped.

The area around Staggs Brook is carefully managed to make sure it remains a perfect home for these important water voles. This helps to protect them and keep their population healthy.