Bestwood Country Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bestwood Country Park |
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| Type | Country park |
| Location | Bestwood Village, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Area | 650 acres (2.6 km2) |
| Operated by | Gedling Borough Council |
| Visitors | 400,000 (annually) |
| Open | All year |
Bestwood Country Park is a large country park located near Bestwood Village in Nottinghamshire, England. It's a great place for outdoor activities and learning about history. For many years, Bestwood was a special hunting area owned by the King of England. In the 1600s, King Charles II gave the land to Nell Gwyn and their son. Later, in the Victorian era, a big coal mine operated here. The park as we know it today was officially opened in 1973.
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History of Bestwood Park
Long ago, during the medieval period, Bestwood Country Park was a royal hunting ground within Sherwood Forest. Kings and important noble families would visit Nottingham and use this area for hunting.
In the 1600s, King Charles II often visited Bestwood. He set the exact borders for the park and then gave it to Nell Gwyn and their son, Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans. Over time, parts of the land were sold off, and by the early 1800s, there were thirteen farms inside the park.
A big change happened in the Victorian era when William Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans owned the park. He started the Bestwood Coal and Iron Company to dig for coal. The mine became very famous, being the first in the world to dig up one million tonnes of coal in just one year! William Beauclerk also replaced the old medieval hunting lodge with a new one, designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon. The coal mine closed in 1967, and Bestwood became a country park in 1973 for everyone to enjoy.
Nell Gwyn and the Park's Gift
King Charles II gave Bestwood Park to Nell Gwyn and their son. Stories say that when they stayed at the hunting lodge, the King and his friends would playfully tease Nell for sleeping late and not joining the morning hunts.
One famous story tells that the King offered to give Nell "all the land she could ride around before breakfast." The next morning, he found her already eating breakfast! She had reportedly ridden out very early, dropping handkerchiefs along her path. The area marked by her ride then became Bestwood Park.
The Winding Engine House
One important part of Bestwood's past is the winding engine house from the old Bestwood Colliery (coal mine). This building, with its large steam engine from 1873, has been saved to remember the park's industrial history. The engine was used to lower miners deep into the mine shaft and then pull the coal back up to the surface.
Today, the winding engine house stands at the park's entrance and is a protected historic building. It was carefully restored with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the local council.
What You Can Do at Bestwood Park
Bestwood Country Park offers many things to see and do. You can explore beautiful wildflower meadows and walk along forest trails through old oak woodlands. There are also paths for cycling and horse riding. It's a great spot for bird-watching, and you can enjoy the peaceful lakes. The park also has a cafe where you can get a snack or a drink.
The park covers a huge area of 650 acres (about 2.6 square kilometers). In 2009, around 400,000 people visited Bestwood Country Park.
Images for kids
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A view of Bestwood Country Park.
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Charles II, a King who visited Bestwood Park.
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Nell Gwyn, who received Bestwood Park from King Charles II.
