California Country Park facts for kids
California Country Park is a large green space covering about 100 acres in Berkshire, England. It's a special place with lowland heath and bogland, including an important area called Longmoor Bog. This bog is so special it's protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Local Nature Reserve. The park is looked after by Wokingham Borough Council and is open every day for everyone to enjoy.
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Exploring California Country Park
The park is located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of Wokingham. It's bordered by Arborfield Garrison to the west and the Nine Mile Ride to the south. The whole park covers 150 acres and features a beautiful six-acre lake.
One unique part of the park is Longmoor Bog. This swamp has a reddish-brown color because of a special type of bacteria. These tiny living things create rust-colored iron hydroxide, which makes the water look rusty!
A Look Back: Park History
California Country Park has a really interesting past!
From Amusement Park to Nature Spot
In 1931, the park first opened as an amusement park and zoo. It was created by Alfred Cartilage and called 'California in England'. Alfred owned a bus company in London. He wanted to bring people from the city out to the countryside for fun.
The park had a miniature railway. It started with a 10.25-inch track, then changed to 18 inches. This railway ran until World War II began. During the war, the park closed, and its buildings were used to make parts for aircraft.
Post-War Fun and Rides
After the war, Alfred reopened the park. He started building new rides, many of which he designed himself. One famous ride was called the 'Snake Train'. The railway also reopened with its 18-inch track and a petrol-powered train.
In the early 1950s, Alfred's son, Norman, took over. He kept adding new attractions. The original railway station was moved, and the track was extended across the bog. There's a story that the last train on the line was driven off the track into the swamp and might still be there today!
More rides were added, like a small roundabout with galloping horses. There was also a 'chairoplane' ride, a climbing frame, and swing boats. A concrete oval track was built for children's pedal cars. These cars were like small versions of Austin J40 and Pathfinder cars.
Circus and Ballroom Days
The park even had a circus that visited every summer for several years. The main building, built around 1937, was very stylish. It had an Art Deco design and a famous ballroom with a glass floor above the restaurant. Many dances and shows were held there. Sadly, this building was destroyed by a fire in 1976.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, the park also had a speedway track. A local team called the 'California Poppies' raced their motorcycles on the dirt track.
Changing Times
By the early 1960s, the amusement park wasn't doing so well. New owners took over and changed it into a holiday camp. Today, you can still find caravan and camping facilities at the California Chalet and Touring Park. However, most of the original amusement park area is now part of the country park and has become overgrown with nature.
Wildlife at the Park
California Country Park is home to many different animals.
Birds
You might spot various birds around the lake and in the trees, such as:
- Cormorants
- Canada geese
- Mallards
- Coots
- Moorhens
- Swans
- Egyptian geese
Insects and Other Small Creatures
Look closely, and you might see some interesting invertebrates:
- Bog bush crickets
- Common Copper Butterflies
- Dragonflys
- Damselflys
Reptiles
One reptile you might find is the Vipera berus, which is a type of snake.
Amphibians
The park is also home to amphibians like the Palmate newt.
Plants of the Park
The park has a wide variety of plants, from tall trees to small mosses.
Trees
Some of the trees you can see include:
Other Plants
The park's boggy and heathland areas support many different plants, such as various types of rushes, sedges, and wildflowers.
Mosses and Lichens
You can also find special types of plants like Sphagnum moss, which is common in bogs. A type of Lichen called Peltigera membranacea also grows here.
Park Facilities
California Country Park offers many things to do. You can enjoy walks and watch the wildlife, especially around Longmoor Lake. There's also a cafe where you can get a snack. In the summer, there's a paddling pool for kids. The park also has toddler swings and a fun adventure play area.
If you like to run, a 5k parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9:00 am. It started on February 23, 2019.
