Colwick Country Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Colwick Country Park |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Country park |
| Location | Colwick, Nottingham, England |
| Area | 250 acres |
| Created | 1978 |
| Operated by | Nottingham City Council |
| Open | All year |
Colwick Country Park is a wonderful green space located in Colwick, Nottingham, England. It's a popular spot for families and friends to enjoy nature and lots of fun activities. This large park covers about 250 acres, offering plenty of room to explore and relax.
Contents
History of Colwick Park
The land where Colwick Country Park now stands has a very long history. Records show that the estate dates all the way back to 1362! That's over 600 years ago.
The main building on the estate is Colwick Hall. It was built in the late 1700s and is now a private hotel. The park itself opened much later, in 1978. Before it became a park, the area was used for digging up gravel. Workers then transformed these old gravel pits into the beautiful recreational area you see today. There are even plans to build a new visitor centre for the park in the future.
Fun Activities at Colwick Park
Colwick Country Park has two main lakes that are great for water activities. The Main Lake is quite large, covering 65 acres, while West Lake is 24 acres.
Water Sports and Fishing
West Lake is home to the Nottingham City Open Water Swimming Centre. You can join organized swimming sessions there, but swimming is not allowed at other times. West Lake is also a popular spot for fishing, especially for carp. You can also try canoeing and sailing on the lake.
Outdoor Adventures
The park offers many ways to enjoy the outdoors:
- There are special areas for learning and education.
- Kids can have a blast at the children's play areas.
- Explore the wildlife areas and try bird watching.
- It's a great place for dog walking.
- You can try orienteering, which is like a treasure hunt with a map.
- Geocaching is another fun activity, using GPS to find hidden items.
- Capture amazing shots with wildlife photography.
- Enjoy cycling and horse riding on the park's paths.
- Park rangers also lead special activities.
Parkrun and Marina
Every Saturday morning at 9 am, a Parkrun takes place at Colwick Park. This is a free, timed 5k run that goes around Main Lake once and West Lake twice. It's a great way to stay active! The park also has a marina where boats can dock on the River Trent.
Wildlife and Nature
Colwick Country Park is a special place for nature lovers. The Racecourse and Pool area within the park is recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is because it's home to many types of dragonfly.
Scientists have recorded 16 different species of dragonfly here, and 14 of those species actually breed in the park. This means it's a very important place for these beautiful insects. The park is also a fantastic spot for bird watching, with around 220 different kinds of birds recorded living there.
