Deep Hayes Country Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deep Hayes Country Park
Cumberledge Pool
Location	near Leek, Staffordshire
Area	60 acres (24 ha)
Operated by	Staffordshire County Council
Website	Deep Hayes Country Park

Deep Hayes Country Park is a fantastic country park located in Staffordshire, England. It's a wonderful place to visit, found about 3 kilometers (or 2 miles) southwest of the town of Leek. You can find it just a short distance south of the A53 road near Longsdon.

The park covers a large area of about 60 acres (which is about 24 hectares). Its northern border is next to the Caldon Canal. The park is built around three beautiful pools: Cumberledge Pool, Park Pool, and Hayes Pool. These pools were once part of a much larger reservoir.

Exploring Deep Hayes Country Park

When you visit Deep Hayes Country Park, you'll find lots to do and see. It's a great place for a day out with family or friends.

Visitor Facilities

The park has a helpful visitor centre where you can get information. There's also free parking, so it's easy to bring your car. Clean toilets are available too, which is always good to know! You'll find a nice picnic area where you can enjoy your lunch outdoors.

Walking and Nature Trails

There are many marked pathways that lead all around the park. These paths vary in length, so you can choose a short stroll or a longer adventure. They wind around the former reservoir area, offering lovely views.

Wildlife and Nature

Deep Hayes Country Park is home to lots of amazing wildlife. The edges of the pools have tall rushes and other plants. You can often spot different kinds of waterfowl swimming on the water.

Fish and Insects

The pools are home to fish like roach, tench, and carp. If you look closely, you might also see many interesting insects. Keep an eye out for colorful dragonflies and damselflies flying around the water.

Plants and Birds

Around the pools, there are woodlands with many trees. You'll also find meadows filled with a variety of flowering plants. Some of these plants are quite rare! For bird watchers, there's even a special bird hide. This is a hidden spot where you can quietly watch birds without disturbing them.

History of Deep Hayes

Deep Hayes Country Park has an interesting past. It wasn't always a park; it used to be a big reservoir.

Building the Reservoir

The Deep Hayes Reservoir was built way back in 1848. It was constructed by a company called the Staffordshire Potteries Waterworks Company. This company needed to get water from a spring at Wall Grange. They could collect up to 1.5 million gallons of water every day! This water was used to supply the Potteries, which were areas where pottery was made. The reservoir was built to make up for the water that was taken, ensuring that mills downstream along the River Churnet still had enough water.

From Reservoir to Park

In 1979, engineers found some problems with the dam's structure. Because of this, the Severn Trent Water Authority decided to stop using the reservoir. They found a new way to get water from a borehole instead.

After the reservoir was no longer needed, a cool idea came up: to turn the area into a country park! This project was agreed upon by the Water Authority, the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, and the Countryside Commission. The water level was lowered, and this created the three separate pools we see today: Cumberledge Pool, Park Pool, and Hayes Pool. Around these new pools, the beautiful park environment was created for everyone to enjoy.

Images for kids

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  The weir between the upper pool (Hayes Pool) and the middle pool (Park Pool)