Ferndown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ferndown |
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 The Parish Church of St Mary, Ferndown |
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 Ferndown
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| Population | 26,559 (parish, 2011) |
| OS grid reference | SU071009 |
| • London | 100 mi (160 km) NE |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FERNDOWN |
| Postcode district | BH22 |
| Dialling code | 01202 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Ferndown is a town in Dorset, southern England. It is located just north of the larger towns of Bournemouth and Poole. Ferndown is also a "civil parish," which is a local area with its own council. This parish includes smaller communities like Hampreston, Longham, Stapehill, and Trickett's Cross.
In 2011, about 26,559 people lived in Ferndown. This makes it the largest town in Dorset that is not on the coast. Ferndown has many older residents, with a good number of people aged 60 or above.
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Getting Around Ferndown
Ferndown is close to the A31 main road. This road connects Ferndown to other towns like Wimborne and Ringwood. If you travel east on the A31, you can reach the M27 and M3 motorways. These motorways lead to cities like Southampton, Winchester, and even London. You can also take the A34 to the M4 near Newbury.
Going west on the A31, you can connect to the A35. This road takes you to other parts of East Dorset and into Devon. The closest train station to Ferndown is Branksome, which is about 6.75 miles (10.9 km) away.
Travel by Sea and Air
The nearby port of Poole offers ferry services all year round. You can travel to Cherbourg in France and Santander in Spain. During certain seasons, Condor Ferries also runs services to the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, and to St. Malo in France.
Ferndown is only about 4 miles (6.4 km) from Bournemouth International Airport at Hurn. Airlines like Ryanair, Jet2, and TUI fly from here. They offer regular flights to places in the UK and across Europe.
Local Bus Services
Ferndown has several bus routes that help people get around. The 13 and 13a buses go to Wimborne and Bournemouth. The X6 bus connects Ferndown to Ringwood, Verwood, Bearwood, and Poole. The FE1 bus goes to the Ferndown Industrial Estate and Poole. There is also the 38 bus, which travels to Ringwood. All these bus services are run by a company called morebus.
Businesses and Work in Ferndown
On the edge of Ferndown, you'll find the Ferndown and Uddens Industrial Estates. These are large areas with many different types of businesses. They form the biggest industrial area in East Dorset. Many well-known companies have offices or factories here, such as Farrow & Ball. You can find businesses that offer services, make products, or sell goods.
Fun and Activities
Ferndown offers many places for sports and fun!
King George's Field
The King George's Field is a very large open space. It is named in memory of King George V. Here, you can find a children's playground with special equipment for kids with special needs. There are also six tennis courts, four football pitches, and a cricket pitch. You can also enjoy a bowling green, a boules area, a croquet practice lawn, and a rugby pitch. For those who love skateboarding, there's a fully equipped skateboard park.
Golf Courses
If you like golf, Ferndown has two golf clubs. Ferndown Forest Golf Club has one 18-hole course. Ferndown Golf Club has two courses: The Old Course (also known as the Championship Course) and the nine-hole Aliss Course (also known as the President's Course).
Leisure Centre and Community Hub
The Ferndown Leisure Centre is next to Ferndown Upper School. It has two heated swimming pools, a sports hall, and a fully equipped gym. There are also squash courts and a rifle range. The leisure centre shares its facilities and surrounding fields with the Upper School.
The Ferndown Community Centre is a popular spot in town. It is home to the Barrington Theatre, which is located in the main shopping area called Penny's Walk. This area also has a large Tesco supermarket and the local library.
Natural Spaces
Around Ferndown, there are large areas of woodland and heathland. These include Holt Heath and Slop Bog. Heathland is an open area with small shrubs and plants. In the past, these heathlands covered much more of the area. Many of these natural spaces have ancient burial mounds and small ponds. However, some parts, like Ferndown Heath, have recently had several heath fires.
Schools in Ferndown
Schools in Ferndown, like in much of Dorset, follow a three-tier system. This means students go to first schools, then middle schools, and finally upper schools.
Ferndown Upper School is a school for students aged 13 to 19. It welcomes up to 320 pupils each year from its feeder middle schools in Ferndown, West Moors, and Verwood.
Ferndown Middle School takes students at age 9. These students come from Ferndown First School, Hampreston First School, and Parley First School. The school system in Ferndown changed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The original first school was taken down to make way for houses and offices. The two middle schools combined, and one became the new first school.
Local News and Media
For local news and TV shows, people in Ferndown can watch BBC South and ITV Meridian. TV signals come from the Rowridge TV transmitter.
There are several local radio stations. These include BBC Radio Solent, Heart South, Greatest Hits Radio South, Nation Radio South Coast, Hits Radio Bournemouth & Poole, and Forest FM. Forest FM is a community radio station that broadcasts from the town. The local newspaper for Ferndown is the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
Places of Worship
Ferndown has several religious sites:
- Longham United Reformed Church
- St Mary's Church, Ferndown
Twin Town
Ferndown is twinned with the town of Segré in France. Segré is located in the Maine-et-Loire area of France.
See also
In Spanish: Ferndown para niños
