Gosford Forest Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gosford Forest Park |
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Gosford Castle
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| Type | Public Forest Park |
| Location | Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Nearest city | Armagh |
| Area | c. 240 Hectares |
| Created | 1958 |
| Operated by | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
| Open | Daily (year-round) |
Gosford Forest Park is an awesome forest park located near Markethill in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It used to be called Gosford Demesne. In 1958, the Department of Agriculture bought it. Now, it's a huge park with about 240 hectares (that's like 600 acres!) of different kinds of trees and open grassy areas.
Guess what? Gosford Castle is right inside the park! In 1986, Gosford Forest Park became the very first 'conservation forest' in Northern Ireland. This means it's a special place protected for nature.
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Fun Things to Do at Gosford Park
Gosford Forest Park has loads of cool stuff for visitors to enjoy. It's a great place for a day out or even a longer stay!
- Camping and Caravanning Site: You can bring your tent or caravan and even plug into electricity.
- Picnic and Barbecue Areas: Perfect spots to eat your lunch outdoors.
- Tea House and Shop: Grab a snack or a drink if you get hungry.
- Way-marked Trails: Easy-to-follow paths for walking or running.
- Horse-riding Routes: Special trails just for horses.
- Orienteering Routes: Test your navigation skills with a map and compass.
- Disabled Facilities: The park is set up to be welcoming for everyone.
- Guided Tours: You can book a guide to show you around and tell you all about the park.
- Special Events: Sometimes, there are cool events happening, but you need a permit to arrange them.
- Function Hall: A big room that can be used for different gatherings.
A Look Back at Gosford's History
The story of Gosford Forest Park goes way back to the early 1600s!
The Acheson Family Arrives
Around the early 17th century, a family called the Achesons came to the Markethill area. They built a large farmhouse nearby. The Achesons came from a place called Monmouthshire. Some of their relatives are still around today!
When the Achesons first arrived, they brought 13 other families with them. Some of those family names, like Galbraith and Greer, are still found in the area today. One of the old forts (or raths) in Gosford Forest Park is even named after the Greer family! They used to farm the land there.
Early Homes and Fires
The first house the Achesons built was near the town of Markethill. Sadly, this house burned down. In 1610, the family was given the land where the park is now. They decided to build a new house.
They used red bricks made right there in the local area. This new house was called Clonkearney Manor. You can still find a small part of its red brick foundations near the ponds in the park. This house is thought to have burned down during wars in the mid-1600s.
Gosford Park Today
Today, the Forest Service owns the estate. They keep it in great shape and make sure it has excellent facilities, including a cafe. The park is also famous for having one of Northern Ireland's best collections of rare farm animals.
Did you know that Gosford Castle has recently been updated? It's been turned into 23 new homes, and people are buying them!
Scouts at Gosford
In 1989, Gosford Forest Park was a very busy place! It hosted a huge event called the Irish Scout Jamboree, known as "Gosford '89." Over 3,000 scouts from all over the world came to camp and have fun. Scouts from places like Canada, Japan, and the United States were all there!
