Priory Country Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Priory Country Park |
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| Type | country park |
| Location | Bedford, Bedfordshire England |
| Created | 1986 |
| Operated by | Bedford Borough Council |
| Status | Open all year |
Priory Country Park is a wonderful green space in Bedford, England. It is located right next to the River Great Ouse. This park is a popular spot for families and nature lovers. The Bedford Borough Council looks after the park, making sure it stays beautiful for everyone.
Discovering Priory Country Park
Priory Country Park is a large area covering about 300 acres (121 hectares). It offers many different natural areas to explore. You can find peaceful lakes, wide open grassland, and shady woodlands here. It's a perfect place to enjoy the outdoors and see local wildlife.
How the Park Began
This park wasn't always a park. Before 1977, the land was used for something called gravel extraction. This means companies dug up gravel from the ground. After the digging stopped, the area was transformed. It was officially opened as Priory Country Park in 1986 by a famous TV presenter, Valerie Singleton.
What You Can See and Do
The park has many interesting features for visitors. You can find the Priory Marina here, which is a place where boats are kept. There is also the Cardington Artificial Slalom Course. This is a special course where people can practice canoeing and kayaking in moving water.
Near the park entrance, you can find places to eat and stay. There is a Beefeater Grill restaurant and a Premier Inn hotel. These offer convenient options for visitors.
A Special Award
Priory Country Park is a really well-managed park. In 2007, it won a special award called the Green Flag Award. This award recognizes the best green spaces in the country. It means the park is a welcoming, safe, and well-maintained place for everyone to enjoy. Winning this award shows how much care goes into keeping the park beautiful.
