Trosley Country Park facts for kids
Trosley Country Park is a big park located in Trottiscliffe, near Vigo, in Kent, England. It used to be part of a huge forest estate. After many changes over the years, it became a country park managed by Kent County Council. It's a great place for people to visit and enjoy nature.
Quick facts for kids Trosley Country Park |
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Visitor Centre in Trosley Country Park
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| OS grid | TQ633610 |
| Area | 170 acres (690,000 m2) |
| Created | 1976 |
| Operated by | Kent County Council, |
| Status | Open 7 days a week, dawn until dusk |
| Website | Kent City Council: Trosley Country Park |
Contents
History of Trosley Country Park
Trosley Country Park was once part of a large property called the Trosley Towers Estate.
Who Owned the Land?
In 1870, a man named Sir Sydney Waterlow, 1st Baronet bought a lot of land in the area. This included parts of villages like Fairseat, Stanstead, Wrotham, and Meopham. He even built a small bridge over Trottiscliffe Road to connect different parts of his estate. This bridge still has his family symbol on it today!
In 1887, Sir Sydney built a grand house called Trosley Towers. It was located high up on the North Downs, surrounded by beautiful woods. There were also private roads leading to the house, and one of them, Hamilton Drive, is still part of the park today.
Changes Over Time
When Sir Sydney passed away in 1906, his son Philip inherited the estate. After Philip died in 1931, the estate was sold off in pieces. Some houses were bought by the people who lived in them.
In 1935, a person named Mr. E. E. Shahmoon bought Trosley Towers and the surrounding woodlands. A year later, in 1936, Mr. Shahmoon had Trosley Towers taken down. He then built a new house called Hamilton Lodge and some stables. There's a story that these buildings were made ready for the Shah of Persia and his racehorses when he visited England.
During World War II, in 1942, the army took over the area. Hamilton Lodge became the headquarters for the army brigade stationed there. The original manor house on the estate was also later demolished.
Becoming a Country Park
The land, which is about 170 acres (690,000 m2) big, was officially opened as Trosley Country Park in 1976 by Kent County Council.
In 2004, a new building was constructed in the park. It has public toilets, offices, and storage space. This building was made using wood from Sweet Chestnut trees found in the park. It also has a special "sedum roof" and a system that collects rainwater to flush the toilets. This building even won an award in 2005 for its design!
Nature and Wildlife
Trosley Country Park is located on the North Downs. The grassy slopes in the park are made of chalk and are a very special area for nature. They are called a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the rare plants and animals that live there.
These slopes used to be used for grazing farm animals. But when the farms moved to other areas, the grasslands started to grow wild. After the park was created, people worked to clear away unwanted plants. This helped rare chalk land plants and animals to grow again. You might even spot a musk orchid or a chalkhill blue butterfly here! Other insects like the dark green fritillary also live in these meadows.
Fun Activities at the Park
Trosley Country Park has many paths for walking and exploring. These paths go through different wooded areas like Downs Wood, Great Wood, and Butchers Wood.
Walking Trails
There are three main trails marked out for visitors:
- The Red Route is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long and is mostly flat. It follows part of the famous North Downs Way.
- The Yellow Route is shorter, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. It uses some of the Red Route but is an easier walk.
- The Blue Route is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and is more challenging. It has steep hills and climbs. This route also passes through Little Pell wood and Great Pell Field meadow.
Longer Walks
The North Downs Way is a long-distance path that goes right through Trosley Country Park. It's a great way to explore the area on foot or even on horseback.
You can also start an "Adventurous Pub Walk" from the park. This walk is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long and takes you to nearby villages like Ryarsh and Addington before returning to the park.
Another trail, the Coldrum Trail, also begins in the park. It leads to the ancient Coldrum Stones, which are very old stone monuments, and then brings you back to the park.
How to Get There
Trosley Country Park is easy to find! It's located off Junction 2 of the M20 motorway. You can also reach it from the A227 road, which runs between Meopham and Wrotham.
