Witton Country Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Witton Country Park |
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Witton Park Country Park Visitors Centre
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Blackburn, Lancashire, England |
| Area | 480 acres (190 ha) |
| Operated by | Blackburn with Darwen Council |
| Open | Open all year |
Witton Country Park is a huge public park located in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. It covers about 480 acres, which is a lot of space for outdoor fun! This park is a mix of different areas. About half of it is covered in woodlands and open parkland. The other half is farmland or grassy areas that you can explore freely.
At the park, you'll find a special visitors' centre. Inside, there are old stables that now show off cool exhibitions. You can see old farm machines pulled by horses and tools that farmers used a long time ago. There's also a room dedicated to natural history, where you can learn about local plants and animals. The park even has a mammal centre with small animals like shrews, voles, ferrets, and rabbits that you can observe.
A Look Back: History of Witton Park
Witton Country Park has an interesting past. The land and a large house called Witton House were first created in 1800 for a person named Joseph Feilden. His son, Randle Joseph Feilden, later became a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to help make laws for the country.
During both World War I and World War II, the British Army used the estate. After the wars, in 1946, Blackburn Council bought the park. This was made possible partly because of a big gift from Robert Edward Hart. Sadly, the old Witton House had a problem called dry rot, so it had to be taken down in 1952.
A special event happened on April 11, 2011. Prince William and Catherine Middleton visited Witton Country Park. They met with members of the Blackburn Harriers and Athletic Club, which is a local running group.
Fun Times: Events at Witton Park
Witton Country Park is a popular spot for many exciting events each year. Two big events, "Arts in the Park" and the "Blackburn with Darwen Mela", happen here. These events used to be held in another park, but they moved to Witton Park in 2005.
"Arts in the Park" is a fantastic event where local bands play music. Sometimes, even more famous groups, like Liberty X, have performed. Many other activities take place throughout the day, and the event usually ends with a concert by an orchestra. The park is also the location for the annual Blackburn Race for Life. This is a charity event where people run or walk to raise money for a good cause.
