Warwickshire News Mine

The play area is to be officially opened on Thursday, 29th November, when the children will join dignitaries at the park.

The new play area and fencing, which cost £81,695, has been funded through a number of initiatives; Landfill Tax Credits administered by WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental) provided £22,106, a further £25,000 came from the Big Lottery Fund, with the remainder of £34,589 being funded by Warwickshire County Council, which owns and manages the country park.

Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “It’s partnerships like this one that enable the county council to provide stunning new facilities, such as this wonderful play area, for visitors to our country parks.

“We are very grateful for the support of these other agencies and hope that we can continue to work together to provide further facilities, which will encourage the residents of Warwickshire to take trips into the countryside where they can not only explore the area but can also enjoy some valuable healthy exercise.”

Cllr Richard Grant, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for Children, Young People and Families, and also the local councillor for Hartshill, said: “In 2008, this country park will have been open to the public for 30 years; this new play area will help to celebrate that fact.

”It is very important that we encourage children into the countryside at an early age so that they can learn its importance to us all. I hope that this fabulous new play area will help to do just that.”

The play equipment is sturdy and colourful and provides children with a variety of play, while taking healthy outdoor exercise. As well as a trim trail and a large space net, there are swings for all ages and abilities, together with modular units which give a variety of play options to children between the ages of 3 and 14; many pieces are suitable for those with special needs.  The Play Area is sited close to the Visitor Centre, where there are toilets and a small shop.

Hartshill Hayes Country Park, with its two areas of woodland currently attracts around 37,000 visitors each year, but it is hoped that numbers will increase dramatically with this additional facility – as they did at Pooley Country Park, near Polesworth, where visitor numbers have almost doubled since a new play area was installed early in 2006. 

As with all other country parks in Warwickshire, Hartshill Hayes Country Park features in the seasonal events programme, with Ranger staff there leading a number of walks and activities; forthcoming events include popular Night Walks, a Boxing Day Ramble, Bird Box Making and a Snowdrops & Soup Walk.  For further information, and for a free programme of events, telephone 01827 872660, email parks@warwickshire.gov.uk, or visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/countryside

Link to WCC