Love parks this summer
Love Parks Week gets underway soon and a packed agenda of activities is being lined up in Warwickshire’s Country Parks.
Warwickshire County Council has nine Country Parks or Greenways all over the county from the far north to the south, offering extensive water parks, carriageway cafes or off-road cycling routes.
To showcase the parks and greenways the county council recently launched a new guide plus an events booklet, both highlighting how easy it can be to enjoy a breath of fresh air in the countyside.
And as part of Love Parks Week which gets underway on Saturday 25 July, and runs until Sunday August 2, Warwickshire is hosting a range of events and attractions.
There are drop in sessions where you can just turn up, and bookable events.
To make a booking telephone the park where the event is being held. Kingsbury 01827 872660, Ryton 024 7630 5592, Pooley 01827 897438 or 01827 872660.
Events are as follows at country parks:
MONDAY 27 JULY
Ladybird Hats at Kingsbury Water Park
See how many different kinds of ladybirds you can spot hidden around the courtyard then make your own lovely ladybird hat. An event for children aged 3 to 7 years.
Time: Drop in between 10.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.
Meet: The Information Centre. Cost: £2.00 per child.
Groovy Grasshoppers at Ryton Pools Country Park
Hop along and enter the fascinating world of these springy invertebrates. Join the hunt as we try to find as many as possible, and learn what makes them spring and sing! An event for children aged 3 to 12 years. Bookable event
Time: 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £3.00 per child.
Minibeast Safari at Pooley Country Park
Discover which minibeasts are hiding in the soil and under logs. Try to catch some meadow minibeasts using a net and then make a minibeast model to take home. A family event. Bookable event
Time: 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £3.00 per child.
TUESDAY 28 JULY
Ladybird Hibernators at Kingsbury Water Park
Make a woven willow home for the ladybirds in your garden to hibernate in over the winter months. An event for children aged 7 to 12 years. Bookable event
Time: 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon. Meet: The Education Centre. Cost: £3.00 per child.
Lovely Ladybird Trail at Ryton Pools Country Park
Find the missing ladybird facts to crack the code and claim your prize. A self-led trail for children aged 3 to 12 years.
Time: Drop in between 11.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £1.50 per child.
Lovely Ladybirds at Pooley Country Park
See how many different kinds of ladybird we can spot and then make a lovely ladybird hat to take home. An event for children aged 3 to 12 years. Bookable event
Time: 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £3.00 per child.
WEDNESDAY 29 JULY
Butterfly Bonanza at Kingsbury Water Park
Make your own beautiful butterfly using lots of sparkle to make it stand out in the crowd. Put it on a stick and watch it fly. An event for children aged 3 to 12 years.
Time: Drop in between 10.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m.
Meet: The Information Centre. Cost: £2.00 per child.
Beautiful Birds at Ryton Pools Country Park
Come and see birds of prey up close and find out some fascinating facts about how they hunt, and see them fly. An event for children aged 5 to 12 years. Bookable event
Time: 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £3.00 per child.
Giant Butterflies at Pooley Country Park
Drop in and make a giant butterfly out of paper, attach it to a stick and watch it flutter. An event for children aged 3 to 12 years.
Time: Drop in between 10.30 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £2.00 per child.
Summer Evening Stroll at Ryton Pools Country Park
A summer evening walk exploring the countryside surrounding the park. The route will include some unsurfaced paths and some stiles. Please wear sturdy footwear and long trousers.
Time: 7 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. (or dusk) Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: Adults £2.00, Concessions £1.00, Family £4.00.
THURSDAY 30 JULY
Nature Explorers at Kingsbury Water Park
Join a Ranger and meet Amy the Ant and her friends for a fun exploration of the park. Using your senses you will discover lots of nature along the way. An event for children aged 3 to 8 years. Bookable event
Time: 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 noon. Meet: The Education Centre. Cost: £3.00 per child.
Giant Caterpillars at Ryton Pools Country Park
Make a giant caterpillar on sticks and see it move. An event for children aged 3 to 12 years.
Time: Drop in between 11.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £2.00 per child.
FRIDAY 31 JULY
Survival Dens at Ryton Pools Country Park
Discover how to design and build your own woodland den. Collect tokens along the way to see if your team would survive. An event for children aged 5 to 12 years. Bookable event
Time: 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Meet: The Visitor Centre. Cost: £3.00 per child.
FRIDAY 31 JULY
Birds of Prey at Pooley Country Park
Learn about these amazing creatures from a local bird of prey expert. Meet the birds and see them fly. Bookable event
Time: 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Meet: The Visitor Centre.
Cost: Adults £2.00, Concessions £1.00, Family £4.00.
Love Parks Week is organised by parks charity GreenSpace to raise awareness of the importance of parks, and this year the focus will be on encouraging people to get into parks to join the campaign for continued investment and support for these valuable community assets.
Last year, around 300 park events took place to celebrate Love Parks Week, attracting over 200,000 people. This year looks set to be even bigger, with even more fun and exciting events taking place across the country.
Paula Cheesman, Country Parks Visitor Manager, said: “Love Parks Week is a great opportunity to celebrate what parks and green space mean to communities. In the current financial climate parks are more important than ever – they are free to visit if you are able to walk or cycle to them, and provide opportunities to improve health, relax and unwind, enjoy nature, play and have fun.
“This year we want as many people as possible to show support for the campaign by attending an event and taking advantage of what these fantastic places have to offer, even if you just come along and bring a picnic!”
For more information on Country Parks in Warwickshire visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/parks.