Experience Christmas at Warwickshire’s country parks
The snow has turned Warwickshire County Council’s Country Parks into a winter wonderland, so why not get away from the crowds and enjoy a Christmas walk?
The parks are open all over the festive period - except Christmas Day - so visitors are welcome to take a seasonal stroll to work off that Christmas excess.
The Country Parks benefit from surfaced paths which are suitable for less able people or those in wheelchairs or pushchairs and make an ideal alternative for all the family to the hustle and bustle of the high street.
Cllr Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economy, said: “During this cold and frosty weather, the park is an ideal venue for those who enjoy a crisp winter walk.
“Our feathered friends at the parks also appreciate a visit during this cold snap, especially if you are going to feed them! It is important for us to help our birds survive during such harsh weather.
“There is always something going on at our Country Parks and Christmas and New Year is no different.”
Both Ryton Pools Country Park and Kingsbury Water Park have Christmas Clue Trails to keep your little ones active and entertained over this festive holiday. Follow the trail around the park, solving the clues as you go and then claim your prize at the end. At Kingsbury there is a short trail for under-sevens and a longer trail for those seven and over. Trail sheets are available from the Information Centres during opening hours.
And for last minute gift ideas, the gift shops at both Kingsbury Water Park and Ryton Pools Country Park are selling maps, permits, books and calendars and a great range of natural wood products made from the park’s trees.
County Parks Manager Paula Cheesman added a safety message for park-goers: “For your own safety, however tempting it seems, please do not walk out onto the frozen lakes and ponds, and keep your dogs on leads when walking near them. The water is deep in places, and no-one can be sure how thick or stable the ice is.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Country Parks are: Pooley Country Park, Kingsbury Water Park, Hartshill Hayes Country Park, The Kenilworth Greenway, Ryton Pools Country Park, The Offchurch Greenway, Ufton Fields Nature Reserve, The Stratford Greenway and Burton Dassett Hills Country Park.
For more information on any of our parks, visit the website at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/parks where you can also download a free copy of our events booklet for next year.