Kingsbury Water Park
Encyclopedia
Kingsbury Water Park is a country park
in north Warwickshire
, England
, not far from Birmingham
and lying on the River Tame
. It is owned and managed by Warwickshire County Council. It has fifteen lakes situated in over 600 acres (2.4 km²) of country park. It is renowned for its bird
life, and is popular with birdwatchers
. It is bordered on the western edge by the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
.
that were operated by the Midland Gravel Company. The lakes were created from the craters left behind after the gravel had been taken out. The Water Park was opened on 24 May 1975 with two lakes and 123 acres. It has been expanded over the years and as of 2011 has fifteen lakes in an area covering over 600 acres. The Park welcomed 50,000 visitors in its first year, a number which had expanded to 350,000 in 2007. The Water Park was briefly closed to the public in June 2007 after the area was hit by the worst flooding
since the 1930s. At the time it was estimated the floods had caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage. The Park was opened again once the flooding had subsided.
routes and footpaths. There are a variety of opportunities available for watersports, including water skiing
, jetskis, power boats, sailing
and model boat racing. The West Midland Bird Club maintains an information centre and bird hide there and
advises on conservation management.
There is also a 7¼" gauge ridable miniature railway
known as Echills Wood Railway
. It is run by enthusiasts, who eventually hope to provide a 2 km loop, running a selection of steam, diesel and electric trains.
In November 2011 a new bird hide was erected by Warwickshire County Council allowing birdwatchers
to observe birds in their natural habitat. A previous bird hide had been burnt down in December 2010.
areas and café
s. The park is also home to a bicycle hire centre and has a well established visitor centre and shop.
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
in north Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, not far from Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and lying on the River Tame
River Tame, West Midlands
The River Tame is the main river of the West Midlands, and the most important tributary of the River Trent. The Tame is about 40 km from source at Oldbury to its confluence with the Trent near Alrewas, but the main river length of the entire catchment, i.e...
. It is owned and managed by Warwickshire County Council. It has fifteen lakes situated in over 600 acres (2.4 km²) of country park. It is renowned for its bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
life, and is popular with birdwatchers
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. It is bordered on the western edge by the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal is a canal of the Birmingham Canal Navigations in the West Midlands of England. Its purpose was to provide a link between the Coventry Canal and Birmingham and thereby connect Birmingham to London via the Oxford Canal....
.
History
The area which is now Kingsbury Water Park was previously the site of gravel extraction pitsGravel pit
Gravel pit is the term for an open cast working for extraction of gravel. Gravel pits often lie in river valleys where the water table is high, so they may fill naturally with water to form ponds or lakes. Old, abandoned gravel pits are normally used either as nature reserves, or as amenity areas...
that were operated by the Midland Gravel Company. The lakes were created from the craters left behind after the gravel had been taken out. The Water Park was opened on 24 May 1975 with two lakes and 123 acres. It has been expanded over the years and as of 2011 has fifteen lakes in an area covering over 600 acres. The Park welcomed 50,000 visitors in its first year, a number which had expanded to 350,000 in 2007. The Water Park was briefly closed to the public in June 2007 after the area was hit by the worst flooding
2007 United Kingdom floods
The 2007 United Kingdom floods were a series of destructive floods that occurred in various areas across the country during the summer of 2007. The most severe floods occurred across Northern Ireland on 12 June; East Yorkshire and The Midlands on 15 June; Yorkshire, The Midlands, Gloucestershire,...
since the 1930s. At the time it was estimated the floods had caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage. The Park was opened again once the flooding had subsided.
Features
Throughout the park are a number of bridleways, marked cycleBicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
routes and footpaths. There are a variety of opportunities available for watersports, including water skiing
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
, jetskis, power boats, sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
and model boat racing. The West Midland Bird Club maintains an information centre and bird hide there and
advises on conservation management.
There is also a 7¼" gauge ridable miniature railway
Ridable miniature railway
A ridable miniature railway is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives .-Overview:Typically they have a rail track gauge between and , though both larger and...
known as Echills Wood Railway
Echills Wood Railway
The Echills Wood Railway is a gauge railway located in Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire.The railway was founded in 1972, based in the Royal Agricultural Showground in Stoneleigh, Warkickshire, where it operated until 2005....
. It is run by enthusiasts, who eventually hope to provide a 2 km loop, running a selection of steam, diesel and electric trains.
In November 2011 a new bird hide was erected by Warwickshire County Council allowing birdwatchers
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
to observe birds in their natural habitat. A previous bird hide had been burnt down in December 2010.
Children's facilities
Broomey Croft Children's Farm is home to many animals and a play park and is suitable for children of all ages. Situated around the park are a number of play areas, picnicPicnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
areas and café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
s. The park is also home to a bicycle hire centre and has a well established visitor centre and shop.