Astbury Mere is a lake and open area in West Heath, a suburb of Congleton, Cheshire, England, in an area formerly quarried for silica sand.[1][2] Part of the area is accredited by Natural England as a country park, Astbury Mere Country Park.[3] The country park has an area of 14 hectares (35 acres) and the lake covers 43 acres (17 ha).[1] The park is owned by Astbury Mere Trust, and the lake and its banks by Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society.[1][4]
History
editExtraction of silica sand occurred at the Congleton West Heath quarry from around the 1930s until 1984.[2] The sand was used for making glass and for precision casting of metal.[5] After the closure of the quarry, the site was divided into housing (Ennerdale Drive estate) and open space. A trust was established in 1989 to manage the open land.[2] The park first opened to the public in 1991.[6] In 2002, the Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society acquired the lake.[4] By 2008 the Astbury Mere Trust had acquired the majority of the land.[2] The park was accredited by Natural England as a country park in 2012.[1]
Location and description
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The park is located at around SJ846627 on Sandy Lane, off the A34 (Newcastle Road).[7] The Fol Hollow road adjoins the park.[8] The area forms a shallow bowl, centred on Astbury Mere, with surrounding grassland, woodland and plantation, as well as a community orchard, originally planted by local schoolchildren.[2][9] The lake has an area of 43 acres (17 ha) with a maximum depth of around 50 feet (15 m).[1][4]
Facilities and activities
editActivities in the park include walking, orienteering and running.[1][7] Two walking trails are available, each a mile long; one is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Dogs are permitted. Seats are placed every 100 metres along the lake circuit. A permanent orienteering course is available. A parkrun is organised on Saturdays at 9am.[1][2][8] Various watersports occur on the lake, including fishing, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking; swimming is not permitted.[1][7] Fishing is organised by Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society; the lake is stocked with carp, perch, pike and roach.[1]
There is a visitor centre with car parking. Snacks and drinks are available.[1][7] The park is managed by Cheshire East Council Countryside Ranger Service for the Astbury Mere Trust, with a single part-time ranger.[6][7]
See also
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- List of parks and open spaces in Cheshire
- Shakerley Mere, another Cheshire mere that originated in a sand quarry
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Welcome to Astbury Mere Country Park, Astbury Mere Trust, retrieved 13 May 2019
- ^ a b c d e f Activities and information About Astbury Mere Country Park, Cheshire East, retrieved 13 May 2019
- ^ Accredited country parks in England, Natural England, 4 December 2018, retrieved 13 May 2019
- ^ a b c Astbury Mere, Stoke-on-Trent Angling Society, 2019, retrieved 14 May 2019
- ^ History of Astbury Mere Country Park, Astbury Mere Trust, retrieved 14 May 2019
- ^ a b Cheshire East Ranger Services in Astbury Mere Country Park, Astbury Mere Trust, retrieved 14 May 2019
- ^ a b c d e Astbury Mere Country Park, Cheshire East, retrieved 13 May 2019
- ^ a b Walks and Wildlife South of Congleton (PDF), Astbury Mere Trust, 2017, retrieved 13 May 2019
- ^ Flora & Fauna in Astbury Mere Country Park, Astbury Mere Trust, retrieved 14 May 2019