Apedale Community Country Park
Encyclopedia
Apedale Community Country Park is a 454 [154ha] acre country park in the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme
, Staffordshire
, England
. The park is unusual for the area as it was previously as an opencast mine.
The area has a long history of mining, with the nearby former collieries at Silverdale
and Holditch also having being redeveloped for other uses.
The park is considered by administration as a form of compensation
to the residents of the area for the large amount of development that has taken place over recent years. The shallow mine at Holditch was redeveloped into a business park
and industrial estate, which led to significant capital gains for Staffordshire
County Council
. The amelioration of the park was part paid for out of these receipts.
Within the park is the Apedale Heritage Centre
, the adjoining Moseley Railway Trust
are currently constructing the first phase of a narrow gauge railway extending further into the parkland. There are a series of tracks, waymarked routes and self guided trails.
The Country Park is also the home of Newcastle Countryside Project and is bordered by the communities of Silverdale
, Chesterton
, Knutton
and Cross Heath
.
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a market town in Staffordshire, England, and is the principal town of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is part of The Potteries Urban Area and North Staffordshire. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 73,944...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, 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...
. The park is unusual for the area as it was previously as an opencast mine.
The area has a long history of mining, with the nearby former collieries at Silverdale
Silverdale, Staffordshire
Silverdale is a suburban village and civil parish in Staffordshire, west of Newcastle-under-Lyme. In 1932 it became part of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and is now, with the exception of the north-eastern end, part of the Silverdale and Parksite ward....
and Holditch also having being redeveloped for other uses.
The park is considered by administration as a form of compensation
Payment
A payment is the transfer of wealth from one party to another. A payment is usually made in exchange for the provision of goods, services or both, or to fulfill a legal obligation....
to the residents of the area for the large amount of development that has taken place over recent years. The shallow mine at Holditch was redeveloped into a business park
Business park
A business park or office park is an area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. All of the work that goes on is commercial, not industrial or residential....
and industrial estate, which led to significant capital gains for Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
. The amelioration of the park was part paid for out of these receipts.
Within the park is the Apedale Heritage Centre
Apedale Heritage Centre
The Apedale Heritage Centre was created at the site of Staffordshire's Apedale Mine and is run by volunteers. It is located just outside the village of Chesterton near Newcastle-under-Lyme in the Apedale Community Country Park....
, the adjoining Moseley Railway Trust
Moseley Railway Trust
The Moseley Railway Trust is a major British collection of industrial narrow gauge locomotives and other equipment. It originally had its base in south Manchester, but has completely relocated to the Apedale Country Park near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire where a passenger railway is now open...
are currently constructing the first phase of a narrow gauge railway extending further into the parkland. There are a series of tracks, waymarked routes and self guided trails.
The Country Park is also the home of Newcastle Countryside Project and is bordered by the communities of Silverdale
Silverdale, Staffordshire
Silverdale is a suburban village and civil parish in Staffordshire, west of Newcastle-under-Lyme. In 1932 it became part of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and is now, with the exception of the north-eastern end, part of the Silverdale and Parksite ward....
, Chesterton
Chesterton, Staffordshire
Chesterton is a small, former mining village, located in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. It sits near the market town of Newcastle-under-Lyme....
, Knutton
Knutton
Knutton is an area in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. It lies between the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and the village of Silverdale....
and Cross Heath
Cross Heath
Cross Heath is a suburb of Newcastle-under-Lyme that is located alongside the A34 road. It is a ward in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 6,159....
.