California Country Park
Encyclopedia
California Country Park is a 100 acres (40.5 ha) country park
covering Long Moor in the north of the civil parish
of Finchampstead
in the English
county of Berkshire
.
It is situated approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Wokingham
and is bounded by Arborfield Garrison
to the west, California
to the east, the Nine Mile Ride
to the south and what was once Barkham
Common
to the north. It consists of lowland heath
and bogland, including Longmoor Bog, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Park is managed by Wokingham Borough Council and is open every day throughout the year. As well as offering walks and wildlife watching, especially around Longmoor Lake, there is a cafe, summer paddling pool, toddler swings and an adventure play area.
In the 1930s, it was established as an amusement park and Zoo by Alfred Cartilage and was called California in England.His son,Norman took over in the early 1950s and continued the development of the site including realigning the miniature railway,adding new rides and running a circus for several years.The art deco main building included a famous sprung glass floored ballroom over the restaurant and featured a full calendar of dances often 'with star turns' .This structure was later destroyed by fire.Throughout this period 'ThePoppies' speedway team competed on the dirt track laid out in a remote corner of the estate.
In the early 1960s the amusement business was failing and the site obtained new owners who turned it into a holiday camp .Caravanning and camping facilities are still available on site at the California Chalet and Touring Park but the main part of the original amusement area is within the country park .
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...
covering Long Moor in the north of the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Finchampstead
Finchampstead
Finchampstead is a civil parish near Wokingham in the English county of Berkshire. Its northern extremity is situated south of Wokingham, west of Bracknell, south-east of Reading, and west of Central London.-Geography:...
in the English
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...
county of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
It is situated approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Wokingham
Wokingham
Wokingham is a market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England about west of central London. It is about east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403...
and is bounded by Arborfield Garrison
Arborfield Garrison
Arborfield Garrison is a British Army garrison in the English county of Berkshire, approximately south east of the village of Arborfield Cross. The Garrison and its associated housing estates are split between the civil parishes of Arborfield and Newland and Barkham...
to the west, California
California, Berkshire
California is a village in the north of the civil parish of Finchampstead in the English county of Berkshire. It is situated approximately south of Wokingham....
to the east, the Nine Mile Ride
Nine Mile Ride
Nine Mile Ride is a length of the B3430 road in the English county of Berkshire, running from the south of Bracknell to Finchampstead, near Wokingham.-Character:...
to the south and what was once Barkham
Barkham
Barkham is a village and civil parish about south-west of the centre of Wokingham in Berkshire.-Geography:The old part of Barkham is the small settlement by the parish church at and close to Barkham Street...
Common
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
to the north. It consists of lowland heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
and bogland, including Longmoor Bog, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Park is managed by Wokingham Borough Council and is open every day throughout the year. As well as offering walks and wildlife watching, especially around Longmoor Lake, there is a cafe, summer paddling pool, toddler swings and an adventure play area.
In the 1930s, it was established as an amusement park and Zoo by Alfred Cartilage and was called California in England.His son,Norman took over in the early 1950s and continued the development of the site including realigning the miniature railway,adding new rides and running a circus for several years.The art deco main building included a famous sprung glass floored ballroom over the restaurant and featured a full calendar of dances often 'with star turns' .This structure was later destroyed by fire.Throughout this period 'ThePoppies' speedway team competed on the dirt track laid out in a remote corner of the estate.
In the early 1960s the amusement business was failing and the site obtained new owners who turned it into a holiday camp .Caravanning and camping facilities are still available on site at the California Chalet and Touring Park but the main part of the original amusement area is within the country park .