Severn Valley Country Park
| Severn Valley Country Park | |
|---|---|
| Type | Country park |
| Location | Shropshire, England, UK |
| OS grid | SO7522684042 |
| Area | 126 acres |
| Created | 1992 |
| Operated by | Shropshire Council |
| Status | Open |
| Awards | Green Flag Award (2014) |
| Nearest Village | Alveley |
Severn Valley Country Park is a country park in England, located near Alveley, Shropshire, 8 miles (13 km) from Bridgnorth, roughly central in the Severn Valley.[1] Originally the site of a huge coal mine, it is now a 126-acre (51 ha) park consisting of woodland, meadows and riverside banks with views over the River Severn and a Green Flag Award.[2]
History
The site was a coal mine for over 400 years, with shafts being put in at Highley in 1870; and the river and then the railway were used to transport the coal.[3] Production shifted to Alveley in 1936, and the mine finally closed in 1969.[4] Work started to reclaim the site in 1986; the park was officially opened to the public in 1992.[5]
Features
Severn Valley Country Park has many walks around the visitor's centre, as well as beside the river, and in the meadows and woodlands. The visitor's centre itself provides information on the park, a café and toilets. There is also a picnic site nearby and a large carpark.[6] There is an additional picnic site near the river and another in a meadow at the top of the woods.
A lake and bird-hide are located before the car park. The main path runs down to the riverside. The woodland path stretches down to the riverside and is mainly on a boardwalk; it also contains a brook. There is also a walk along the entrance road to a large meadow with a lake and picnic site which joins onto the woodland path.
Across the bridleway bridge over the Severn is the Country Park Halt on the Severn Valley Railway.[7]