Gedling Wood

. . . the birds couldn't get their numbers right - neither six geese a-laying nor seven swans a-swimming.

The park is on the grounds of the former Gedling Colliery, which closed in 1991. The site was converted into the present country park in 2015.

Providing extensive views to the south and west over Nottingham and the Trent Valley.

. Gedling Country Park was established as such by Gedling Borough Council in 2014 and opened to the public in 2015. It comprises the area of the waste tips of the former Gedling Colliery which closed in 1991. The area of the colliery itself is excluded from the park and is not formally open to the public, although there are some unbarriered access points. The park is largely open ground sloping steeply to the south west, resulting from artificial and natural seeding of grass and limited scrub woodland to maintain stability of the waste material. Much of the open space is fenced off to provide protection for ground nesting birds such as skylark and lapwing which are already a feature of the Park. The result is that human activity is largely restricted to the extensive network of paths. These have been developed as multi-user routes, suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and, within the constraints of the steep nature of the site, wheelchair users. There are 4 defined circuits, of different lengths, named after the various seams mined by the colliery – High Hazles, Main Bright, Top Hard, Low Hazles. There are three lagoons, one in the upper area and two at the foot of the Park. These are part of the overall drainage scheme for the tip, an essential feature to maintain the stability of the spoil. These lagoons are being managed as wildlife habitats for both birds and invertebrates. As at the end of 2017, the following features have been established. An extensive children's play area was opened in 2016, including the Mining Tower, a slide feature reflecting the former winding headgear of the colliery. A visitor centre with cafe, toilets and terrace opened in June 2017, and will eventually incorporate displays covering the history of the colliery. The cafe has the name 'Cafe 1899', reflecting the date when the colliery commenced operation. A Memorial Garden on the slopes below the visitor centre opened in April 2017. This incorporates a pergola formed from a series of the rings used to support the roof of one of the main underground roadways of the colliery. In December 2017 a flame-shaped sculpture was unveiled, with cut-outs of various aspects of mining. Two features of note are not within the park itself. On the highest part of the tip a large solar farm with an output of 5.74MW has been established as an enclave within the park, but not of it. Within its boundaries wildlife in the form of the ground nesting birds mentioned above flourishes. Within the old colliery area itself, a small generating plant has been set up, fuelled by methane tapped from the remaining coal underground.

The sculpture is of a grey heron which can sometimes be seen fishing in the adjacent lagoon.

Featuring a wagon typical of those used in the former colliery on which the park has been developed.

Giving details of the solar power installation and the extraction of methane gas from the abandioned mine workings.

Providing extensive views to the north and east with Lincoln Cathedral said to be visible on a clear day, some 28 miles distant.

This solar farm in Gedling Country Park on the site of the former Gedling Colliery is capable of generating 5.7 MW, enough to power 1,700 homes.

. Gedling Country Park was established as such by Gedling Borough Council in 2014 and opened to the public in 2015. It comprises the area of the waste tips of the former Gedling Colliery which closed in 1991. The area of the colliery itself is excluded from the park and is not formally open to the public, although there are some unbarriered access points. The park is largely open ground sloping steeply to the south west, resulting from artificial and natural seeding of grass and limited scrub woodland to maintain stability of the waste material. Much of the open space is fenced off to provide protection for ground nesting birds such as skylark and lapwing which are already a feature of the Park. The result is that human activity is largely restricted to the extensive network of paths. These have been developed as multi-user routes, suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and, within the constraints of the steep nature of the site, wheelchair users. There are 4 defined circuits, of different lengths, named after the various seams mined by the colliery – High Hazles, Main Bright, Top Hard, Low Hazles. There are three lagoons, one in the upper area and two at the foot of the Park. These are part of the overall drainage scheme for the tip, an essential feature to maintain the stability of the spoil. These lagoons are being managed as wildlife habitats for both birds and invertebrates. As at the end of 2017, the following features have been established. An extensive children's play area was opened in 2016, including the Mining Tower, a slide feature reflecting the former winding headgear of the colliery. A visitor centre with cafe, toilets and terrace opened in June 2017, and will eventually incorporate displays covering the history of the colliery. The cafe has the name 'Cafe 1899', reflecting the date when the colliery commenced operation. A Memorial Garden on the slopes below the visitor centre opened in April 2017. This incorporates a pergola formed from a series of the rings used to support the roof of one of the main underground roadways of the colliery. In December 2017 a flame-shaped sculpture was unveiled, with cut-outs of various aspects of mining. Two features of note are not within the park itself. On the highest part of the tip a large solar farm with an output of 5.74MW has been established as an enclave within the park, but not of it. Within its boundaries wildlife in the form of the ground nesting birds mentioned above flourishes. Within the old colliery area itself, a small generating plant has been set up, fuelled by methane tapped from the remaining coal underground.

One of the Lambley Dumbles, a local dialect word for a steep-sided watercourse flowing through woodland.

Dumble is a local dialect word for a steep-sided watercourse flowing through woodland.

Spot the photographer recording the stream!

Site of old coal workings and now providing clean energy