New park secured for future generations

摘要

The future of Silverdale community country park in Staffordshire was transferred from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to national charity the Land Trust in April. The 45ha park is part of a £ 10.6m restoration project funded by the HCA to turn the former colliery into a new country park, 300 new homes, two football pitches and a community building. The site is characterised by a largely open grassland landscape with a number of distinct level changes created as a result of the stockpiled colliery spoil.The resulting plateaus are separated by steep embankments colonised with natural grass and young tree planting. A small plateau at the highest point of the site affords extensive views to the surrounding area. Skylarks are abundant and great crested newts can now be found in the small ponds.