Wansbeck Riverside Park
This page contains information about visiting Wansbeck Riverside Park
Overview
Wansbeck Riverside Park covers approximately
112 hectares of woodland, grassland and the river. The site is
located to the south of Ashington between the A1068 and A189. There
are car parks located at Blackclose Dene (just off Stakeford
Bridge, A196 heading north to Ashington) and the main car park off
the Wellhead Dene road (accessed from the A1068 - Sheepwash road).
Access to the north bank can be gain by foot from Sandy Bay the
A197 road, North Seaton Colliery, Rowlington Dene, Nursery Park
Estate, Blackclose Dene, Fallowfield Estate, Wellhead Dene, Caravan
Site access road and Sheepwash Bridge. Access to the south bank can
be gained by foot from West Sleekburn, Millburn Grange Estate,
River Bank Estate, East Ford Road, Stakeford Bridge, Stakeford and
Ringway Estate.
The park is a popular area for informal
activities such as walking, bird watching and picnicking as well as
organised activities such as rowing and fishing. In 2003 Castle
Island gained status as a Local Nature Reserve, Wansbeck Riverside
Park Local Nature Reserve status was gained in 2007.
Wildlife
Sightings of Red Squirrel, Rabbit, Bank Vole,
Fox, and Roe deer are possible along the river as well as
Pipistrelle and Daubenton's bats and a variety of birds including
Mallard, Moorhen, Heron and Kingfisher. In the rest of the park you
may see or hear Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker,
Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Robin, amongst other birds. In the spring
and summer plants such as Red Campion, Bird’s-foot-trefoil,
Forget-me-not, Buttercup, Foxglove, Lesser Celandine, Sweet
Woodruff, Meadow Crane’s-bill and Yarrow. Within the woodlands are
species of Scots Pine, Oak, Beech, Silver Birch, Hazel, Rowan,
Sycamore, Ash, Elder, Hawthorn, Whitebeam and Willow. The area of
woodland at Blackclose Dene is listed as Ancient Semi-Natural
Woodland and is of significant importance supporting a wealth of
birds, mammals and insects. New woodland has been planted on the
south side of the river at Stakeford.
History
The waters that formed the river, start
flowing after the last Ice Age melt about 10,000 BC. The very early
river would have been as large as the River Tyne is today, but due
to erosion in the North Tyne Valley area, most of the water started
flowing south and formed the North Tyne, this reduced the size of
the River Wansbeck.
Today the water in the river starts in a
number of areas to the far west of the park. The river flows from
Sweethope Loughs area, beside Ridsdale and the A68 road, through
Kirkwhelpington, it’s then joined by the Hart Burn, which flows
from an area around Ottercops Moss and through Scots Gap. The River
Fort at Mitford joins the River Wansbeck. The waters flow from the
Harwood Forest area down the Fallowless Burn into the Fontburn
Reservoir and from Rothley Lake down the Eweyley Burn to the
Font.
Within the Wansbeck Riverside Park areas have
been use for industrial activities, such as quarrying of sand stone
for local use, blacksmith forge, limekiln and coal mining. Two
early river crossing points were located within this area,
Stakeford; the old road down to it is called Eastford Road, a
fording point only available when the tide was out, Now the
Stakeford Bridge stands at this location. Orchard Ford was located
upstream of Stakeford but no evidence remains.
In more resent times the eroding riverbanks
have been reinforced by wire gabions (wire boxes filled with stone)
and back filled, providing large grass areas on both banks. At the
river month a barrage was installed retaining a water body which is
used water activities.
Fishing permits
Fishing permits can be obtained from the
Council's Customer Services Point at Wansbeck Square, Station Road,
Ashington. For 2013 the cost of permits are:
Adult Day Permit £8.70 (£13.25 per week)
Junior Day Permit £4.65 (£8.20 per week)
Season Permit £23.25 (£11.70 for Wansbeck Angling Club
Members)
Public transport
To find out how to
get there by public transport view bus company information
here
Contact information
For further information or to report any incidents please
contact the County Council on 0845 600 6400.
QEII,
Bedlington and Wansbeck Riverside Country Parks Information
Leaflet
Other country parks in the area
