Anglers Country Park

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Wakefield

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Anglers Country Park

Short description of the intervention

"Anglers Country Park (and a local nature reserve) is dominated by a lake, surrounded by grassland, woodland and a wetland area." "This originally farmed landscape was dramatically changed when it became one of the deepest opencast mines in Europe, reaching a depth of 250 feet." Restoration work began after the mine closed, creating the country park. (Ref. 1, 2)

Address

Haw Park Lane
Wakefield
United Kingdom

Location

The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).

Area boundary

POINT (1.424403 53.644333)

POINT (1.423416 53.640822)

POINT (1.426763 53.635529)

POINT (1.435068 53.632819)

POINT (1.435647 53.639473)

NBS area image

Source of NBS area image

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Anglers+Country+Park/@53.6384047,-1.4365482,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x5ef20bb0a80b7f32!8m2!3d53.6333411!4d-1.4341449

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Previous derelict area

Public Greenspace Area

Other

Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS

Website of the intervention

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/sport-and-leisure/parks-and-countryside/p…

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

pre-1990

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

pre-1990

End date of the intervention

unknown

Present stage of the intervention

Completed

2. Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

Part of the council's industrial land reclamation to rectify areas damaged by coal mining (and other industrial activities), thus creating a country park and a haven for wildlife. (Ref. 3, 4, 5)
The two-mile path around the lake is both wheelchair and pushchair friendly and electric mobility scooters are available free of charge for use within the park. (Ref 12)

Quantitative targets

Creating a 30 hectare lake. (Ref. 2) 120 000 visitors per year. (Ref. 9)

Monitoring indicators defined

Number of visitors: 120 000 visitors per year. (Ref. 9)
hectares of lake (Ref 9)

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Green space creation and/or management

Regeneration, land-use and urban development

Conversion of former industrial areas

Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development

Water management (SDG 6)

Stormwater and rainfall management and storage

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Enabling opportunities for physical activity

Improving physical health

Creation of opportunities for recreation

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Species-focused

What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?

Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)

Restore valued species

Restore ecological connectivity

Implementation activities

Restoration works began with the creation of the lake which took 2 years to complete (1982-1984), works included “275 million gallons of water were pumped from the disused Walton Colliery”. (Ref. 2)
Creation of a local nature reserve: managed to protect and improve its habitats for the benefit of wildlife. (Ref. 1)
Since the opening of the park, "it has become one of the most important inland bird sites in Yorkshire, the lake being a haven for migratory birds, particularly wintering wildfowl". (Ref. 2)
Visitors enjoy the open rolling landscape, enjoy walking, picnicking, wildlife and bird watching as well as the new Room on the Broom adventure trail. (Ref 11)

Type of NBS project

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Ecological restoration of ecosystems

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Blue infrastructure

Lakes/ponds

In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Vegetation Type

Grass

Trees

Please specify how many trees were planted

Unknown

Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS

Visitors enjoy the open rolling landscape, enjoy walking, picnicking, wildlife and bird watching as well as the new Room on the Broom adventure trail. (Ref 11)

Amenities offered by the NBS

Benches and drinking water stations

Educational or biodiversity trails

Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)

Other

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Provisioning services

Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Cultural services

Recreation

Mental and physical health and wellbeing

Scale

Spatial scale

Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality

Citizens or community groups

Marginalized groups

People with functional diversities

Please specify other local relevant strategy

Wakefield Council's 'Leisure, recreation and open space local plan', which takes into consideration the district's country parks. (Ref. 6)
Wakefield Council's 'Green infrastructure plan (2010)' includes GI projects (e.g. the investments in industrial land reclamation). (Ref. 5)
Part of the Council's investment in industrial land reclamation, creating e.g. country parks (i.e. Anglers Country Park), for environmental benefits. (Ref. 5, 3)

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Government-led

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

Reclaimed former colliery/ mineral extraction site, managed by the Council. (Ref. 1, 2, 6)
Management of the site, e.g. the local nature reserve includes volunteers. (Ref. 1)
The Friends of Haw Park Wood and Wintersett (which help the Countryside Officers (rangers) to manage the site). (Ref. 1)

Key actors - initiating organization

Local government/municipality

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Please specify other Key actors - Other stakeholders involved

Volunteers. (Ref. 1)

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

Local government/municipality

District/neighbourhood association

Citizens or community group

Other

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used

Dissemination of information and education

Co-management/Joint management

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Yes

Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"

Part of the Council's investment in industrial land reclamation, creating e.g. country parks (i.e. Anglers Country Park), for environmental benefits. (Ref. 5, 3)

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Mandatory (based on policy)

Intervention is mandatory

Environmental regulation

Enablers

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

Wakefield Council's 'Green infrastructure plan (2010)' includes GI projects (e.g. the investments in industrial land reclamation). (Ref. 5)
And the 'Greenspace Strategy for Wakefield (draft) 2016'.

Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section

Wakefield Council's 'Leisure, recreation and open space local plan', which takes into consideration the districts country parks. (Ref. 6)

If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.

City specific green space strategy or plan

Other

Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project

Yes

Please specify

The Friends of Haw Park Wood and Wintersett (which help the Countryside Officers (rangers) to manage the site). (Ref. 1)

Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project

Unknown

Co-finance for NBS

Unknown

Co-financing governance arrangements

Unknown

Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?

Unknown

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

Unknown

What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?

Unknown

What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?

Unknown

Please specify cost savings

Unknown

Please specify total cost (EUR)

“Over the next few years, the greenspace network maintained by the Council will undergo a programme of rationalisation for greater sustainability against a backdrop of potentially large budget cuts. However, a redistribution of greenspace carried out strategically and permitting reinvestment could potentially maintain or increase levels of public access to greenspace and should improve quality.” (Ref. 6)

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Yes

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of labour

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)

Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Business models

Green densification model

Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)

Vacant space model

Please specify other environmental impact

Creation of new semi-blue area. (Ref 2)

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

5. Innovation

Type of innovation

Social

Cultural innovation

Novelty level of the innovation

The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation

Please specify novelty level of the innovation

Part of the Council's investment in industrial land reclamation, creating e.g. country parks (Pugneys Country Park and Anglers Country Park), for environmental benefits. (Ref. 5, 3)

Replicability/Transferability

The innovation is transferred to new initiative(s) with substantial adaptation

Please specify Replicability/Transferability

Reclamation of another mine site which closed in 1981, and work began in 1989: creating Lofthouse Colliery Nature Park. (Ref. 8)

6. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Green space and habitat

Increased green space area

Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales

Increased number of species present

Increased protection of threatened species

Restoration of derelict areas

Other

Description of environmental benefits

Creating a 30 hectare lake. (Ref. 2) 120 000 visitors per year. (Ref. 9)
Restoration works began with the creation of the lake which took 2 years to complete (1982-1984), works included “275 million gallons of water were pumped from the disused Walton Colliery”. (Ref. 2)
Creation of a local nature reserve: managed to protect and improve its habitats for the benefit of wildlife. (Ref. 1)
Since the opening of the park, "it has become one of the most important inland bird sites in Yorkshire, the lake being a haven for migratory birds, particularly wintering wildfowl". (Ref. 2)
Birds: common species like swans, coots, mallard and pied wagtail as well as the more unusual osprey, widgeon and yellow wagtail (Ref 11)

Economic impacts

Unknown

Description of economic benefits

Around 120 000 visitors per year. (Ref. 9)

Please specify other environmental justice issue

Since the opening of the park, "it has become one of the most important inland bird sites in Yorkshire, the lake being a haven for migratory birds, particularly wintering wildfowl". (Ref. 2)
Birds: common species like swans, coots, mallard and pied wagtail as well as the more unusual osprey, widgeon and yellow wagtail (Ref 11)

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Achieved impacts

Indicators

Industrial land reclamation: creating a country side park, including a 30 hectare lake, surrounded by e.g. grassland, woodland, and wetland. (Ref. 1, 2, 5)

Around 120 000 visitors per year. (Ref. 9)

Environmental, social and economic impacts

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Regeneration, land-use and urban development

Water management (SDG 6)

Analysis of specific impact categories

Job creation: The NBS created ...

Voluntary work opportunities

Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...

Other

Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?

No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project

COVID-19 pandemic

Only car park and toilets reopened other amenities are closed as of 28 September 2020 (Ref 10)

Methods of impact monitoring

Process of recording NBS impacts

No evidence in public records

Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS

Unknown

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Impact assessment mechanism

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

Green Flag field assessment (the Anglers has been awared Green Flag status, recognized as one of the best parks in the country). This included an audit of quality and quantity of greenspace in 2010. (Ref. 6, 1)

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

No evidence in public records

Citizen involvement

Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation

Unknown

Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment

“A greenspace survey was carried out in 2010. A questionnaire was mailed out to 3,600 randomly selected households in the district. The questionnaire asked in-depth questions about opinions and usage of greenspace. A postcode was also requested, which enabled responses to be mapped on a Geographic Information System (GIS) and to be analysed spatially. There were 479 responses, 81% of which provided a postcode.” Findings included: “Respondents favourite greenspaces were (in order) Newmillerdam Country Park, Thornes Park, Pugneys Country Park and Anglers Country Park”. (Ref. 6)

Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation

Unknown

Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment

Unknown

7. Sources

References

Web links relevant to the intervention

List of references

Ref. 1. Wakefield Council (n.d.) Anglers Country Park. Parks and countryside. Information obtained: 2017-07-11. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/sport-and-leisure/parks-and-countryside/parks/anglers-country-park [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 2. Friends of Haw park wood & Wintersett (2017) Anglers Country Park. Information obtained: 2017-07-11. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 3. Wakefield Council (n.d.) Land Reclamation. Consultation Portal. Information obtained: 2017-07-11. Source: http://consult.wakefield.gov.uk/portal/spatial_policy/ssplp/ssplp?pointId=1338544405732 [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 4. City of Wakefield Metropolitian District Council (n.d.) Four easy to follow walks from the Waterton countryside discovery centre. Source: http://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/YS-wake/cms/pdf/Walks_Waterton_Trail.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 5. Wakefield Council (2010) Wakefield Green Infrastructure Plan. Oct. 2010. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/planning/planning-policy/information-monitoring/green-infrastrcture-plan-october-2010.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 6. Wakefield Council (2015) Leisure, recreation and open space local plan. Evidence base report. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/planning/planning-policy/local-plan/leisure-recreation-open-spaces/oct-2015/lros-submission-evidence-base-report.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 7. Wakefield Council (n.d.) Water resources. Outdoor water sports and leisure. Consultation Portal. Information obtained: 2017-07-11. Source: https://wakefield.objective.co.uk/portal/spatial_policy/lros/lrosadopt/lrosadopted?pointId=s1486982318300 [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 8. Wakefield Council (2015) Lofthouse Colliery Nature Park: Management Plan 2015–2020. Source: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/sports-leisure/parks-countryside/lofthouse-colliery-nature-park-management-plan-2015-2020.pdf [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 9. BBC (2014) Nature Walks. Bradford & West Yorkshire. Information obtained: 2017-07-11. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/content/articles/2008/03/17/walk_through_time_anglers_country_park_experts_feature.shtml [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 10. Experience Wakefield (2020). Anglers Country Park. Source: https://www.experiencewakefield.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&venue=1993390 [Accessed 28 September 2020]
Ref. 11. Welcome to Yorkshire (n.d.) Anglers Country Park. Source: https://www.yorkshire.com/view/attractions/wakefield/anglers-country-park-125008 [Accessed 28 September 2020]

Comments and notes

Additional insights

In 1974 it was originally farmed landscaped which was turned into a deep opencast mine. The mine closed in 1982 and restoration work began, e.g. creation of the lake; which was completed in 1984. (Ref. 2) The opening of the park was in 1986. The country park and the lake include a local nature reserve and management is ongoing in the park. (Ref. 1, 2)The work seems to be complete based on some accounts (Ref 10) but the year of completion is unknown.

Pictures of the NBS

/sites/default/files/nbs/images/anglers-park-768x431_ref_2.jpg

Public Images

Anglers Country Park

Wakefield Council, retrieved 08/29/2018 from Kate Lahive