New visitor facilities installed at Northumberlandia Country Park

Visitors to the stunning Northumberlandia Country Park will find it easier to park and explore the 46 acre site, thanks to improvement works taking place this month (March 2018).

Managed by the Land Trust and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, the country park is benefiting from a £10,000 grant from the Banks Community Fund, which is funding better access through car park improvements and new seating around the visitor entrance.

Nearly 90,000 visitors a year are currently attracted to the free community park. The centrepiece is a human landform sculpture of a reclining lady, designed by world famous artist Charles Jencks. Constructed by the Banks Group, using 1.5 million tonnes of rock, clay and soil, on land donated by Blagdon Estate, she is 100 feet high and a quarter of a mile long and features four miles of footpaths.

The quality and popularity of the country park was endorsed recently when the public voted it Northumberland Tourism’s Best Family Day Out. These improvements to car parking and facilities around the entrance area will allow even more visitors to enjoy the park.

Matthew Fitch, Northumberland Wildlife Trust site manager, said: “This grant has given us an excellent opportunity to improve the main entrance and car parking facilities at Northumberlandia. The works will provide a more clearly-defined, enhanced entrance for visitors and additional car parking space for busy days and events. We are extremely grateful for the support from the Banks Community Fund in making these improvements possible.”

Ian Kendall, North East Estates Manager with The Land Trust, added: “We know people feel happier and healthier when they are outdoors. These improvements are part of a wider plan to expand visitor opportunities at Northumberlandia, creating a fantastic free green space for all the community to enjoy.”

Jeannie Kielty, community relations manager at The Banks Group, said: “We’re extremely proud of how quickly Northumberlandia has become an integral part of the North East’s tourism infrastructure, and of how our work at the Shotton surface mine has enabled the delivery of a project that will be enjoyed by both local residents and visitors to the region for decades to come.

“These latest improvements to the site will hopefully encourage even more people to visit Northumberlandia and we’re very pleased to be continuing our support for this fantastic landmark’s development.”