The Countess of Chester Country Park covers 29 hectares, with the Land Trust owning 19 hectares and the NHS owning the remainder. A significant proportion of this diverse site was once a landfill remediated in the 2000s into a country park. Officially opened in 2014 by the Duchess of Cornwall the park has since become a popular community space providing many ecological and social benefits with a particular focus on health and wellbeing.
The park features a rich variety of wildlife including buzzards, butterflies, several wildflower meadows, a reed bed wetland and a nature reserve, alongside cultural highlights such as sculptures, memorials, and art trails.
A site within the centre of the park is used by the Life for Life Memorial Forest charity. This is a very peaceful space where people can have trees planted to remember loved ones.
The Land Trust, TCV and their team of volunteers, the NHS and the Friends Group work together in unison for the benefit of the park and its visitors. This is reflected in the park retaining Green Flag status since 2018. Additionally, the site holds the Chester parkrun – a free community 5km running event held once per week, which sees over 400 runners every Saturday.
Open access
The site has a small pay and display car park for visitors, accessed off the A5480 Countess Way, which is managed by the NHS Countess of Chester Hospital. From Monday to Friday, it costs £1 for two hours. Parking is free at weekends and in the evenings and for blue badge holders. There are 2 blue badge parking bays, the carpark is surfaced. There are no electric vehicle charging stations. What3Words:///kept.gold.angel
3 minute walk from The Little Owl bus stop and 14 minute walk from Bache train station
The flat topography of the site and the design of the paths and kissing gates make the site an ideal destination for people with limited mobility or mobility aids.
There are no toilets available on site
The Little Owl pub & restaurant located on Gawer Park, is approximately 5 minutes away from the Countess of Chester Country Park Car Park.
Picnics are welcome on site, please take all rubbish home with you
There is no children's play area on site
Well-maintained footpaths run throughout the site. Marker posts have been installed for people wishing to follow self-guided routes and there are now 5 self-guided routes through the park. Trails and the orienteering activity map are available to be downloaded below in the "Downloads" section and leaflets are available from the Rangers Cabin
Responsible cycling is permitted on site, please be considerate of pedestrians, there are some bike locking rails located near the car park
Well-controlled dogs welcome, please ensure your dog has good recall before allowing off-lead. Dogs must be on lead near water bodies to protect wildlife and prevent embankment erosion. There are bins available on site for dog waste
Valley Drive,
Chester,
Cheshire,
CH2 1UL
The 19-hectare site of restored landfill and adjoining wet meadow were handed over from the HCA to the Land Trust in March 2012. The brownfield landfill element of the site amounts to 11 hectares and was last used during the 1970’s. Planning permission for the development of the Country Park was approved in 2012. The Country Park was opened to the public in June 2014 and officially opened by the HRH the Duchess of Cornwall on 12th September 2014.
