The Council’s Parks and Countryside Section aims to deliver a range of good quality town parks, accessible countryside and well maintained areas of civic and open spaces for the people of Stockton. These areas need to cater for the recreational and educational demands of the local community and assist in improving the quality of life for residents, visitors and those who work in the Borough of Stockton on Tees.

The Borough is fortunate to have an existing network of formal parks, 4 large Country Parks, 12 Local Nature Reserves, a Community Farm and large areas of attractive open space. In addition to these facilities an excellent network of beck valleys and disused railway lines exist, providing good access opportunities from urban areas to the wider countryside. With so much to choose from, no-one is so far away from the countryside that they cannot experience its simple pleasures first hand.

Country Parks

Many sites offer formal facilities such as Visitor Centres with toilets and gift shops and all are accessible to disabled visitors. Teams of Countryside Rangers are based at each of the town’s main Country Parks to look after and manage them for conservation, education and recreation. Stockton’s Country Parks are run for the benefit of both wildlife and people and management for biodiversity is high on the agenda.

Each site provides a comprehensive environmental education programme for schools and other groups such as scouts and brownies, teaching youngsters about the environment using a fun and hands-on approach. Contact the individual site-based teams to request further information or an education pack. The health benefits of walking and other forms of recreation outdoors is now widely recognised and all Country Parks provide good networks of paths to encourage visitors to explore. Some sites also provide cycle routes and most offer orienteering courses.

Town Parks

A good network of formal local parks exists in Stockton, Billingham and Thornaby with many informal neighbourhood and recreational parks. The town’s formal parks contain a good infrastructure of recreational facilities such as play areas, tennis courts and bowling greens. Ropner Park is situated in the heart of urban Stockton and is the only example of a large Victorian designed park within the Borough.

The park was officially opened in 1893 and covers an area of approximately 18 hectares. The original design of the park has remained largely unspoiled following its opening and contains a number of impressive features such as the lake, avenue of lime trees and ornamental fountain. A large and popular bowls facility exists, along with a formal children’s play area.

The park is currently undergoing a major restoration project thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, whai should be complete in 2006. Other formal parks include Newham Grange Park 2 miles from the centre of Stockton, Littleboy Park in Thornaby, Village Park in Thornaby and John Whitehead Park in Billingham. For further information on Stockton’s town parks, contact the Parks and Countryside Manager on (01642) 526870 or e mail parksandcountryside@stockton.gov.uk.

The Parks, Open Spaces and Countryside Strategy outlines the aims and objectives of the Service and can be viewed on Stockton Council’s web site at www.stockton.gov.uk.

For information on the Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan, and to find out how it affects your area, contact the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust on (01642) 759900.