The service, which manages ten country parks, greenways, and nature reserves throughout the county, has published its annual highlights. These sites play a crucial role in promoting nature engagement, health, wellbeing, and social connection.
Cllr Darren Cheshire, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Culture and Heritage at Warwickshire County Council, expressed pride in the parks, stating, “Our country parks are something we can be really proud of in Warwickshire, offering special places for residents and visitors to enjoy. These annual highlights show how the team continues to balance creating welcoming, vibrant visitor attractions and making the most of commercial opportunities, while protecting our precious wildlife. It's fantastic to see visitor numbers continuing to grow alongside our efforts to improve biodiversity.”
Visitor numbers across all sites saw a 9.5% increase, reaching a total of 1.15 million. The parks also welcomed 5,109 people to ranger-led events and 3,054 children on school visits, fostering environmental education for all ages.
Key events included the conclusion of Stage 4 of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men at Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. Kingsbury Water Park celebrated its 50th anniversary with 1,500 attendees.
The launch of Park Yoga at Kingsbury Water Park proved popular, with initial sessions attracting an average of 85 people weekly, peaking at 149.
Volunteers contributed significantly, dedicating 11,883 hours to conservation, maintenance, and community projects.
New facilities include a food and drink kiosk at Hartshill Hayes Country Park. Anglers at Kingsbury Water Park can now use a new website and book tickets via the Go Catch app.
Wildlife conservation remains a focus, with over 3,000 species recorded at Ryton Pools Country Park, highlighting the biodiversity of the county's green spaces.
The annual report underscores a busy year for Warwickshire Country Parks, supported by staff, volunteers, partners, and visitors.
