Caldy Nature Park

Name: Caldy Nature Park

Address: Caldy Valley Road, Huntington

Size: 12 Hectares

Description and Brief History

Caldy Nature Park

Caldy Nature Park was founded in 1991, when the land was adopted by the City Council from housing companies building around the Valley, for use by the public as an open space, and for the benefit of wildlife.  With the help of a group of people from the local area (the Friends of Caldy Nature Park (external link)), the basic layout for the Park was designed and created.  This included creating footpaths, sluices, and bridges, as well as planting wildflowers and trees. 

The Park is designated an SBI (Site of Biological Importance) which is a regional level of protection where planning processes are concerned.  It has a wide variety of aquatic habitats; ponds, streams and wetlands, of which Caldy Brook is the source.  Terrestrial habitats include a wildflower meadow and butterfly garden, with a small wooded area and scattered trees, and hedgerows along the boundaries, as well as scrub areas.  There is a series of footpaths guiding people through the various areas.

Outline Brief

It has been a long time since any major improvements to the Park have taken place.  The footpaths are overgrown, signage and bridges are in need of replacing and the Park needs to be made suitable for people of all abilities.  The Friends of Caldy Nature Park have long since held an aspiration to have an entrance feature for the Park, as it is easily missed when driving along Caldy Valley Road.  All of these ideas have been brought together in a draft masterplan (pdf 5Mb). 

We have funding from various sources;

• £20,000 generated by commuted sums from housing development within the area
• £5,000 from the Friends of Caldy Nature Park funds
• Contribution from Chester City Council Countryside budget
• A £50,000 WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Network) (external link) funding bid has been successful. WREN are distributors of the Landfill Communities Funds of Waste Recycling Group

Key improvements will be:

• New entrance feature to welcome the user
• Pond clearance for biodiversity improvement
• Improved access for users of all mobilities
• Artwork throughout the Park
• Improved carparking arrangements
• Footpath improvements (widening and replacing degraded surfaces)
• Drainage in strategic areas to reduce flooding
• New balancing pond to hold water during wet periods, increase the wetland area and provide additional wildlife habitat
• Improved biodiversity
• Improved signage throughout
• More dog bins and existing replaced with upgraded model
• Footbridges to be strengthened/rebuilt

All proposed work to the park will be in keeping with the character of a nature park and will consider the ongoing management and maintenance implications that will result. The works will be spilt into two phases, with any wildlife-sensitive works taking place from October 2009.

Consultation

Some consultation has already taken place at the Caldy Valley Centre and Bishop’s High School library to ask for people’s ideas and comments on the draft masterplan.  We are working closely with The Friends of Caldy Nature Park and Huntington Parish Council.  There has also been a presentation at Boughton Heath, Huntington and Vicar’s Cross Area Committee and at a Great Boughton Parish Council meeting. 

Chester City Council’s Access Officer has also assessed the site and written recommendations in an Accessibility Assessment Report for Caldy, which will form the basis for improvements to site accessibility.

SEEN (Sustainable Environmental Education Network)

We have carried out consultation through SEEN (Sustainable Environmental Education Network) with Bishops High School, Dee Banks School and Boughton Heath Primary School. This work formed part of the funding bid to WREN and was integral to it’s success.  We hope also to consult further with these schools and with Huntington Primary School in the 2008 Autumn term.  This will involve looking at biodiversity through workshops and appointing an artist to work with the schools and develop ideas for the artwork at the main entrance and in signage throughout the park. The artist has been appointed through consultation with the Friends of Caldy Nature Park and Council Officers.

Key Dates and Proposed Timetable

October 2008

• Meet with Boughton Heath Primary School, Huntington Primary School and Bishop’s High School  to discuss how to take consultation forward.

November 2008

• Friends of Caldy Nature Park met shortlisted artists and selected local artist Colin Spofforth.
• Carry out initial workshop with participating schools.

December 2008

• ARTIST/Biodiversity Officer to go into schools and carry out additional workshop to gather ideas for artwork.

January-April 2009

• Formulate and design artwork

February 2009

• Appoint contractor to carry out works on site

April 2009

• Phase One works begin on site

September 2009 

• Phase Two works begin on site

October 2009 

• Phase Two works complete

November 2009

• Opening ceremony on site

For more information or if you would like to tell us what you think about the project please contact us, details below.

Contact Details

Countryside & Landscape Services

Email - countryside@chester.gov.uk or landscape@chester.gov.uk

Opening hours - 8.45am - 4.45pm

Phone number - 01244 402397

Fax - 01244 310071

Address - Countryside Service, Green Space Team, Culture & Community Directorate, Chester City Council, The Forum, Chester, CH1 2HS