Park Hall Country Park is one of the city’s most important natural sites.
It was declared as Stoke-on-Trent’s only National Nature Reserve (NNR) in 2002 and the sandstone canyons are a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their geology.
How to get to Park Hall Country Park
Park Hall Country Park covers a large area in Weston Coyney, in the south east of the city.
Buses run along Park Hall Road and Weston Road and the park is a short walk from these roads.
There are car parks off Hulme Road, further down off Hulme Road and off Weston Road at Bolton Gate.
Some car parks have height barriers: please ring the number below if you need access for a tall vehicle. Please follow this link to find out how to get here.
Visitor Centre and Conference Room
Unfortunately the Visitor Centre and Conference Room was completely destroyed by an arson attack in November 2011.
The toilet facilities however remain intact and are available to visitors from 9am until 4pm.
Activities
Park Hall Country Park is a large site with woodlands, heathland and ponds.
There are a number of paths around the site, offering both easy and more challenging walks.
The park is very popular with dog walkers and fishermen use the lower pools. Toddler play equipment is situated beside the site of the former visitor centre.
The staff hold regular special events that are advertised in the local press, on this website and in public buildings. If you would like details of forthcoming events please ring the number below.
Wildlife and Geology
Park Hall is notable for its sandstone and pebble beds.
The sandstone was deposited in desert conditions in the Triassic period, about 230 million years ago. The pebble beds are the result of flash floods and by examining the way in which the pebbles have been deposited geologists can work out which direction the floods came from.
The sandstone canyons and heathlands are important nesting sites for kestrels and little owls and sand martins breed nearby. The heathland and woods provide a habitat for short-eared owls, skylarks, meadow pipits and partridge and the gorse is valuable for linnets.
The four pools on the west side of the park have a great range of birds. Insects include the black darter dragonfly (Sympetrum scoticum) which is uncommon in Staffordshire. A number of unusual beetles inhabit the damp, sandy areas including the green tiger beetle (Cicindella campestris).
History of Park Hall Country Park
Before the early 17th Century this area was very similar to Cannock Chase and was used as a deer park.
Coal mining and quarrying began in the 19th century and major gravel extraction started in 1939. Initially this extraction began without planning permission and caused severe damage to the landscape.
Later quarrying in the canyons was planned and woodlands were planted. Extraction work ended in 1970.
For more information on Park Hall Country Park, forthcoming events and general enquiries please contact our countryside staff on 01782 331889.
Country walks at Park Hall Country Park
The walks start in the four corners of the park and make their way to where the visitor centre used to be.
Each of the four routes allows visitors to choose one of three different walks ranging in distances; short (between 0.25 miles and one mile), medium (between 0.7 miles and 2 miles) and long (between 1.6 miles and 3.2 miles).
The four new routes are:
- Willots Wood Walk: Starts at Ford Hayes Lane, Bentilee, on the Bentilee Valley Greenway. The route follows a section of greenway before entering the country park and then takes a circular route around the wood.
- Wetland Walk: Starts at Park Hall Road, Adderley Green, by the gas holder. Parts of the route follow a path around Lady Corner fishing pool and on to the wetland area allowing visitors to see several pools.
- Pine Tree Walk:Start just off A520, opposite Weston Heights, on Bolton Gate Car Park. It then follows a circular path around the eastern edge of Pump Tree Wood and part of Skinners Canyon before travelling along the perimeter of the park.
- Park Hall Hill Walk: Starts on Parkhall Road, Weston Coyney, opposite Parkhall Primary School. The route takes visitors behind the hills through the reclaimed quarry area on to the visitor centre.
Please click here to download a map showing these walks.
The project has been funded through the Natural Connections scheme run by Natural England, which aims to give local communities greater access to the park and benefit from their environment.
The walks were developed with local primary schools - Gladstone Primary, Weston Coyney Junior, Parkhall Primary and St Maria Goretti.