Festival Park - Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. - Public Access Lands on Waymarking.com

Festival Park was the site of the second National Garden Festival of England. It was officially opened on May 7th 1986, by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Background to the site. (visit link)

The Festival site, together with Shelton and Etruria were key areas in the industrial development of the City of Stoke-on-Trent. Less than a decade before the ground vibrated to the sound of heavy machinery and the landscape was dominated by blast furnaces, forges and chimneys of the Shelton Steel Works. Half a kilometre south of this point is Etruria Hall (now part of the Moat House Hotel), former home of Josiah Wedgwood whose famous Etruria Pottery Works were once sited by the canal.

The City was given an unique opportunity to redevelop the derelict site by hosting the National Garden Festival of England. Over two million people visited the event in the summer of 1986. Thousands of exhibitions and activities were featured including seventy themed gardens and visitors were able to view the spectacle by railway and cable car.

The Garden Festival attracted new private investment into the City as well as creating a lasting legacy of green space for local people. Today the site is a combined leisure, retail and business park set in the Festival grounds for visitors and local people to enjoy."

The main site was completed in 1995, and is now known as Festival Park. It has been, for the most part, sympathetically treated by St. Modwen Properties who took on its management and development.

Much of the parkland, pools and trails have been retained as public open space, and are maturing very well. Some of the gardens, such as the Moorlands Heather Rock Garden and The Rocky Valley, survive with their planting scheme relatively intact.

Although most wooden structures have been left to return to nature, Festival Park is actively maintained by groundsmen. Some sculpture and a large Welsh slate water feature still remains, as does the full-size stone circle. The huge wooden suspension bridge across a wooded ravine remains and can still be used. The complex network of paths is maze-like, there is no signage, and it is very easy to get lost. Source: (visit link)

(visit link)

Estimated size of the public land (in regional measurement standard: hectares, acres, kms, etc.): 26 hectares Is there a trail system?: Yes If there is a trail system, please describe length, terrain, etc.: There are a complex network of paths but is maze-like and because there is no signage it is very easy to get lost. What points of interest are there?: There are vitas and many remains of the garden festival site. A huge wooden suspension bridge across a wooded ravine. Some sculpture and a large Welsh slate water feature. Gardens, such as the Moorlands Heather Rock Garden and The Rocky Valley, still remain, as does the full-size stone circle. What activities are available?: Hiking, dog walking, cycling Hours of accessibility?: Open all the time List of known hazards (cliffs, snakes, poison plants, etc.): Maze like paths mean it is easy to get lost as there is no signage. There are some steep paths and slippy areas. Bridges and uneven ground. Dogs Allowed?: Yes Is a permit/fee required?: No Please supply the website of the land if available: [Web Link] If a permit/fee is required please describe in detail how to get one, how much, etc.: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visitors are encouraged to supply a picture of either themselves or their GPS at the trailhead and/or signage of the public access lands - describe your experience there and what you saw - tell us why other folks should come visit!

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