Ok, so I was brought up in a city, and I’ve lived in cities most of my adult life, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I have any kind of natural aversion to the countryside. In fact, maybe it’ the dash of Romany that I’ve got in me that means that I’m rarely happier than when I’m mucking about in the country.
This is why I was so happy who discover Reddish Vale Country Park when Ana and I moved here. It really is something special.
Five minutes walk from the litter of Houldsworth Square is a relatively unspoilt stretch of countryside, with three lakes, a river running through it and some spectacular views of the railway bridge into Stockport. A place where you can (very nearly) get lost for an afternoon hunting for frogspawn or feeding ducks, like a refugee from an Enid Blyton novel.
I’ve seen so much at the park, from tiny baby ducks to beautiful sunsets in the early summer. It’s a genuinely inspiring place to spend time, and as someone that spends most of their life glued to a computer screen, it’s great to go somewhere away from the hustle and bustle, to sit and feed the ducks, get lost and just BE.
Want to head down there? Well this weekend could be a great time to experience the park for the first time. Stockport Greenspace Forum have organised a special event this weekend to celebrate the Olympics, the Paralympics, and some of the best green spaces in Stockport.
Want to know more about the event? Here’s the gist of it from the official site:
“Five batons, designed by Stockport school children, will set off from five different green spaces across Stockport. The batons will be carried along five routes, calling at participating green spaces along the way until all five batons meet up at Reddish Vale for the finale.”
The finale in question will feature a brass band, some face painting, and some Zorbing – although whether it builds on Jez’s idea for a water-zorbing race including celebrities still remains to be seen. Don’t hold your breath for that bit – but the rest should be quite fun.
Find out more information about the event on the official Pass the Baton site.
by Ben Stroud
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