Aston-Le-Walls Pocket Park      Print This Page Aston-le-Walls is a long and narrow site which comprises a small area of woodland and two meadows. At the centre of the site is a disused railway cutting, which runs through the Pocket Park but is privately owned. The nature of the site with its sloping eastern edge gives an excellent outlook across the Dasset Hills countryside. The Pocket Park group has provided plenty of seating for you to sit and enjoy the views. The site has interesting signs at the entrance and within the Pocket Park to help visitors enjoy the site. There are swings for the children and a picnic area for the family. Access Point Entrances at each end of the site off Welsh Road towards Boddington. Rights of Way AA2 and AA3 are near the eastern entrance to the Pocket Park. Suitability Hard-surfaced footpath at both ends of the site for wheelchair users, but not available in central meadow. History Originally ear-marked for road improvements, the land was declared surplus by Northamptonshire County Council Highways. It was decided by the local community that a Pocket Park would be suitable for the site. The eastern half of the site had several mature Elm trees which had to be removed due to the Dutch Elm Disease, but smaller trees survived. The Pocket Park has the remains of fishponds which date from the medieval period. The western half of the site had been used for pasture for a number of years. The remaining north-western part of the site was used for stock grazing and no public access was allowed. Management Objectives To develop and maintain the site as a wildlife area for use by the local community including a school. Also to provide a place of interest for the whole of the village and encourage wildlife to the Pocket Park by the improvement of habitats. The site is traditionally managed with the introduction of local tree species to the woodland, hedging and grassland wildflowers. Bird and Bat Boxes have also been put up to encourage more diversity in the Pocket Park. Special Wildlife Elms, Alders, Damselflies. Contact Details For more information contact Sue Ball on 01295 660489. back to normal view     Established : 1994 Size : 1.5 acres/0.75 hectares Location : Aston Le Walls Map District/Borough : South Northamptonshire Grid Reference : Landranger Series No. 151 SP495512 (Main access). Owned By : Northamptonshire County Council and leased to Aston-le-Walls Parish Council for 21 years. Managed By : Aston-le-Walls Pocket Park Management Committee. Partners : Northamptonshire County Council, South Northamptonshire Council, Aston-le-Walls Parish Council, Countryside Agency, Rural Action. English Elm