Upton Country Park

About

Step into a world of colourful nature as you stroll around Upton Country Park.

Located to the south of Pontefract, the park sits on a belt of magnesian limestone that runs from South Shields in the north to Nottingham in the south. This limestone has made the soil rich with lime resulting in the growth of colourful wild flowers.

The Upton Country Park area is important as the nearby South Elmsall Quarry is one of the UK’s best examples of visible Permian stromatolite reefs (stromatolites are the remains of blue –green algae that lived in the sea).

Take a walk around the park and experience these bright flowers for yourself. Keep an eye out for stunning orchids and butterfly species including speckled woods, common blues and brimstones. The rare lesser marsh grasshopper can be found here and watch the sky for hovering kestrel and singing skylark.

Want more adventure? Let the kids burn off energy at the adventure playground or join Upton Fishing Club and see what you can catch.

Many of the paths around the lake are wheelchair and pushchair friendly.

Access facilities

• Wheelchair Accessible