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Description
The main feature of Astbury Mere Country Park is the large lake. Originally agricultural land, then a silica sand quarry, it was given over to recreational use in 1987 and a country park was officially opened in summer 1991. By 2025, most of the lake shore is used by an angling society and there is a paddlesports society based on the southern side. However a wide wheelchair friendly path has been built around the lake and reasonable views can be had of the water from many viewpoints. Set back from the shore are also areas of woodland with steps and unpaved trails.
The lake usually has a large number of ducks and waterfowl including Divlja Patka, Krunata Patka, Liska, Mlakuša, Ćubasti Gnjurac and at least 1 pair of Crvenokljuni Labud. Riječni Galeb usually gather close to the watersports centre (a popular place for children to feed the birds), and are occasionally seen with rings. In the summer hirundines including Bregunica are seen in reasonably number over the lake surface. Patka Žličarka and Glavata Patka are occasional in the winter.
In the wooded and scrubby areas surrounding the lake flocks of tits are common, especially Velika Sjenica, Plavetna Sjenica, Dugorepa Sjenica, warblers such as Zviždak, Brezov Zviždak, Crnokapa Grmuša, as well as most British thrushes and corvidae.
Details
Access
Astbury Mere Country Park is located in Congleton. There is a large pay and display car park next to the cafe, which is reasonably cheap (in 2025, 60p for 2 hours, £1.50 for the whole day). There is also a car park for the watersports centre and some nearby street parking that are used unofficially. Press P on the map for directions.