Newlands Country Park selected as name for district’s new country park

Following a public vote, Wakefield Council can now reveal the name for its newest country park at the site of the former Welbeck landfill near Normanton.

Newlands Country Park, which was suggested 16 times by members of the public, has been selected as the new name. It received over 1,500 votes in our poll, almost half of those cast.

The name is related to the area where the park lies. The park occupies an area historically known as Newland Park and the Newland Estate. King John of England established the estate in the 13th century, where Newland Hall was later built in the 1700s.

Once an ancient township, the population of the area dwindled since the late 1800s. It was completely deserted by the 21st century.

Over 230 name suggestions were received from residents. Four names were shortlisted by the Council and then put to a vote among members of the public. Exactly 3,200 votes were cast over a two-week period.

The park will be built in phases. Initial work has focused on Council-owned land. Later stages will see more visitor amenities come to the site, which could include a visitor centre and toilet facilities.

Some of the park is already open to the public. As more land is released from the Welbeck landfill site, it too will be restored and made accessible to the public. In time, Newlands Country Park will offer 200 hectares of open green space for the public to enjoy.

Last year, members of the public gave their views on what they would like to see at the park. These included walking trails, attractive landscapes, and natural woodlands and grasslands.