Built in the early 1970’s the Park has over 20 acres of open water across four linked lakes:
- The Balancing Pond
- The Environment Lake
- The Millennium Lake
- The Main Lake
The park also has 2 equipped children’s play areas, water play facility, showground, woodland, grassland, section of town-wide horse & pony route, sailing centre and café, orienteering trail and trim track.
Balancing Pond
The Balancing Pond is the first in the chain of the Fairlands Valley Lakes, although there is not a permanent pond/lake here. The pond is fed by water from the storm drain network, and therefore only truly resembles a pond after substantial rainfall.
The Balancing Pond is cleared every five years to ensure that it retains the maximum capacity at all times.
Environment Lake
Marginals, native planting, trees and log piles provide attractive habitats suitable for a wide range of wildlife, from wildfowl to raptors, from amphibians to insects, and squirrels to foxes. Relining of the lake allowed the islands to be reshaped thus providing secure habitats.
A new boardwalk, constructed from recycled plastic was installed in 2008, and provides a safe opportunity for visitors to be at the heart of this wildlife haven.
Children’s Play Area
The play area is situated immediately adjacent to the water park, providing varied play opportunities for all ages from toddlers through to teenagers.
Aqua Park
This is now closed and will re-open April/May 2012
The state of the art Aqua Play area at Fairlands Valley Park provides water based fun for children of all ages.
The area contains equipment which sprays, squirts, mists or sheets water into the play area, giving a fun play for youngsters in a safe and interactive environment. The design allows for features and games to be scaled up or down according to the ages of the children who are playing.
The aqua play area replaces the old paddling pools which had been a feature at Fairlands since 1972. This new scheme includes improved facilities for children and families using this area of the park, including a refreshment kiosk and public toilets.
Six Hills Way
Stevenage
Herts
SG2 0BL
Telephone: 01438 353241
Email: fairlands@stevenage-leisure.co.uk
Millennium Lake
This lake is used primarily for model boat activities. The lake also provides viewing platforms for visitors wishing to watch the boating activities or wanting to be close to the water to feed the wildfowl.
The island to this lake is a breeding area, providing nesting grounds for wildfowl.
Main Lake
The Main Lake is used for a wide range of activities including fishing, sailing, wind surfing, kayaking, power boating, and dragon boat racing.
Sailing Centre
The Sailing Centre comprises changing rooms and toilets, a workshop, a class/meeting room, offices, and café. The water sport activities, operating out of the Sailing Centre, are managed by Stevenage Leisure Ltd.
Within the Sailing Centre complex there is a café, which provides an opportunity for Park visitors to enjoy hot and cold food and drinks, seven days a week throughout the year.
Millennium Wood
2000 local school children planted 2000 native trees, in November 1999, to commemorate the new millennium.
The Great Green Bush Cricket, Tettigomia viridissima, was introduced to the site and has now successfully colonised the area.
This site is now managed and maintained by The Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust working in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council. Now after successfully managing the site for over twenty years over one hundred of these crickets can be found, and during June and July their mating call can be heard.
Many years ago the Great Green Bush Cricket Tettigomia viridissima could have been found at over a hundred sites around Hertfordshire, but unfortunately only this site now remains.
The South Field & Showground
The South Field is the more naturalised area of the Park, providing links to three conservation areas:
Shackledell Grassland and the Millennium Wood are situated within the South Field, and Whomerley Wood runs immediately adjacent to the western boundary of the South Field.
There is good access to the whole park for all visitors - pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, or those using public transport.
Vehicular access is possible from Broadhall Way, Six Hills Way and Shephall View and Fairlands Way, with car parking facilities at all four entrances.
Pedestrian access is possible from 11 points around the periphery of the whole park. There is also good, and safe, pedestrian access for those wishing to take in both the north and south sections of the park via two underpasses in Six Hills Way
The Park also contains two sections of cycletrack (one north/south the other east/west) within the northern section.
The residential areas bordering the park benefit from a bus service that provides excellent access to those who rely on public transport