Rising Sun Country Park

Modern country park laid out on land reclaimed from Rising Sun Colliery which opened in 1906 and closed in 1969, Moor Edge Colliery (HER 2193) - now Swallow Pond Nature Reserve, Bewick Pit (HER 1161), Craster Pit (HER 1126), Rising Sun Quarry (1861-1897, HER 1156) and the Rising Sun Colliery Brickworks (HER 8495). The Killingworth Waggonway (HER 1083) forms the main footpath through the park. At the heart of the park is Rising Sun Farm. Scaffold Hill Hospital which was an isolation hospital opened in 1914 opened as Rising Sun Countryside Centre in 1987. Land reclamation began in 1971. Swallow pond was formed in 1953 by the collapse of underground mine workings. The pit heap is one of the highest points in Tyneside. Around 60,000 trees have been planted. The park is a 400 acre site with an organic farm, nature reserve, countryside centre, ponds, woodland and grassland. In 2005 it was awarded Green Flag status. LOCAL LIST