|
Overlooking Kielder Village, the castle was built in 1775 as the hunting lodge
for the Duke of Northumberland. It is now the Kielder Castle Visitor Centre and
is the focal point for visitors to Kielder Water and Forest Park.
Prior to the 1920s, Kielder was predominantly open moorland, managed for grouse
shooting and sheep grazing with remnants of native upland woodland existing along
stream sides and in isolated craggy areas. The land was purchased by the government
in the 1920's and planted as forest to provide a strategic source of timber. It is
now England's largest forest at 250 square miles. A quarter of its area is open space,
including England's largest area of blanket bog. Kielder is also home to the biggest
remaining population of red squirrels in England.
Kielder Water is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity and it
was planned in the late 1960s to satisfy the rise in demand for water. It took two
years for the valley to fill with water completely once construction was completed.
With underground springs ensuring that the water level always remains high, regardless
of the prevailing climate condition, the reservoir provides a consistent source of
water to the north of England.
|
