Delamere Forest

Delamere Forest Park
Deciduous woodland at Delamere Forest in Autumn
Delamere Forest within Cheshire
Type	Forest park
Location	Cheshire
OS grid	SJ547704
Coordinates	53°13′45″N 2°40′40″W / 53.2291°N 2.6778°W / 53.2291; -2.6778
Area	972 hectares (2,400 acres)
Elevation	c.75–175 metres (246–574 ft)[1]
Operated by	Forestry England
Open	8am–8pm (visitor centre)[2]
Parking	Six on-site car parks
Public transit access	Delamere railway station
Website	http://www.forestryengland.uk/delamere-forest

Delamere Forest is a large wood in the village of Delamere in Cheshire, England. The woodland, which is managed by Forestry England, covers an area of 972 hectares (2,400 acres) making it the largest area of woodland in the county. It contains a mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees.^[3]

Delamere, which means "forest of the lakes",^[4] is all that remains of the great Forests of Mara and Mondrem which covered over 60 square miles (160 km²) of this part of Cheshire. Established in the late 11th century, they were the hunting forests of the Norman Earls of Chester. Order was maintained under forest law. However this governance limited the agricultural potential of the area for centuries. It was not until ownership passed to The Crown in 1812 that the ancient ordinances were abolished. In 1924 the woodland came under the control of the Forestry Commission.

The area also includes Old Pale hill, the high point of the northern mass of the Mid Cheshire Ridge, and Blakemere Moss, a lake around 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) in length. Black Lake, a rare example of quaking bog or schwingmoor, has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and forms part of an international Ramsar site; Linmer Moss has also been designated an SSSI for its fenland habitat. The white-faced darter, a species of dragonfly rare in the UK, and marsh fern and white sedge, wetland plants that are rare in Cheshire, are found here.

Delamere Forest is a popular recreational area that is used by approximately 750,000 visitors each year,^[5] including walkers, cyclists, mountain bikers and horse riders. It is also an outdoor concert venue.