The park is part of the old Alderwasley Hall Estate, former seat of the Hurt family. There are delightful woodland and riverside walks. Some of the woodland is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (S.S.S.I) and adjoins more National Trust woodland. There is little tarmac or concrete and no manicured grassland. In 1935 there were about 70 trees left on the park after the land had been felled. Now we have thousands of trees of many different species. The park started having tents in 1934 when people from the surrounding industrial cities and large towns came to Whatstandwell for relief from the tedium of everyday life which consisted of working long hours in factories and coal mines. Later on, more fortunate holiday makers came with early caravans and coach-built motor homes. Some brought their servants who slept alongside in small tents so as to be at the beck and call of their masters. In 1942 at the request of the War Department the park was used to proved holiday facilities for Polish Air force officers between tours of ops with the RAF. After the war, in 1950, the local authority attempted to order the removal of the caravas from the park, but were unable to do so because of the history of previous use as a holiday park.
