It was one of England's first country parks. Originally it was an industrial area incorporating a mine, a mill and a mill pond. The River Etherow flows through the park and is the source for the mill pond. With the decline of industry, the mill pond and park have become a nature reserve and a place for people to spend time walking and taking in the peaceful surroundings.
Compstall Nature Reserve is a Шаблон:Convert region of the park which is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The area was designated an SSSI in 1977 for its biological interest, in particular its wide range of habitats including open water, tall fen, reed swamp, carr and mixed deciduous woodland. The site is also of considerable ornithological interest with water rail, an uncommon species, having been recorded.[4][5]
Etherow Country Park has many local groups associated with it. Etherow Country Park Sailing Club is a small sailing club which has good results nationally; in 2014 it finished 17th of 64 entrants in the Southport 24 Hour Race.[6] The Friends of Etherow[7] are a small local community group; other groups include the anglers and the model boaters.
