Information board with the history of Sutton Manor Colliery on one side and the Dream story on
the other - it was stolen in October but has now been replaced (picture taken Dec. 20th, 2009)

As reported in this blog post, a number of superb heritage benches were installed on the Manor in the early summer, made by Wilkinson Welding of Sutton Oak Drive. They'd been designed by Sutton Manor Primary schoolchildren, who'd worked with artist Bernadette Hughes and the Shining Lights Heritage Group. A heritage art trail was all set to follow during the summer but was suddenly postponed. Accusations were then made that the Forestry Commission, who manage the woodland, were refusing to allow its installation because they considered the artwork to be too representative of the site's past.

So I asked the FC for a statement on their position and on November 13th they reaffirmed their commitment to the heritage project but added that the question of responsibility for ongoing maintenance had to be addressed and its precise location agreed, prior to it being installed. The Forestry Commission also said that they were concerned about "rushing into installation" in an unplanned way. I was surprised by this comment, as the artwork was made three years ago and is, I understand, beginning to rack up storage costs.

The FC added that Dream had had such a dramatic impact that they were taking a fresh look at how they manage the whole site, so that they can sustain it as a high quality visitor destination. As they're responsible for much good work in Sutton, there is, I think, no reason to believe otherwise and let's hope that the heritage art trail will be installed on site a.s.a.p.

In November, Marian White of the Shining Lights Heritage Group received a nomination in 'The Unseen Hero' category in the 2009 St.Helens Tourism and Leisure Awards. During the same month, Sutton Manor primary school, who are attached to the Shining Lights centre, received an International School Award for their sterling efforts. Congratulations to both.

The glass effect bricks in Brickfields' countryside–style 'kissing' entrance gates are made out of a resin brick format with designs by local children and residents guided by artist Steve Des Landes

Just down the road from the Manor site, the redevelopment and extension of Brickfields woodland was completed in the Spring at a cost of £2.1m, roughly the same as Dream. As least most of the work has been done, as I understand that the landfill operations of Cory Lord St.Helens to the north-west of the site will be integrated into the scheme at some point.

Brickfields has been touted as a new community woodland which is a little misleading, as the main site between Chester Lane, Walkers Lane and Lea Green Road has existed for some years. However, the Forestry Commission have made considerable improvements to it and a new, smaller, woodland has been created on a second site between Chester Lane and Clock Face Road. Whilst walking in the woodland earlier this year, it dawned on me that a loop involving Brickfields, King George V Playing Fields, Sutton Manor Woodland / Dream, Clock Face Colliery Country Park and Sutton Mill Dam had now been created by the new initiative.

Photographs of the ice rink as part of Sutton Village Christmas organised by Sutton Smile!
Pictures sourced from Sutton Smile! website - contact me if you require a photographer credit

Sutton Village Church in Herbert Street appear to be prime movers in this initiative. Hopefully, we'll hear of similar exciting events taking place at other churches in Sutton next year under the Sutton Smile! umbrella. Coffee mornings and rummage sales have their place, of course, but hold little interest for young people. Am I right in thinking that the former independent Methodists are now the only church in Sutton to have a web presence? Since St.Anne & Blessed Dominic's website went offline earlier this year, I think that is an accurate statement and doesn't reflect well on the other Sutton churches who need to move with the times.