Brickfields Woodland in Sutton, St.Helens
a) Introduction to Brickfields
In the Spring of 2006, Forestry Commission scientists assessed the site's suitability as a potential woodland. Both soil and water sampling took place and successfully passed all the scientific tests. The land currently consists of some neglected woodland, scrub and grassland and the intention is to create new woodland, wildflower areas and other habitats to expand Brickfields' biodiversity.
Dog walkers are presently the main users of Brickfields
b) History of Brickfields in Sutton, St.Helens
It was important for scientists in 2006 to thoroughly sample the site due to its past use. Brickfields consists of tracts of disused land comprising the old Sutton Manor Sewage Works, Sutton Manor Colliery Railway and a number of former quarries and landfills. These are Roughdales Quarry, Buff Quarry, Daisyfield and Red Quarry. The current landfill operations at Cory Lord St.Helens are expected to come into the scheme once filling operations end there.
By the mid-nineteenth century, the brick and tile works of the Roughdales Fire Clay Pottery Company were established on land to the east of the site.
Ordnance survey maps of 1891 and 1907 indicate an expansion of brick and tile works and associated clay pits. By 1925 a brick field occupied much of the central eastern part of the site and by 1956 there had been much expansion to the east (known as Daisyfield) and in the south-east. By 1982 clay extraction had been so extensive that the majority of the site was recorded as a disused brick pit.
Like the railway, the Sutton Manor Sewage Works were located in the south-west of the site but became disused by 1982.
c) Brickfields in Sutton, St.Helens as it is now
Looking out to the northwest of the site and the Cory Lord St.Helens landfill
Currently the site is little more than open fields with woodland, scrub and grassland crossed by the Pendlebury / Sutton Brook and populated in the main by dog walkers and rabbits. Tree species are fairly diverse and include hawthorn, alder, willow, birch, oak, ash, field maple, sycamore, holly, hazel, dogwood, viburnum and rose. Via the aptly-named Walkers Lane, Brickfields connects to the King George V playing fields (aka Sutton Manor Park) and then over Jubits Lane to the Sutton Manor Woodland, making for a very pleasant walk.
Sculptured stones in the centre of the Brickfields site
A particular feature of interest in Brickfields are the sculptured stones in the elevated centre of the site. There are no benches yet so the largest stone (pictured above) acts both as a place of rest and as a vantage point for observing the landfill operations to the north-west of the site, which regularly attract hundreds of gulls.
A goldfinch adding some colour to Brickfields in St.Helens
d) Brickfields Community Woodland Plans
In August 2007 forty documents were submitted to St.Helens Council by the Forestry Commission and their partners as part of a planning application for Brickfields Community Woodland that will create new woodland, wildflower areas and other habitats. (You can access them HERE and the 28 page Forest Design Plan (.pdf).
An aerial view of Brickfields in, Sutton, St.Helens - click for a larger view
The plans include several walking and cycling trails, bridges, nature areas and an eye-catching hill top feature that's intended to become a focal point for the site. Benches will be provided for walkers to take a break There will be "active management of habitats" as well as “enhanced recreation provision” plus new access routes with entrances secured by kissing gates that are intended to exclude motorbikes. The area will only become accessible from two large public entrances on its east and west sides, i.e. Chester Lane and Lea Green Road.
The list of tree, shrub and hedgerow species for planting is quite comprehensive and includes English Oak, Silver Birch, Rowan, Ash, Hazel, Wild Cherry, Hawthorn, Holly, Yew, Field Maple, Scots Pine, Dog Rose, Blackthorn, Common Buckthorn, Broom and Wayfaring Tree. A full list can be viewed HERE.
An artist's impression of the Brickfields project - click for a larger view
The North West Development Agency are providing £2.1 million of regeneration funding to transform the site, with cash also coming Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. An additional £302,976 has been awarded through the Integrated Countryside and Environment Plan (ICEP), which is being delivered by Mersey Forest.
The work on the site is now well underway. When completed the stakeholders envisage Brickfields becoming a valuable area of green space for Sutton locals and visitors to enjoy. This website will be keenly monitoring the project's progress.
Whilst the Woodland construction work is taking place, Brickfields is not accessible to the public.
Completion of the work is expected in March 2009.
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