Clock Face Country Park - Sutton, St.Helens
CLOCK FACE COUNTRY PARK in St.Helens is on the site of a former colliery that dates back to 1890 (see Sutton Beauty's Clock Face Colliery page). By the early 1960s the mine was producing over 160,000 tons of coal a year and employing over 700 men. However, in October 1965 the National Coal Board deemed the pit uneconomic and announced that the collery would close the following year. 
A jogger on a perimeter path in the Clock Face Country Park, St Helens
The site was reclaimed by St Helens Council as a community woodland and public open space in the late 1990s. Measuring 57 acres, the country park contains developing woodlands, footpath networks, meadow areas and a fishing pond that is leased to a local angling club. It’s linked to the Sutton Manor Woodland along the reclaimed mineral railway route.
The Clock Face Country Park can look beautiful when it snows
There is plenty of wildlife to spot if one looks close enough. Sutton Beauty's webmaster once jogged over the site at 5am and spotted 30 rabbits. I can discount suggestions that it was one hyperactive rabbit which I saw running about 30 times!
MAYPOLE WOOD
Adjacent to the site is Maypole Wood named after the neighbouring Maypole Farm and district, with Maypole originally being a hamlet in the township of Bold. Here the Forestry Commission planted thousands of trees in 2003 to form part of the ever expanding Mersey Forest. It's a developing woodland with trees, meadows, paths and wildlife.
Some of the young trees in Maypole Wood - photographed in February 2005
The trees in Maypole Wood are flourishing - photographed in May 2007
The Forestry Commission’s notices on the site state:
Welcome to this Forestry Commission community woodland. Whether walking the dog or riding through take a moment to relax amidst this mosaic of woods, grassland and wet meadow.
Watch finches on the seed heads or buzzards hunting rabbits. Listen for the “little bit of bread and no cheese” call of yellowhammer or just the buzz of bees amongst the wildflowers and trees. In the centre are willow beds where different weaving varieties are being grown.
Click Here for Mersey Forest's walking map fact sheet with more information on Maypole Wood.
GRIFFIN WOOD COMMUNITY WOODLAND
In the Autumn of 2006 consultation with the local community took place to incorporate local people's ideas into the woodland's design. Griffin Wood was chosen as the name because a griffin features in the legend of how nearby Bold got its name and a griffin also appears on the St.Helens coat of arms. Work was then undertaken to prepare the ground for the sowing of wild flower meadows and the planting of trees. Then in March 2007 thousands of trees were planted on what had been old farmland and a wood, with the development of the woodland expected to take several years.
The intention is to encourage wildlife to the area and complement the existing cluster of open access woodlands located nearby (see above). Boardwalks have been erected across ponds and an imposing sculpture (above) was created and this has become the focal point of the wood. Funding has been arranged for orchards, ponds, seating and more sculptures so it's very much work in progress.
A blog documenting the development of Griffin Wood has been produced which is well worth reading.
WHEATACRE COMMUNITY WOODLAND
The Forestry Commission’s notices on the site state:
Created from farmland and now open for everyone to enjoy, there is something for you here whatever your age. Kick a ball about, gather with your mates at a bench or just stroll through listening to the larks. Walk the dog or admire the wildflowers and ponds, butterflies and dragonflies. Or ride your horse or bike through to other nearby open spaces.
Click the buttons above for Clock Face Country Park Location information & a Photo Album. Plus a page on Clock Face Colliery.