Sutton Manor Woodland in Sutton, St.Helens
What’s astonishing about SUTTON MANOR WOODLAND is that until quite recently this 230 acre site, located in the south of Sutton, was a very productive colliery with enormous slag heaps (see Sutton Beauty's Sutton Manor Colliery page). The last coal mined at Sutton Manor Colliery was on Friday 24th May, 1991. British Coal claimed that the pit was unproductive having lost £23 million over the previous five years.
At its peak during the 1960s the colliery employed over 1,000 miners and ancillary workers and was annually producing over 300,000 tons of coal. However, all that’s left to remind visitors to the site of its illustrious past is the old National Coal Board gates in Jubits Lane.
By the end of 1992 the whole site had been flattened. Budge Mining (now known as UK Coal) then spent a couple of years with six staff in a mobile washroom washing the coal that they picked out of the spoil heap. Then in February 2001, the Forestry Commission leased the site from St Helens Council and after consulting with the local community put project Wasteland to Woodland into operation.
A mix of slow and fast-growing trees were chosen with the two millionth tree in the borough of St.Helens planted on the site in March 2005.
An astonishing eight miles of protective rabbit fencing was used when the tree-planting project began in 2001. But by February 2007, the trees were growing sufficiently for the process of removing the fencing to begin.
Removing eight miles of rabbit fencing in Sutton Manor in February 2007
The Forestry Commission notices on the site say:
Welcome to this Forestry Commission community woodland, Until the 1980’s this whole site was a thriving coalmine with huge slag heaps behind it. When the colliery closed the transformation of the site to open parkland took place.
Whatever your age there is something here for you. Kick a ball about; gather with your mates at a bench or just stroll through listening to the birds and admiring the wildflowers. Climb the hill to 82m above sea level for fine views. It’s your woodland for you to enjoy. For more information call 01606 882167. 
South-easterly views from Sutton Manor across to Cheshire
A path at the perimeter of the Manor Woodland runs adjacent to the M62 for almost a mile (see above). Despite the motorway noise, owls can be seen hunting at night and during the day buzzards and kestrels can be observed. Rabbits, hares and partridge can also regulary be seen.
The chimneys of Fiddlers Ferry power station are also clearly visible. Plus the 281 feet spire of St. Elphin's parish church in Warrington, the third highest church in England, can clearly be seen. On a good day football lovers can spot Manchester United's ground at Old Trafford and the Reebok stadium in Bolton! The Trafford Centre, Thelwall Viaduct, Frodsham Hill and Alderley Edge can also be identified. Every few minutes planes perform 180 degree banks over the Manor in preparation for landing at nearby John Lennon Airport and can be seen descending up until a few seconds before they land. Manchester Airport is also just about visible.
The Manor in winter with a woodland in the background
In November 2006 Sutton Manor Woodland was added to the six sites throughout the UK which had already been chosen to create and host a work of art as part of the Channel 4 Big Art Project. The structure is being sited at the apex of the former spoil heap and so will be visible for miles around. When the commission is completed in May 2008 it will serve as a regional icon for the north west.
A woodland at Sutton Manor with the M62 in the foreground
Visitors should be aware that the site is sometimes used by off-road bikers despite such use being illegal. Merseyside Police occasionally mount Operation Scrambler to clampdown on the youths who use their bikes to damage the environment and endanger the public and themselves.
Click the buttons above for Sutton Manor Location info, Photo Album and a page on the Channel 4 Big Art Project at Sutton Manor.
Other Photos On This Page: Header: The pond is popular with fishermen