Smithills Nature Trail Community Volunteer Group

To improve and restore Smithills Nature Trail to enable safe and stimulating access for all from the local and wider community. The Nature Trail Group is a community based volunteer group which formed in July 2024. It is aligned to the Friends of Smithills Hall (FOSH), a constituted group.

Partnerships have been established with Bolton's local councillors and relevant persons from Bolton Council. Partnership arrangements with the Woodland Trust, the TCV Conservation Volunteers and other expert conservation organisations under consideration to secure relevant expertise when necessary.

Smithills Nature Trail is located within Smithills Hall Country Park, a grade 2 listed country park, close to Smithills Hall which is a grade 1 listed building, the landowner being Bolton Council . It is one of Bolton’s areas of outstanding beauty and attracts local residents, the wider community, walkers, as well as visitors attending Smithills Hall and Smithills Farm. Historically, the nature trail with its numerous pathways was managed and cared for by a ranger; the woodland and waterways were managed, accessible pathways, wooden walkways and bridges were created to support accessibility and litter was removed. A wide range of wildlife could be regularly seen. The woodland provided the beauty of a bluebell woods and deciduous woodland, along with features such as old weirs, sluices and tunnels that have been documented to have controlled the flow of water for the local working mills.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1001442?section=official-list-entry
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1388279
https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/smithills-hall

6. Over recent years, the area has become neglected making the trail and its many paths inaccessible, excepting for people with good levels of agility. People are now regularly seen struggling to access the pathways, negotiating broken bridges and walkways and abandoning their walks. The nature trail therefore now requires conservation work including restoration and improvements to prevent further deterioration. Wheelchair and pram access used to be possible, however is no longer feasible. Accessibility will be possible following restoration work. Signage is required and some pathways require re-routing due to changes in the landscape and dangers. Large areas are covered with invasive species such as rhododendron, himalayan balsam, japanese knotweed and giant hogweed, all of which is destroying the habitat and reducing the native flowers e.g. bluebells within the woods. There can often be considerable litter within the woodland/waterways which has built up in areas over the years. Effective management is required to improve the opportunity to create improved wildlife habitat.

Objectives of project:
Identifying suitable partners with proven conservation credential and expertise together with community groups and individuals to support and coordinate the planned work.
Identify potential national regional expertise/ interest in the woodland and heritage issues.
Ongoing identification and reporting of woodland areas that pose a public safety risk.
Reinstating, re-routing and signage within the Smithills nature trail walks improving access for all including wheelchair, pram access.
Identify ways to keep the woodland free from litter.
Reducing and eliminating invasive species from the woodland
Identifying and maintaining key features of interest.
Managing the deciduous woodland.
Managing the water ways to create effective habitats
Reinstating the access to the fishing pond on the edge of the trail - there is potential disabled access which has never been used and is blocked.
Creating areas of interest and access for all.
Encouraging the participation of children, young people and the community.
Identifying the ownership of the woodland on the edge near temple rd. and influencing the owners to take action.

Work to Date:
Network of community volunteers created and links to relevant community groups established : Smithills Community Alliance, Bolton Council, Corporate Services, FOSH.
Accountability and communication channels established. Monetary management identified through the FOSH.
On site visits to identify areas of risk and where improvements are needed
Litter picking and balsam bashing undertaken.
An existing walkway in zone 1 refurbished using reclaimed timber. Equipment and nails used has been provided by volunteers to date.
Woodland management undertaken in zone 1 and 2.
A 30 metre dead wood hedge built by volunteers at a high risk area.

Funding Required to:
Improve, repair and replace wood walkways and steps to reduce the public safety risks related to falls. Materials and equipment needed.
Create fencing in areas of risk to prevent public injury.
Improve the green areas surrounding the nature trail by the removal of invasive trees such as rhododendrons.
Train volunteers in respect of first aid, woodland management and health and safety.
Environmental survey to include woodland and waterways is crucial but not yet costed.
Woodland management is required throughout the estate including removal of balsam and other non-native or invasive species, removal of rhododendrons and management of bramble required. Planting of suitable native trees, bushes, flowers, grasses and shrubs will be a workstream. Re-planting trees, flowers and grasses will be necessary.
Litter picking is necessary throughout and the management of dog waste remains problematic, consideration needed in respect to litterbins.
Throughout the woodland there is opportunity for forests schools, benches, picnic areas, creating wetland areas and woodland sculptures.
Wildlife will be protected and encouraged – expertise will be required.

We meet Weekly on Mondays between variable and variable .
For information about our next event, please contact us

Contact Details

Jane Carwardine

07769931943

whitstersjane@aol.com