As part of the development of the Red Rose Forest, The Co-operative Bank celebrated its 125th anniversary by helping create four community woodlands.
These sites in the Urmston and Ashton areas of Trafford, at Brookhouse in Salford, at Amberswood in Wigan and Kenworthy in the Mersey Valley, cover over 250 hectares (equivalent to nearly 400 football pitches!) and are all designed to be valuable resources for people and wildlife.
This website is a resource for all those who wish to use these woodlands, and provides a detailed description of the vast number of animals and plants that have returned to these areas.
Woodland growth
Since the planting of the woodlands around the year 2000 the woodlands have prospered and have made a good start towards mature woodland habitats. The trees have established well and visitors can enjoy a woodland atmosphere.
As part of ongoing monitoring and management, during 2004 the Bank commissioned
a second round of surveys at three sites to gauge the impact of the evolution
of the woodlands on site biodiversity. At the outset of the programme, benchmark
surveys were undertaken so that such comparative studies could be made. The
2004 research found that, as yet, there has been no significant enhancement
in biodiversity beyond that detected in the surveys of 2000/1 These highlighted
that the woods are home to over 50 bird species of Conservation Importance,
with six UK Priority Species (Bullfinch, Grey Partridge, Linnet, Reed Bunting,
Song Thrush and Skylark) already sighted. The more recent research found that
species that prefer open grassland, such as the Skylark and Reed Bunting,
have shown a decline in numbers. However, insect and plant species have benefited:
Amberswood in Wigan is now regionally important for its population of dragonflies
with 15 species recorded. In particular, the Emperor dragonfly was recorded
and this is listed in the Northwest’s Biodiversity Audit Plan as very
rare within the region. The increase in orchid population at Brookhouse wood
in Salford is also impressive with ‘spikes’ increasing from 239
to 1,032 between the 2001 and 2004 surveys
The species lists recorded in 2004 are detailed under each site.
The Co-operative Bank and Biodiversity
The total area of land subject to biodiversity enhancement, as a result of Bank donations, is 50 times greater than the land occupied by its premises, and is now 696 hectares (as at end 2004). Projects range from reforestation in Uganda, to the introduction of the Bittern to Wigan Flashes. Follow this link for further details
Contact us
Amberswood
Alison Whitehead
Places Programme Manager
74-80 Hallgate
Wigan
WN1 1HP
Tel: 01942 821 444 Fax: 01942 820 347
Brookhouse wood
Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority
Manchester Chambers
11 Manchester Street
Oldham
OL1 1LF
Tel: 0161 911 3581 Fax: 0161 911 3584
Kenworthy wood & Oxbow wood
Mersey Valley Countryside Warden Service
Chorlton Water Park
Maitland Avenue
Chorlton
Manchester
M21 7WH
Tel: 0161 881 5639 Fax: 0161 881 6104
Email: wardenservice@merseyvalley.org.uk
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