Woodland transformed on site of former coal mine

3 hours ago

Children from the area were among the first to explore the woodland trail

West Cumbria Rivers Trust Five children stand behind black wooden planks which are installations in a woodland trail. The planks detail information about the area's mining history — Children from the area were among the first to explore the woodland trail

A woodland trail, built on the site of a former coal mine, has opened following a four-year restoration project.

Walkmill Community Woodland, in Moresby Parks, near Whitehaven, was planted in the 1990s but had "largely inaccessible" footpaths and "very little" wetland habitat.

The West Cumbria Rivers Trust has since installed seven ponds, resurfaced walkways and reshaped 280 metres (918ft) of the River Keekle.

A memorial feature has been also built to celebrate the area's mining history, where visitors can see the outline of the old mine shafts as they would have appeared about 136 years ago.

Residents and local schoolchildren were among the first to see the unveiling of dozens of installations and a nature trail, at its official opening on Monday.

Among those there were Erin, eight, who said she "learned all about plastic and how it's bad for rivers and wildlife", while Sophia, also eight, said she "loves the wildlife and the mud", adding "we're really lucky to have Walkmill".

George, also eight, said he enjoyed "hearing the trees swaying in the wind" and best of all "the birds".

"I love how you can see so much nature here," he added.

Former miners Joseph Ritson and David Cradduck shared their memories of Walkmill as part of the project

West Cumbria Rivers Trust Former miners Joseph Ritson and David Cradduck stand in front of black wooden installations in a woodland. Joseph is wearing a blue waterproof jacket and a white woolly hat while Dave wears a black and white tartan fleece jacket and a green woolly hat. — Former miners Joseph Ritson and David Cradduck shared their memories of Walkmill as part of the project

Project manager Jenny Garbe, who works at West Cumbria Rivers Trust, said volunteers and the trust had worked to thin trees to let light in, and "re-meandered the River Keekle to create pools and riffles".

"All the footpaths have been resurfaced and made accessible with new bridges," she added.

The trust said it worked with firm Minerva Heritage and residents of Moresby Parks, who contributed their memories of Walkmill in the £2.3m project.

"Before the project began, Walkmill was a dense, uniform woodland planted in the 1990s, with a straight, concrete-lined river running through it, boggy and largely inaccessible footpaths, and very little wetland habitat," Garbe said.

Wildlife hides, pond dipping platforms and more education experiences have been planned for the future, the trust added.

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