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How to find us Yarrow Valley Country Park, Off Birkacre Road, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 3QL Our Car Parks Café, Information Centre and Main Car Park – Post Code PR7 3QL Our café, information centre and main car park is located to the south west of Chorley and is sign posted from all major road junctions in the borough. Turn off the B5251 (Coppull Road) onto Birkacre Road. The car park entrance is straight ahead. A height restriction barrier is in place, tall vehicles should turn left at the main entrance and park on the overspill car park. Cycle parking is available. Duxbury – Post Code PR7 4AT Following signs to Duxbury Golf Course, turn off the A5106 (Wigan Road) into Duxbury Hall Road. Follow the single track road to Duxbury Golf Course, where the car park is on your right. Euxton – Post Code PR7 4DD Located just off the A581 Southport Road Dob Brow A small car park located off Yarrow Valley Way on Dob Brow All our car parks are free of charge Public Transport Yarrow Valley Country Park is easily reached by public transport By Train. Chorley train station links Chorley to Manchester, Preston, Bolton and Blackpool. Chorley Interchange (for bus services) is located across the road. Euxton Balshaw Lane railway station links Chorley with Blackpool and Liverpool By Bus. The Birkacre area of the park, including the Visitor Centre is easily accessible by bus with bus stops located on Coppull Road. It is a 5 -10 minute walk along Birkacre Road to the Visitor Centre. Bus number 362 (Chorley Interchange to Wigan) operated by Arriva and numbers 1 and 2 (Chorley Interchange to Coppull) operated by Stagecoach stop on Coppull Road. Bus numbers 125, 126 (Chorley Interchange to Adlington and Bolton) and 3 and 3A (Chorley Interchange to Adlington & Blackrod) pass the Duxbury area of the park stopping on the A6 (Bolton Road). Bus number 16 connects the Euxton area of the park with Chorley Interchange. Yarrow Valley Country Park General Information How to contact us Yarrow Valley Country Park is owned and managed by Chorley Council Telephone: 01257 515151 Email: [email protected] Website: wwww.chorley.gov.uk/yarrowvalley In writing: Parks and Open Spaces Chorley Council, Civic Offices, Union Street, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 1AL We can provide all information to you in large print, on audio tape or in your own language. Please telephone: 01257 515151 Euxton House This area of open grassland is located on the upper plateau of the Yarrow Valley. Why not park on our Euxton car park to explore the area? A short circular walk follows the River Yarrow through Euxton Wood or you could venture along the valley bottom to Birkacre. Big Wood An area of ancient woodland situated on the steep valley sides of the River Chor, a tributary of the River Yarrow. The woodland has remained relatively untouched despite past industrial activities in the area. Big Wood has been designated as a biological heritage site along with Copperworks Wood and Wallets Wood due to its ecological value. The beech woodlands provide a spectacular show of autumn colour. New footpaths were laid out through the woodland in 2009, as part of a major environmental enhancement scheme in the area. Lower Burgh Meadow A large area of managed grassland created on the site of a former landfill site. The meadow is a riot of colour in the summer months with many wildflowers including vetches and species of orchids, attracting a host of insects. The meadow is well known for its butterflies including the meadow brown, gatekeeper and large and small skipper and moths including the striking day flying burnet moth with its red and black markings. Notable bird species include skylark, grasshopper warbler, sedge warbler and reed bunting, with buzzards often seen mewing above. Keep a look out for roe deer particularly around the margins of the meadow. The area is also home to the great crested newt which is protected by law. A network of hard surfaced footpaths cross the meadow which is also home to Chorley and South Ribble Model Aircraft Society. Birkacre This area of the park lies in Coppull. It is an area of wooded parkland regenerating on old coal mine spoil heaps. This area is a good place to spot chiff chaff, bullfinch and willow warblers as well as many common birds and rabbits. The Birkacre area also includes a number of lodges making up a large and ecologically diverse biological heritage site. A number of picnic areas are located throughout the area and a natural play area was created in 2011. Big Lodge The former mill lodge forms the main focus of the country park and a venue for fishing and canoeing. Home to many swans, geese and ducks. The spring months are a good time to try and catch a glimpse of great crested grebe performing their elaborate courtship display. Keep an eye out for common terns returning to breed on the raft located on the lodge in June. On summer evenings you may catch a glimpse of the four species of bats that feed over the lodges. Winter is the best time to view visiting waterfowl including tufted duck, goldeneye and goosander. Yarrow Valley Country Park Dob Brow Pastures Dob Brow Pastures is an area of damp grassland running alongside the River Yarrow, parallel to Yarrow Valley Way. Kingfishers are regularly seen on the river and keep a look out for wintering green sandpiper. It is also a good spot for the banded demoiselle damselfly. Look over the river for sightings of roe deer on Parkers Field. A number of picnic benches are scattered through this section of the park, they can be accessed via the parking spaces on Dob Brow. Plock Wood A mature oak and sycamore woodland, the northern edge of which adjoins Lower Burgh Way and the Eaves Green residential area of Chorley. Visit in spring for an extensive ground flora of bluebells and ramsons. Small Lodge The former reservoir is located behind the visitor centre and is used for fishing. Coots and moorhens often breed in the area. Look out for common toads in the spring as many make their way down from Lower Burgh Meadows to breed in the lodge. Burgh Wood Burgh Wood is another of the country park’s ancient woodlands with a rich ground flora of bluebells, ramsons and wood anemones. Roe deer are regularly seen at the top of the wood along the boundary fence. The wood is home to a host of woodland birds including all three species of woodpecker, the green, lesser spotted and greater spotted, nuthatches, jay and tawny owls. Top Lodge The Top Lodge is a former balancing pond for the Big Lodge and is now managed as a nature reserve. A viewing platform looks out over the reed bed which provides cover for snipe, water rail and reed bunting. Grey heron and kingfisher are regularly seen in the area. Weir Birkacre weir is a spectacular feature of the country park and is now accessible to all. A viewing platform juts out from the footpath and is worth a visit, especially following periods of heavy rain. The weir was built to raise the water level in the River Yarrow and allows water to flow into the lodges via a series of water courses. The fish ladder to the side of the weir was built in 2002 to allow fish to migrate upstream, keep an eye out for the sea trout in September and October. Dipper and grey wagtail can often be seen feeding on the rocks below. Drybones Wood Area of ancient oak and beech woodland with a rich ground flora of bluebells, ramsons and wood anemones. Follow the footpath alongside the River Yarrow from Birkacre through Drybones Wood to Duxbury Woods. On route you will pass remains of the area’s industrial past, including coal mine shafts. Duxbury Woods A spectacular ancient woodland home to many species of woodland birds such as nuthatch, jay and tawny owl. The woodlands are a real treat in the spring when the bluebells are out. Explore in the autumn to see the variety of autumn colours and the many species of fungi. Why not park on the Car Park at Duxbury to explore the woodland. Footpaths run along both side of the river and link through to Birkacre. Toilet facilities and a café can also be found in the golf course club house. Look out for the grave of Bevis the dog of Duxbury Hall on your walk. Ellerbeck One of the least visited areas of the country park, the area is regenerating on former coal mining spoil heaps. An excellent site for wildflowers in the summer months. Roe deer are regularly seen as are many species of birds, including whitethroat and pheasants. Welcome to Yarrow Valley Country Park Introduction Yarrow Valley Country Park was first established in 1987 on land previously used for bleaching, dyeing, calico printing and mining. Once industrial activity had ended, the site lay derelict for some 30 years until in the late 1980’s Chorley Council were successful in obtaining derelict land grants to carry out much needed reclamation works. The council was then able to restore former mill lodges, lay out footpaths, car parks and picnic areas creating a recreational resource that was intended to maintain the inherent rural and natural quality of the valley. Other areas were regenerated later adding to the country park, which now extends to over 300 hectares. Regeneration continues, a £500,000 major environmental enhancement scheme at Big Wood and Copperworks Wood was completed in 2009. With sensitive restoration and management the park now constitutes an important wildlife resource both within the district and county, with 14 biological heritage sites accounting for 60 per cent of the park. The most important ecological feature of the park is the presence of large areas of mature ancient woodland. Yarrow Valley Country Park attracts thousands of visitors each year, including many sporting and community groups and provides a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities. History The country park has a rich and fascinating history, much of which is well documented. Prior to the 14th century farming was the main livelihood, but from the 1300’s industrial activity began and developed particularly around the Birkacre area. The Yarrow Valley is also well known for its mining heritage with coal mines at Drybones, Birkacre, Duxbury and Ellberbeck. The main reason for the establishment of industry in the area was the good flow of water in the River Yarrow. The diversity of industry found at Birkacre was also influenced by the proximity of coal near the surface, a damp climate and soft water essential for textile manufacture. The textile industry was at its peak in the 1700’s and 1800’s with the well known industrialist and inventor Richard Arkwright leasing a mill at Birkacre. Duxbury Woods once formed part of the Duxbury estate, which appears to have been acquired by the Standish family (c. 1300) and stayed in their possession until 1898. Captain Myles Standish who sailed to the new world with the Pilgrim Fathers was associated with Duxbury, and called his new estate in America, Duxbury. Many remains from the past can still be seen around the country park. If you wish to learn more about the history of the area, pick up a leaflet from the information centre or visit our website. Café and Information Centre The building was opened as a Visitor Centre in 2003 thanks to Heritage Lottery funding. In 2013 it was refurbished and opened as a café and information centre. The information centre houses displays about the park and is well stocked with information leaflets. Please come in and have a browse. The café core hours are 9.30am – 4.30pm daily. These hours are extended in the summer months and when events are taking place. Toilet Facilities Toilets including accessible and baby changing facilities are located at the cafe and information centre during opening hours. Ranger Service The information centre acts as a base for Chorley Council’s rangers. The rangers patrol the borough’s parks and open spaces, provide information and advice to visitors and coordinate conservation management of the site. They also run a year round programme of events including guided walks and young people’s activities. Play Area An exciting adventure style play area made from natural materials is located close to the main car park at Birkacre. It is designed to provide our younger visitors with challenging play opportunities. Canoeing Euxton Canoe Club host canoeing sessions on the Big Lodge. For membership details see the club website www.euxtoncanoeclub.co.uk Fishing Fishing rights to the Big Lodge and the Small Lodge at Birkacre are held by Wigan & District Angling Association. Permits can be bought from the bailiff who visits the site regularly. The lodges are well stocked with course fish including pike, bream, tench, roach, perch and rudd, with the small lodge ideal for beginners and junior anglers More information can be found on Wigan Angling Association’s website www.wigandaa.org.uk Fishing is not permitted on the Top Lodge. Dogs Responsible dog owners are welcome at Yarrow Valley Country Park. Please be aware that the park is designated as a clean up zone, with dog owners required to clean up after their dogs and dispose of it in the bins provided. Dogs are required to be kept under control. A ranger may request that any dogs that are deemed to be out of control are put on a lead e.g. disturbing wildlife or causing distress and annoyance to other park users. PRINTER TO ADD THE FSC LOGO 1 2 6 8 7 9 10 3 4 5 Copperworks Wood As the name suggests copper and iron works have taken place in this woodland with evidence of shafts, a stone quarry and a limekiln shown on maps dating from 1849. A viaduct was constructed through the woodland c.1911 to provide access from Gillibrand Hall to Chorley. 2008 saw the start of a major environmental enhancement project which has included capping mineshafts, improving woodland and laying out new footpaths. Common Bank Lodge Common Bank Lodge, created by damming the River Chor, was constructed in around 1910 to serve the bleach works located around 400m to the west of the site. The lodge was desilted in 2008 to maintain open water and a new dam and spillway have been created to cope with flood conditions. Look out for the water lilies in the summer and visiting wildfowl on the lodge in the winter months. Wallets Wood A stretch of mature ancient woodland on the steep valley sides. 15 14 13 12 11 16 17 Designed/produced by Woods Creative · Tel. 01772 602950 · www.woodscreative.co.uk
