Macclesfield Forest

Macclesfield Forest is an area of woodland, predominantly conifer plantation, located around 5 km (3 miles) south east of Macclesfield in the civil parish of Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough, in Cheshire, England. The existing woodland is the last substantial remnant of the Royal Forest of Macclesfield, a once-extensive ancient hunting reserve. The area also includes two reservoirs, Trentabank and Ridgegate. Macclesfield Forest lies on the western edge of the Peak District, within the South West Peak, and is partly inside the boundary of the National Park. The hills of Tegg's Nose and Shutlingsloe stand to the north west and south east, respectively; the moorland of High Moor lies to the south and the Goyt Valley lies to the west. Nearby villages include Langley and Wildboarclough.Ordnance Survey: The Peak District: White Peak Area (OL24).]

Macclesfield Forest is owned by United Utilities. Most of the woodland is designated a Site of Biological Importance, while part of the area including Trentabank Reservoir is a nature reserve managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust; the reserve contains a large heronry. Other wildlife includes a small herd of red deer. Recreational uses of the area include walking, orienteering, horse riding, cycling, mountain biking, fishing and bird watching.

History

The area is believed to have been occupied during the Bronze Age; there is a Bronze Age barrow near High Low Farm to the west of Macclesfield Forest and another earthwork east of the forest near Toot Hill.cite web |title = Coppack I. Tegg's Nose Walk 4 |url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/countryside/teggs_nose_multimedia/walk_4.htm |publisher= Cheshire County Council| accessdate = 2008-03-27] After the Norman Conquest the modern area known as Macclesfield Forest formed part of the much larger region of the Royal Forest of Macclesfield, a hunting reserve owned by the Earls of Chester, which formerly stretched from the foothills of the Pennines east into the High Peak near Whaley Bridge and south to the Staffordshire Moorlands.Three sides of the forest: Discovering Macclesfield Forest, Tegg's Nose and Wildboarclough, Peak District National Park Authority (leaflet).] [cite web |title = Jones G. An Atlas of Forests and Chases in England and Wales, c. 1000 to c. 1850 |url = http://info.sjc.ox.ac.uk/forests/ForestMapTiles.html |publisher= St John's College Research Centre, University of Oxford| accessdate = 2008-03-27]

South of the forest stands the Greenway Cross (gbmappingsmall|SJ955692), a standing stone carved on each side with a cross, which was probably erected as a waymarker by Dieulacresse Abbey in Leek during the Middle Ages. Tradition holds that poachers in the royal forest were executed at a nearby gallows, which might be the source of the name of the Hanging Gate public house, from the Norse "gata", meaning "path".

Ridgegate Reservoir was constructed in the late 19th century to provide drinking water for the town of Macclesfield, with Trentabank Reservoir following in the 1920s. The conifer plantation largely dates from 1930–50, and was planted around the reservoirs to protect water catchment areas from pollution.

Geography and ecology

Macclesfield Forest lies on the western edge of the Peak District, within the South West Peak. [cite web |title = Porter J, Warnock S, Tiedeman G, Simpson J. Peak District Landscape Character Assessment: South West Peak: Draft for consultation December 2007 |url = http://www.peakdistrict.org/lca-draft-south-west-peak.pdf |publisher= Peak District National Park Authority| accessdate = 2008-04-01] The eastern two-thirds of the forest fall within the National Park, and the area has been covered by the Park's ranger service since the 1970s. [cite web |title = Ranger Service: The history of the ranger service |url = http://www.peakdistrict.org/index/looking-after/rangers/history.htm |publisher= Peak District National Park Authority| accessdate = 2008-04-01] A total of 401 hectares (991 acres) has been designated a Site of Biological Importance (grade A); an area of 19 hectares (47 acres), including all of Trentabank Reservoir, was also made a non-statutory nature reserve in 1982, and is managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.cite web |title = Trentabank Reservoir |url = http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cheshire/res_trentabank.htm |publisher= Cheshire Wildlife Trust| accessdate = 2008-03-27] [cite web |title = Nature Reserves |url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Planning/NaturalHistoricEnvironment/Natural/NHE_Natural_NatureReserves.htm |publisher= Cheshire County Council| accessdate = 2008-03-28]

The area ranges in elevation from around 225 metres to 475 metres, and includes two hills, Toot Hill (gbmappingsmall|SJ970719) in the east and Nessit Hill (gbmappingsmall|SJ962706) in the south. Within the forest are two reservoirs, Trentabank (gbmappingsmall|SJ962713) and Ridgegate (gbmappingsmall|SJ954713), which are fed by Bollin Brook. They are the highest of a series of four reservoirs, the lower two being the Bottoms and Teggsnose Reservoirs, south of Tegg's Nose.

A continuous area of approximately 400 hectares (988 acres) is covered with woodland or plantation. The forest is managed for timber by United Utilities, using a continuous cover policy (rather than clear felling and restocking). Macclesfield Borough Council plans to increase the area of the former royal forest that is covered by woodland. [cite web |title = Royal Forest of Macclesfield |url = http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk/standardpage.asp?pageid=10197 |publisher= Borough of Macclesfield| accessdate = 2008-04-01] The predominant species are Sitka spruce and Japanese larch, with some Scots pine, Lodgepole pine, Corsican pine and Norway spruce. There are also areas of semi-natural mixed and broadleaved woodland, mainly oak, sycamore and beech; in 2004, broadleaved species made up 23% of the total, although current forestry management aims to increase the proportion. The woodland supports mosses and thirty species of fungi, including fly agaric, stinkhorns, honey fungus and the sickener. The area also includes areas of acidic unimproved upland grassland, including approximately a hectare within the Trentabank nature reserve; this supports species including bluebell, tormentil, pignut, birdsfoot trefoil, foxglove and lesser knapweed, while the reservoir margins support aquatic plants including amphibious bistort, water mint, water horsetail and common spikerush.

A heronry is located by Trentabank Reservoir within the reserve; with around twenty-two nests, it is the largest in the Peak District. The heronry is visible from several viewpoints, and close-up CCTV pictures of the nests can also be seen in the Trentabank ranger station. Other birds observed in the woodland include crossbills, siskins, goldcrests, pied flycatchers, garden warblers, blackcaps and woodcocks, while the reservoirs support abundant waterfowl including cormorants, coots, goldeneyes, pochard, mallards, tufted ducks, teal, great crested grebe, little grebe and common sandpipers. A herd of around twelve red deer, the remnant of the royal forest herd, still frequents the forest.cite web |title = Macclesfield Forest |url = http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=445&ID=3512 |publisher= United Utilities| accessdate = 2008-03-27] Small mammals present in the woodland include badgers and weasels.

ights and activities

St Stephen's Church, known as Forest Chapel, is located immediately to the east of Macclesfield Forest at gbmappingsmall|SJ974721. In pink sandstone with a stone and slate roof, the church dates originally from 1673; the chancel and nave were rebuilt in 1831. It is listed at grade II.A walk to the Forest, Cheshire County Council (leaflet).] cite web |title = Church of St Stephen (Forest Chapel) |url = http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=58015 |publisher= English Heritage| accessdate = 2008-03-27] St Stephen's still holds a rush-bearing ceremony every August, in which rushes are cut from nearby fields and marshes and strewn on the church floor and plaited into decorations as a symbol of renewal. The tradition ceased in most other churches in the 17th century. Other attractions in the area include a small arboretum near the Trentabank ranger station.

Several public footpaths, concessionary paths and bridleways cross the area. Three circular walks of different lengths (1–9 km or 0.5–5.5 miles) are waymarked for exploration of the forest area; one is suitable for wheelchair access.cite web |title = Welcome to Macclesfield Forest |url = http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/maccforestwelcome.pdf |publisher= Peak District National Park Authority, United Utilities, Macclesfield Borough Council and Cheshire Countryside Management Service| accessdate = 2008-03-27] Additionally, the "Walk to the Forest" is a waymarked circular trail of 11 km (7 miles) linking Macclesfield Forest with Tegg's Nose hill. Macclesfield Forest is also the starting point of a popular ascent of Shutlingsloe. The Gritstone Trail long-distance footpath runs immediately to the west of the forest. The forest area is used for orienteering events.cite web |title = Macclesfield Forest and Wildboarclough Management Strategy and Action Plan (May 2004) |url = http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/mforest.pdf |publisher= Cheshire County Council, United Utilities, Peak District National Park Authority and Macclesfield Borough Council | accessdate = 2008-03-27] There are several mountain biking routes, including both off-road trails and routes on country lanes. [cite web |title = UK Trails & Tracks: Macclesfield Forest |url = http://www.moredirt.co.uk/trail/North-West/Macclesfield-Forest/212/ |publisher= moredirt| accessdate = 2008-04-01]

Fishing is permitted on the Ridgegate Reservoir; the fishing rights are owned by the Macclesfield and District Fly Fishing Club.

Facilities and access

There is a ranger station south of the Trentabank Reservoir (gbmappingsmall|SJ961711), with car parking (including disabled spaces), public toilets, picnic area, benches and informative displays.cite web |title = Trentabank Map |url = http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cheshire/trentabank_map.pdf |publisher= Cheshire Wildlife Trust| accessdate = 2008-03-27] cite web |title = Macclesfield Forest |url = http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/accessibilit/access4all/access4all-sites/maccforest.htm |publisher= Peak District National Park Authority| accessdate = 2008-03-27] Parking is also available at Ridgegate Reservoir and at the Standing Stone area on the eastern edge of the forest, as well as at the nearby Tegg's Nose Country Park.

By the Trentabank ranger station is a kiosk serving food, which is a member of the Peak District Foods group. [cite web |title = Peak District Foods: Where to eat out: Nice Nosh |url = http://www.peakdistrictfoods.co.uk/pages/pdfmembers/companydetails.php?result=175&page=eatout |publisher= Peak District Foods| accessdate = 2008-03-27] Nearby public houses include the Leather's Smithy by Ridgegate Reservoir, St Dunstan in the village of Langley, Hanging Gate south of Langley and the Stanley Arms in Bottom-of-the-Oven; refreshments are also available at Blaze Farm on the A54 and at teashops on the A537 and in the village of Wildboarclough.

The area can be reached by bus from Macclesfield or Buxton. There is limited wheelchair access, including an easy-access, stone-surfaced path to one of the Trentabank Reservoir herony viewing points. Dogs are permitted but must be kept under control. Nearby tourist accommodation is very limited.

References

External links

* [http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cheshire/res_trentabank.htm Cheshire Wildlife Trust: Trentabank Reservoir]
* [http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/index/visiting/accessibilit/access4all/access4all-sites/maccforest.htm Peak District National Park: Macclesfield Forest]
* [http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=445&ID=3512 United Utilities: Macclesfield Forest]