IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Wilderswood, BOLTON, BL6 6SB

The grit bin marks the start of the path to Ormston's Farm

An outing from the Foxfields Therapeutic Riding Centre for disabled children and children with special educational needs.

Looking North towards Rivington Pike.

Wilderswood (Wilder’s Wood) is a heavily wooded area on the southern flank of Winter Hill, south of George's Lane, near Rivington Pike. Up until the second half of the twentieth century, Wilder's Wood was much smaller than it is today, being mainly confined to the area of Wilder's Clough (http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=53.59846231682764&lon=-2.531308309629222&gz=14&oz=8>=6. – present day and historical map). The bulk of the area was once bare moorland with few trees (except for the nearby wooded cloughs) and would have been fairly busy with local coal mining activities.There was also a large house known as “Rockhaven Castle” which was demolished in 1942, possibly because it provided an ideal marker for German bombers trying to target the Loco works in Horwich (http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/about-horwich-Rockhaven_Castle.html About Horwich - includes a photograph of the castle in its heyday). The larger area now covered by Wilderswood was planted with Beech, Alder, Corsican and Lodgepole pines in 1959 in an agreement between Lancashire County Council and Blackrod Urban District Council. Hybrid Larch was planted later to replace dead pines. http://www.daveweb.co.uk/whcombined.pdf Winter Hill Scrapbook compiled by Dave Lane http://justramblingon.co.uk/country-walks/rivington/to-the-wilderswood/ “To The Wilderswood” - Mal Firth “Just Rambling On”

The Reebok Stadium can be seen in the distance

Wilderswood (Wilder’s Wood) is a heavily wooded area on the southern flank of Winter Hill, south of George's Lane, near Rivington Pike. Up until the second half of the twentieth century, Wilder's Wood was much smaller than it is today, being mainly confined to the area of Wilder's Clough (http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm?lat=53.59846231682764&lon=-2.531308309629222&gz=14&oz=8>=6. – present day and historical map). The bulk of the area was once bare moorland with few trees (except for the nearby wooded cloughs) and would have been fairly busy with local coal mining activities.There was also a large house known as “Rockhaven Castle” which was demolished in 1942, possibly because it provided an ideal marker for German bombers trying to target the Loco works in Horwich (http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/about-horwich-Rockhaven_Castle.html About Horwich - includes a photograph of the castle in its heyday). The larger area now covered by Wilderswood was planted with Beech, Alder, Corsican and Lodgepole pines in 1959 in an agreement between Lancashire County Council and Blackrod Urban District Council. Hybrid Larch was planted later to replace dead pines. http://www.daveweb.co.uk/whcombined.pdf Winter Hill Scrapbook compiled by Dave Lane http://justramblingon.co.uk/country-walks/rivington/to-the-wilderswood/ “To The Wilderswood” - Mal Firth “Just Rambling On”

Woodland managed by United Utilities where people may pay for the planting of a tree in memory of a deceased loved one. Ashes may be sprinkled among the roots of the tree at the time of planting.