Marbury Country Park and Northwich woodlands

Image from Visit Cheshire website

Join us for our next coach trip, to Marbury Country Park and Northwich woodlands, on Saturday 15th November.

Marbury Country Park lies in the heart of Northwich Community Woodlands where former industrial land is gradually being transformed to create a rich and green environment stretching from Marbury to Northwich.

Departing from Morrisons, Heywood @ 9.00 am

Return leaving Marbury @ 4.00 pm – the Country Park closes at this time in the winter.

Leaders: Roger and Pam Crofts

Coach trips cost £20 per person.  Non members are welcome but booking on coach trips is essential.  To book a place on the coach email rfnsbookings@gmail.com
Please pay your £20 beforehand by bank transfer: Sort Code 05-07-67, Account Number 60931963 and use your name as a reference.

Marbury Country Park forms part of the Northwich Woodlands. Marbury was once a grand estate and although the house is no longer there the magnificent avenue of Lime Trees and the  Arboretum with its rare specimen trees, and many Yew, Holly and other evergreens are still very much in existence.

The rest of The Woodlands was industrial land dominated by salt mines many of these collapsed forming large craters which were then filled with waste materials from the local chemical industry. This has created a unique environment for plants and animals normally scarce in this area.

Today there are a variety of habitats including parkland, meadows, woodland and freshwater meres, flashes and pools bordered by marshy areas and reed beds. Our trip is at a time when autumn is changing into winter. Summer visitors will have moved on but winter ones should have arrived and we expect to see a variety of wildfowl on the meres and flashes. Fungi are plentiful in the woodlands throughout autumn and there is the possibility of Hawfinches in the area of the arboretum.

There are many paths to follow in the park so it is possible to make your route as long, or short as you wish. We intend to lead a walk of approximately 4.5 miles which will take in most of the Country Park and extend as far as the top end of Neumann’s Flash. However people are free to explore as they wish – as long as they’re back on board the coach in time for the 4.00 pm departure. Maps of the Country Park will be provided.

Facilities in the Country Park are limited. There are toilets near the offices but no visitor centre or cafe. However at weekends there is usually an ice cream van and a mobile hot drinks and snacks van on site. There are picnic tables and some covered seating in that area too. The main paths are surfaced but paths through the woods can be uneven and muddy. Depending on the route taken there are some flights of steps, both up and down, but these can be avoided. There are no stiles.

You will need to bring lunch and drinks. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. Depending on the weather boots or wellies may be advisable and, as there is no indoor area, clothing that can keep you warm and dry.

1. Marbury Country Park – main car park. The coach should be able to park and stay here all day. The Arboretum is in this area should people wish to explore it.
2. Cheshire Wildlife Trust Woodland – not strictly speaking part of the Country Park this woodland area has been managed by the CWT for many years. There is a boardwalk through the reed beds which we will explore before setting off through the CP itself
3. Budworth Mere – we will visit the bird hide and walk along the shore before taking the path through the woodland. At this time of year we can expect to see various species of waterfowl as well as a variety of birds visiting the feeders next to the hide, and there is a good chance of seeing Kingfisher here.
4. Big Wood – this woodland stretches from the Dipping Pond to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Plenty of dead wood left for fungi etc.. We expect to have lunch at some point as we make our way through the woods.
5. Dairy House Meadows – once over the canal and after passing through Forge Wood there is a change of habitat to open meadows with potential for late flowers, butterflies and dragonflies.
6. Neumann’s Flash – well known for the number of rare bird species that it attracts we hope to see a variety of waterfowl and waders here. Some people may wish to spend more time in this area and possibly go down to Ashton’s Flash too but, if staying in this area, please be aware of the time it will take to get back to the coach for our 16.00 departure.