Seven Acres Country Park is a local nature reserve in Breightmet, Bolton. Bradshaw Brook runs through the valley which is surrounded by trees, fields, hedgerows, ponds and lodges. It is teeming with wildlife and whatever the season, you are guaranteed to see something interesting. It is very popular with people walking dogs, taking exercise, observing nature and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
Next meeting is on.........
Wednesday 15th February, Environmental Resource Centre,
Bury Road 7 - 8.30PM
Come along and support your local nature reserve!
UPCOMING EVENTS
film showing about Red Admiral butterflies Join us for a screening of the film, which has been made by a local resident, on Monday 16th of January. The film starts at the Environmental Resource Centre on Bury Rd at 7pm.
Seven Acres litter pick Take part in this clean up event on Sunday 22nd of January. All equipment will be provided. We will be having 2 sessions: morning (10am-12pm) and afternoon 1pm-3pm) - so come to either one or both sessions! Hot pasties and drinks for volunteers at lunchtime.
SPRING/SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR OUT NOW!
See Events page for details......
Please come and help us to make Seven Acres a better place for us and for the wildlife.
Many thanks to the lottery for funding our latest programme of events. We want as many local people as possible to benefit from the opportunities so please come along and get involved.
Unlocking Seven Acres
We're making a bit to the Big Lottery Community Spaces fund to improve access to Seven Acres from the Tonge side of the site. Please tell us what you think!!
We recently got this e-mail from a former resident of Breightmet. If you have memories you would like to share, tell us about them from our 'contact us' page.
Dear Friends of Seven Acres
I came across your web site by accident, but it prompted happy memories. I was born and brought up in Breightmet. I remember what you call "Seven Acres" (I don't recall the area ever having that name) very well. I used to play there a lot in the early 1970s, when it was basically a wasteland. There was an old mill building in which someone used to keep a big steam-driven engine. There were also lots of bits of industrial archeology, e.g. remnants of what looked like railway track by the stream, old nails lying about etc. I also recall a large "pond" of heavily polluted water. I used to play there with a dog called "Rebel" - an alsation that was used as a guard dog by the Garners, who owned the garage which existed on the site of the current environmental centre. Rebel was the softest dog I've ever known; the idea that he could be guard dog always made me laugh.
Access to "Seven Acres" was via a track down the back of Garners garage to the old mill, although you could also get to it via Waggon Road. Hardly anyone ever went there, as it was so overgrown and perhaps a bit scary, but for me it was a great place to mess about. It is amazing to me that it is now a wildlife haven and environmental site - what a transformation!
I haven't visited "Seven Acres" since those days in the early 1970s, although I've driven past a few times on occasional visits to Breightmet. Perhaps I'll take a look on my next visit.
Best Regards
Graham (Breightmet born & bred, now exiled in North Surrey)
Images courtesy of Matt Priestley