A Walk On The Wild(Life) Side - Part 2

 Just a couple of miles up the river from Moses Gate is Seven Acres Country Park. Located between the districts of Tonge and Breightmet, this is a surprisingly rural escape not far from Bolton's urban sprawl.

Seven Acres has been in existence for at least 300 years, with it appearing on maps dating back to 1764. Previously it was farmland, and also industrial land, with a few ruined ponds at the southern end of the park from it's mill-era heritage. The incorporation of these lands, means Seven Acres is now closer to 79 acres!

Bradshaw Brook runs the length of Seven Acres. The car park is located at the northern end of the park, off Thicketford Road just near the bridge, and at the opposite end of the park is the Lancashire Wildlife Trust building on the A579 Bury Road. The river-side path through the park is a continuation of the Kingfisher Trail.

The park contains woodland, large open grassland, and of course wetland areas, which are home to a vast variety of wildlife which all call Seven Acres home.

If you're lucky, you may cross paths with Roe Deer.

From the car park, my usual route follows the path alongside the brook past the large field - which is popular with dog walkers. The banks of the brook become more wooded further along the path, but its important to keep your eyes on the river should a Dipper or Kingfisher fly past. At a bend in the river there is an open area with a bench.

Dippers can usually be found on the river, but can be very skittish.

After following the path for about 500 meters, you'll eventually reach a footbridge over the brook. This is about half way into the park. Crossing the bridge, you can either turn left to follow the woodland path along the brook and back towards Thicketford Road, or turn right, heading south through the woodland towards Bury Road.

Nuthatch taking a dip in a puddle by the side of the brook.

Turning right, the path heads into woodland, usually filled with birdsong from Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits and Song Thrush. Flocks of Long Tail Tit also flutter between the trees, and the unmistakable rattling-squawk of Magpies can be heard. The path climbs a slight hill but at the crest it starts dropping back down. A nice little diversion heads right, where the brook meanders, into a secluded part of woodland which drops back down to the river level, and re-joins the main path a little further on. It isn't uncommon to spot Tree Creepers spiralling their way up tree trunks in this area.

Tree Creepers are only small, and their markings can make them very tricky to spot.

Back on the main path, it follows once again alongside the brook through dense woodland. Keep an eye out for Jays, Nuthatch and Bullfinches in this area. A final 'loop' can be made at a junction where a path bears left uphill at a tangent. Following this route up through the trees will lead to a small pond surrounded by reeds, with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust building opposite.

There will usually be a pair of Mallard ducks on the pond, along with a Coot, although I've heard it is also a fishing spot for the local Kingfisher (although I haven't seen it here as yet). The path then heads back down some steps by the side of an overflow, towards Bury Road. But before reaching the road, at the T-junction in the path take a right to re-join the riverside path, and retrace your steps back through the woodland towards the footbridge.

In the same family as Magpie's, the colourful Jay lives in the tree canopy. It's annoying call gives away its location.

For a change of scenery, once you've crossed back over the footbridge, instead of taking the river side path, why not head straight on, and into the meadows. Fringed by woodland, Blackbirds can be seen foraging in the undergrowth, and its not uncommon to be serenaded by at least one Robin on your walk, singing from a nearby tree.