the word 'copse' andis still used today toproduce woods withvaried structure andwhich provide timber.Coppicing allowslight to reach thewoodland floor,essential for the survival of woodlandwildflowers and insects that feed on them. NovaWood has a fine carpet of Bluebells in lateSpring and the sunnier glades provide idealterritories for Summer migrant birds such asChiff-chaff and Blackcap. The northern part ofthe Wood has a very different collection ofspecies, the drier soils have favoured thedevelopment of a Birch wood with a carpet ofWavy-hair Grass, though the native SessileOak is slowly spreading into this area.

6 ViewpointFrom here on a fine day,there are good views of theSpen Valley and thesurrounding countryside;good eyesight will findEmley Moor Mast andCastle Hill inHuddersfield. The field below the slope withbushy trees in it was part of Asker Wood until1947, when it was felled for firewood.Bluebells and Wood Anemone can still be seenthere in Spring. Notice the hedgerows, whichact as refuges for wildlife and connect thepockets of woodland. At Oakwell we haveplanted over a mile of new hedgerows and mostare managed traditionally by 'laying' them. Thistechnique ensures that the hedge survivespotentially indefinitely and produces a thickstock-proof hedge ideal for nesting birds.

7 Disused Railway CuttingThe cutting to the right ofthe path once served theLeeds to Heckmondwikeline, which was closed in1966. Since then the cuttinghas developed into avaluable wildlife habitat.The sides now support amixture of trees and the base of the cutting isexcellent wetland, with plants such as Brooklime.The water flowing along the cutting floor feedsthe Wildlife Access Garden pond, whilst the ironaqeduct carries water which eventually finds itsway into the Duck Pond and Moat.

8 Faith GardenFollow the path to the leftof post 8 to visit the FaithGarden, where you canfind about 40 trees fromaround the world,including Gingko, Paper Birch and Medlar.Now is the ideal time to take a break from theNature Trail to visit the Formal Gardens behindthe Hall and the Working Garden with itscollection of fruit trees.

9 Wildlife Access GardenThis area has been speciallydesigned to allow easy access.There are numerous informationpanels describing the manyhabitats represented in such asmall area, including wetlands andwildflower meadows.

1 Picnic AreaThis former field hasbeen planted with amix of trees andshrubs to encouragewildlife. TheBlackthorn attractsBullfinches in winter which eat the nutritiousbuds and the larger trees such as Sycamoreand Norway Maple host a large population ofaphids and caterpillars. Also look out forBlackbirds and Songthrushes singing fromthe taller trees.

2 Drystone WallingRead the panel to learn about this ancientcountry craft. To the North the landscape isone of small, hedged fields, grazed withconsideration for wildflowers. This'patchwork' of small fields has been lost frommuch of our countryside as fields havebecome bigger and farming has becomemore intensive. Immediately behind thefootpath is a small area of Ash woodlandplanted in the 1980s which is graduallybecoming colonised by woodland wildflowerssuch as Lesser Celandine and Dog's Mercury.

3 Nova MeadowThis damp area containsmoisture loving plantssuch as Lady's Smock,Common TussockGrass, Meadowsweet,Ragged Robin andYellow Flag Iris. ThePond, created in 2003 is already a haven forwildlife. The southern area of the field isbeing allowed to revert to scrubland - anideal habitat for birds such as Yellowhammerand Linnet. In late Autumn this area is full ofThrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings whichflock to the Hawthorn berries.

4 Nova Beck Nova Beck is one oftwo streams atOakwell, both runningNorth to South. NovaBeck forms thewestern boundary toNova Wood and flowsthrough areas rich with wildflowers. Many ofthese species such as Yellow Archangel, WoodAnemone and Wild Garlic are indicators ofancient woodland, hinting that parts of theriver corridor have been wooded for manycenturies. Look out also for Hard Fern, RedCampion and Herb Bennet.

5 Nova WoodMuch of Nova Wood was felled for pit props toservice the local mines and the trees have re-grown to produce the multi-stemmed Oaks andBirch that give the wood its character today.'Coppicing', as this technique is known, gave us

Oakwell HallCountry ParkNature Trail

Nature Trail

How to find us

Norway Maple

Patchwork fields

Birch and Sweet Chestnut in Nova Woods

Meadowsweet

Hard Fern

Multi-stemed Oak

Laid Hedge

Brooklime

Gingko biloba

Wildflower meadow

By car: From M62 Junction 27follow A62 towardsHuddersfield. At Birstall, followtourist signs. Oakwell is on theA652 in Birstall. You can parkby the Countryside Centre andwalk up to the Hall, or followNutter Lane for 1/2 of a mile topark by the Hall itself.

For accurate and up-to-dateinformation on bus and traintimes, call Metroline on 0113245 7676 between 8am and8pm.

Oakwell Hall Country Park, Nutter Lane, Birstall,Batley, West Yorkshire WF17 9LG

Tel: 01924 326240 email: oakwell.hall@kirklees.gov.ukwww.kirklees.gov.uk/museums

A651

A650

M62

A58

M62

A58

A643

A649

A649

A638

A651

A58

A62

A62

A643A652

A652

M62

M621

To B

rad

ford

M606

To M

ancheste

r

Exit

27

To L

eeds

To H

ull

BAGSHAW MUSEUM

BIRSTALLGOMERSAL

BATLEY

RED HOUSE

CLECKHEATON

OAKWELL HALL Country Park

Exit

26

Opening TimesThe Country Park is open daily and admission to the Park is freealthough there is a small admission charge into the Hall.The Park is partly accessible to people using wheelchairs. Pleasetelephone for access information.Please telephone for event details.

Photographs by Richard Aspinall

Photographs by Richard Aspinall

Oakwell Nature Trail 2012 GD4932:Artwork 10/05/2012 14:58 Page 1

10 Oakwell HallAlthough built in1583, the Hall isfurnished in thestyle of the late17th Century.Charlotte Brontëdescribed it in hernovel Shirley; 'Theold latticedwindows, thestone porch, thewalls, the roof, the chimney stacks, were richin crayon touches and sepia lights andshades.' Why not visit after your walk? Thereis a small admission charge into the Hall.

11 Step HillsThe gently sloping part of the field to yourright used to be managed intensively. Thisincluded ploughing, re-seeding and applyingfertilisers and herbicides. Now it is managedas a hay meadow and is rich with buttercupsand grasses such as Creasted Dog's Tail andSweet Vernal Grass.The original route of Warren Lane, now to theeast of the Hall, once ran along this side of theHall and we assume Rabbits or 'Coneys' asthey were called werekept here.The steeper part of thefield has never beenploughed and the poorsoil allows many wildflowers to thrive. The'magical' Yarrow withits medicinal propertiesprospers well, as does

Horsetail, once known as'scour weed', since itstough stems were usedto clean cooking pots. Asingle apple tree on theslope attracts birds inwinter and late summerbutterflies feed on thesweet and rotting fruit.

12 CollieryFieldThis field was the formersite of the spoil heaps ofGomersal Colliery, whichclosed in the 1970s. Thenutrient poor soil hasproved excellent for re-seeding with meadow plants such as Red Clover, Ox-eye Daisy, Self Heal andYellow Rattle. Thesenectar-rich flowers benefita wide variety of insects,especially Bumble Bees.

13 Colliery Pond Created when the Coal Board constructed aconcrete road to help with tipping. The road isstill under the grass and acts as a dam. Thepond has been fenced off to prevent cattletrampling the vegetation. This pond is thefinest pond on site and attracts a huge numberof creatures from Toads to nesting Moorhens,Smooth Newts to Swan Mussels. In summer

several species ofDamsel Fly andDragon Fly can beseen, as well as pondplants such as WaterForget-me-not,Bogbean and PurpleLoosestrife.

14 New WoodlandThe trees in this areawere planted afterthe colliery closed.Initially Alder wasplanted to fix nitrogeninto the soil andScots and CorsicanPine used to providequick tree cover. Asnative trees colonise these 'importedspecies' are slowly being removed with theeventual aim of creating a rich woodlandsimilar to Nova Wood.

15 Countryside CentreStarting point from the Countryside CentreCar ParkThe car park is on thesite of the formerbuildings and one of theshafts of GomersalColliery. The Centrehouses the “AboutOakwell” exhibition,serves refreshmentsand has toilet facilities. Please check the notice board for openingtimes.

16 Oakwell BeckThe course of OakwellBeck winds along the edgeof Colliery Field. Along itslength can be foundexposed coal seams andfossilized 'ripples' fromancient seas.Oakwell Beck does notsupport the same diversity of plants as NovaBeck, though in Spring and early Summerthe wooded areas are thick with Wild Garlic,Lesser Celandine and Bistort. Occasionalpatches of Lords andLadies survive in theshadier parts. Ash,Alder and Willowmake up the majorityof the tree cover andTawny Owls areknown to have nestedhere in the past.

17 Toad Hole MeadowTo the left of the pathare stands ofHawthorn. In Autumnthe berries known asHaws attract largenumbers of migratorybirds such as Redwingand Fieldfare and thescrubby bushes providenesting sites for birdssuch as Greenfinch.

The Nature TrailThe Nature Trail follows a figure of eight route andis just under two miles long. It is possible to walkeither loop on its own in about 45 minutes, or dothe complete circuit taking roughly an hour and ahalf. Follow the distinctive yellow oakleafwaymarkers and numbered posts.Please follow the Countryside Code at all times.Please keep your dog on a lead and use the dogwaste bins provided.The west loop goes around an attractive areawhich, believe it or not, used to be a colliery. Thefootpaths are NOT surfaced and can be muddy. Theeast loop goes through a more wooded landscapeon mainly surfaced paths, though STOUTFOOTWEAR IS RECOMMENDED THROUGHOUT.The east loop starts at Post 1 from the Hall carpark. You can start the west loop at post 15from the Countryside Centre car park.If you are doing the west loop only bearslightly left just before reaching the stonesteps which lead to the front lawn of the Hall. Thenhead for Post 11 down the hill. If doing the wholeroute cross the front lawn and go through the carpark into the picnic area to find Post 1.

View of the Hall fromthe Arboretum

Comma Butterfly

Red Clover

Ox-eye Daisy

Emperor dragonfly

Pine

Ash Tree

Common blue - male

Bistort

Yarrow

Blackberry

A peaceful spot to sit in the Faith Garden.

BRADFORD A652 BATLEY

Nutter

Lane Nova Lane

BIRSTALL

Nova Wood

Toft Ings

Black's Field

Asker Field

Nova Lane Field

OakwellField

Osmond'sField

Picnic Area

Countryside Centre& Car Park

Toft Triangle

Step Hills

Colliery Field

Playground

Main Entrance & Car Park

OAKWELL HALL, GARDENS AND CAFÉ

Nutter LaneField

ToadholeMeadow

Borage Common Knapweed Common Tussock Grass Feverfew Foxglove Hogweed Honeysuckle Golden Hop

Lavender Lesser Stitchwort Ragwort Rosebay Willowherb Rowan Berries Thyme Tufted Vetch Wild Strawberries

Visitor Centre andToilets WC

VIEWPOINT

Faith Garden

12

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

101112

13

14

15

16

17

N

S

EW

Photographs by Richard Aspinall

Oakwell Nature Trail 2012 GD4932:Artwork 10/05/2012 14:59 Page 2

the word 'copse' andis still used today toproduce woods withvaried structure andwhich provide timber.Coppicing allowslight to reach thewoodland floor,essential for the survival of woodlandwildflowers and insects that feed on them. NovaWood has a fine carpet of Bluebells in lateSpring and the sunnier glades provide idealterritories for Summer migrant birds such asChiff-chaff and Blackcap. The northern part ofthe Wood has a very different collection ofspecies, the drier soils have favoured thedevelopment of a Birch wood with a carpet ofWavy-hair Grass, though the native SessileOak is slowly spreading into this area.

6 ViewpointFrom here on a fine day,there are good views of theSpen Valley and thesurrounding countryside;good eyesight will findEmley Moor Mast andCastle Hill inHuddersfield. The field below the slope withbushy trees in it was part of Asker Wood until1947, when it was felled for firewood.Bluebells and Wood Anemone can still be seenthere in Spring. Notice the hedgerows, whichact as refuges for wildlife and connect thepockets of woodland. At Oakwell we haveplanted over a mile of new hedgerows and mostare managed traditionally by 'laying' them. Thistechnique ensures that the hedge survivespotentially indefinitely and produces a thickstock-proof hedge ideal for nesting birds.

7 Disused Railway CuttingThe cutting to the right ofthe path once served theLeeds to Heckmondwikeline, which was closed in1966. Since then the cuttinghas developed into avaluable wildlife habitat.The sides now support amixture of trees and the base of the cutting isexcellent wetland, with plants such as Brooklime.The water flowing along the cutting floor feedsthe Wildlife Access Garden pond, whilst the ironaqeduct carries water which eventually finds itsway into the Duck Pond and Moat.

8 Faith GardenFollow the path to the leftof post 8 to visit the FaithGarden, where you canfind about 40 trees fromaround the world,including Gingko, Paper Birch and Medlar.Now is the ideal time to take a break from theNature Trail to visit the Formal Gardens behindthe Hall and the Working Garden with itscollection of fruit trees.

9 Wildlife Access GardenThis area has been speciallydesigned to allow easy access.There are numerous informationpanels describing the manyhabitats represented in such asmall area, including wetlands andwildflower meadows.

1 Picnic AreaThis former field hasbeen planted with amix of trees andshrubs to encouragewildlife. TheBlackthorn attractsBullfinches in winter which eat the nutritiousbuds and the larger trees such as Sycamoreand Norway Maple host a large population ofaphids and caterpillars. Also look out forBlackbirds and Songthrushes singing fromthe taller trees.

2 Drystone WallingRead the panel to learn about this ancientcountry craft. To the North the landscape isone of small, hedged fields, grazed withconsideration for wildflowers. This'patchwork' of small fields has been lost frommuch of our countryside as fields havebecome bigger and farming has becomemore intensive. Immediately behind thefootpath is a small area of Ash woodlandplanted in the 1980s which is graduallybecoming colonised by woodland wildflowerssuch as Lesser Celandine and Dog's Mercury.

3 Nova MeadowThis damp area containsmoisture loving plantssuch as Lady's Smock,Common TussockGrass, Meadowsweet,Ragged Robin andYellow Flag Iris. ThePond, created in 2003 is already a haven forwildlife. The southern area of the field isbeing allowed to revert to scrubland - anideal habitat for birds such as Yellowhammerand Linnet. In late Autumn this area is full ofThrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings whichflock to the Hawthorn berries.

4 Nova Beck Nova Beck is one oftwo streams atOakwell, both runningNorth to South. NovaBeck forms thewestern boundary toNova Wood and flowsthrough areas rich with wildflowers. Many ofthese species such as Yellow Archangel, WoodAnemone and Wild Garlic are indicators ofancient woodland, hinting that parts of theriver corridor have been wooded for manycenturies. Look out also for Hard Fern, RedCampion and Herb Bennet.

5 Nova WoodMuch of Nova Wood was felled for pit props toservice the local mines and the trees have re-grown to produce the multi-stemmed Oaks andBirch that give the wood its character today.'Coppicing', as this technique is known, gave us

Oakwell HallCountry ParkNature Trail

Nature Trail

How to find us

Norway Maple

Patchwork fields

Birch and Sweet Chestnut in Nova Woods

Meadowsweet

Hard Fern

Multi-stemed Oak

Laid Hedge

Brooklime

Gingko biloba

Wildflower meadow

By car: From M62 Junction 27follow A62 towardsHuddersfield. At Birstall, followtourist signs. Oakwell is on theA652 in Birstall. You can parkby the Countryside Centre andwalk up to the Hall, or followNutter Lane for 1/2 of a mile topark by the Hall itself.

For accurate and up-to-dateinformation on bus and traintimes, call Metroline on 0113245 7676 between 8am and8pm.

Oakwell Hall Country Park, Nutter Lane, Birstall,Batley, West Yorkshire WF17 9LG

Tel: 01924 326240 email: oakwell.hall@kirklees.gov.ukwww.kirklees.gov.uk/museums

A651

A650

M62

A58

M62

A58

A643

A649

A649

A638

A651

A58

A62

A62

A643A652

A652

M62

M621

To B

rad

ford

M606

To M

ancheste

r

Exit

27

To L

eeds

To H

ull

BAGSHAW MUSEUM

BIRSTALL GOMERSAL

BATLEY

RED HOUSE

CLECKHEATON

OAKWELL HALL Country Park

Exit

26

Opening TimesThe Country Park is open daily and admission to the Park is freealthough there is a small admission charge into the Hall.The Park is partly accessible to people using wheelchairs. Pleasetelephone for access information.Please telephone for event details.

Photographs by Richard Aspinall

Photographs by Richard Aspinall

Oakwell Nature Trail 2012 GD4932:Artwork 10/05/2012 14:58 Page 1

10 Oakwell HallAlthough built in1583, the Hall isfurnished in thestyle of the late17th Century.Charlotte Brontëdescribed it in hernovel Shirley; 'Theold latticedwindows, thestone porch, thewalls, the roof, the chimney stacks, were richin crayon touches and sepia lights andshades.' Why not visit after your walk? Thereis a small admission charge into the Hall.

11 Step HillsThe gently sloping part of the field to yourright used to be managed intensively. Thisincluded ploughing, re-seeding and applyingfertilisers and herbicides. Now it is managedas a hay meadow and is rich with buttercupsand grasses such as Creasted Dog's Tail andSweet Vernal Grass.The original route of Warren Lane, now to theeast of the Hall, once ran along this side of theHall and we assume Rabbits or 'Coneys' asthey were called werekept here.The steeper part of thefield has never beenploughed and the poorsoil allows many wildflowers to thrive. The'magical' Yarrow withits medicinal propertiesprospers well, as does

Horsetail, once known as'scour weed', since itstough stems were usedto clean cooking pots. Asingle apple tree on theslope attracts birds inwinter and late summerbutterflies feed on thesweet and rotting fruit.

12 CollieryFieldThis field was the formersite of the spoil heaps ofGomersal Colliery, whichclosed in the 1970s. Thenutrient poor soil hasproved excellent for re-seeding with meadow plants such as Red Clover, Ox-eye Daisy, Self Heal andYellow Rattle. Thesenectar-rich flowers benefita wide variety of insects,especially Bumble Bees.

13 Colliery Pond Created when the Coal Board constructed aconcrete road to help with tipping. The road isstill under the grass and acts as a dam. Thepond has been fenced off to prevent cattletrampling the vegetation. This pond is thefinest pond on site and attracts a huge numberof creatures from Toads to nesting Moorhens,Smooth Newts to Swan Mussels. In summer

several species ofDamsel Fly andDragon Fly can beseen, as well as pondplants such as WaterForget-me-not,Bogbean and PurpleLoosestrife.

14 New WoodlandThe trees in this areawere planted afterthe colliery closed.Initially Alder wasplanted to fix nitrogeninto the soil andScots and CorsicanPine used to providequick tree cover. Asnative trees colonise these 'importedspecies' are slowly being removed with theeventual aim of creating a rich woodlandsimilar to Nova Wood.

15 Countryside CentreStarting point from the Countryside CentreCar ParkThe car park is on thesite of the formerbuildings and one of theshafts of GomersalColliery. The Centrehouses the “AboutOakwell” exhibition,serves refreshmentsand has toilet facilities. Please check the notice board for openingtimes.

16 Oakwell BeckThe course of OakwellBeck winds along the edgeof Colliery Field. Along itslength can be foundexposed coal seams andfossilized 'ripples' fromancient seas.Oakwell Beck does notsupport the same diversity of plants as NovaBeck, though in Spring and early Summerthe wooded areas are thick with Wild Garlic,Lesser Celandine and Bistort. Occasionalpatches of Lords andLadies survive in theshadier parts. Ash,Alder and Willowmake up the majorityof the tree cover andTawny Owls areknown to have nestedhere in the past.

17 Toad Hole MeadowTo the left of the pathare stands ofHawthorn. In Autumnthe berries known asHaws attract largenumbers of migratorybirds such as Redwingand Fieldfare and thescrubby bushes providenesting sites for birdssuch as Greenfinch.

The Nature TrailThe Nature Trail follows a figure of eight route andis just under two miles long. It is possible to walkeither loop on its own in about 45 minutes, or dothe complete circuit taking roughly an hour and ahalf. Follow the distinctive yellow oakleafwaymarkers and numbered posts.Please follow the Countryside Code at all times.Please keep your dog on a lead and use the dogwaste bins provided.The west loop goes around an attractive areawhich, believe it or not, used to be a colliery. Thefootpaths are NOT surfaced and can be muddy. Theeast loop goes through a more wooded landscapeon mainly surfaced paths, though STOUTFOOTWEAR IS RECOMMENDED THROUGHOUT.The east loop starts at Post 1 from the Hall carpark. You can start the west loop at post 15from the Countryside Centre car park.If you are doing the west loop only bearslightly left just before reaching the stonesteps which lead to the front lawn of the Hall. Thenhead for Post 11 down the hill. If doing the wholeroute cross the front lawn and go through the carpark into the picnic area to find Post 1.

View of the Hall fromthe Arboretum

Comma Butterfly

Red Clover

Ox-eye Daisy

Emperor dragonfly

Pine

Ash Tree

Common blue - male

Bistort

Yarrow

Blackberry

A peaceful spot to sit in the Faith Garden.

BRADFORD A652 BATLEY

Nutter

Lane Nova Lane

BIRSTALL

Nova Wood

Toft Ings

Black's Field

Asker Field

Nova Lane Field

OakwellField

Osmond'sField

Picnic Area

Countryside Centre& Car Park

Toft Triangle

Step Hills

Colliery Field

Playground

Main Entrance & Car Park

OAKWELL HALL, GARDENS AND CAFÉ

Nutter LaneField

ToadholeMeadow

Borage Common Knapweed Common Tussock Grass Feverfew Foxglove Hogweed Honeysuckle Golden Hop

Lavender Lesser Stitchwort Ragwort Rosebay Willowherb Rowan Berries Thyme Tufted Vetch Wild Strawberries

Visitor Centre andToilets WC

VIEWPOINT

Faith Garden

12

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

101112

13

14

15

16

17

N

S

EW

Photographs by Richard Aspinall

Oakwell Nature Trail 2012 GD4932:Artwork 10/05/2012 14:59 Page 2