Macclesfield Forest
Macclesfield Forest is a scenic blend of coniferous forest, lakes and moorland with extensive variety of wildlife, including a heronry. The main forest car park, adjacent to the Trentabank reservoir, may be reached by driving through the village of Langley and following the signs. This photo was taken by Wayne Molyneux, a local photographer - see some more of his work by following the links on the Links page.
Toilets and information are available at the Visitor's Centre at Trentabank Reservoir, which is adjacent to the main car park (postcode SK11 0NE). All guided walks around the forest start and end at the Visitor's Centre. Also available at the Visitor's Centre is the Nice Nosh refreshment stall, serving excellent hot and cold snacks. Tables, chairs and a picnic area are provided. There is an easy-access path from the Visitor's Centre leading down to the reservoir.
Walks in the forest follow public footpaths, or concessionary paths and bridlepaths. Any of the way-marked trails through the forest may be followed on foot, all of which start from the visitor centre. Visitors are recommended to wear stout shoes or walking boots, as the paths are sometimes uneven, and often muddy! A leaflet is available showing the 3 way-marked trails, of 1km, 5km or 9km distance. The way-marked trails in places are also designated as concessionary paths and bridlepaths, which may be used for horse-riding or cycling. STOP PRESS!! As of April 2009, new paths are being constructed, and new signing is being introduced. Details will be added here soon.
Most of the trees planted between the 1930s and 1950s were conifers, like Sitka spruce and Scots pine. But there are also large patches of native broadleaved trees. Although the forest has a herd of red deer, you are unlikely to see these shy animals. You may see deer hoof-prints in the mud (or snow), or spot trees where deer have rubbed the bark away. The small mammals of the forest are very elusive, but you may see a weasel as it dashes across your path, or find a pine cone that has been gnawed by a mouse. Macclesfield Forest was once the centre of a Royal Forest created by the Norman conquerors for the purpose of hunting game such as deer, wild boar and wolves. This particular forest stretched from the modern Disley down to the River Dane, and was the preserve of the Earls of Chester. This has always been an isolated and sparsely populated area, and it still is.
Bottoms, Ridgegate and Tegg’s Nose reservoirs were built in the late 19th century, to meet the needs of Macclesfield's fast-growing population. Trentabank reservoir followed in the 1920s. Tree plantations replaced farms in the water catchment area, to avoid pollution. This has made today's landscape probably more forested than it has been at any time since the Bronze Age.
The reservoirs are home to many wildfowl. At different seasons you may see tufted duck, goldeneye, pochard, teal, little grebe, great crested grebe, and coot. Trentabank is also home to a large heronry – the larch trees at the eastern shore are the nesting sites.