IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING THE CACHE
- NO SPOILERS IN YOUR LOGS PLEASE!
- You must not be observed retrieving or replacing the cache. Do not attempt the cache if there are muggles in the vicinity.
- Please replace the cache EXACTLY as you found it. Please ensure that the camouflage is correctly replaced and that the cache is secure after replacing it.
- Respect the environment. The cache has been placed in order to cause no damage to the surrounding environment, please ensure that you do not damage the environment when attempting to retrieve the cache. If you feel that you are unable to do so then please come back with the proper tools.
- There is space in the cache for swaps, Travel Bugs or Geocoins. p.
Sankey Valley Park takes its name from the valley of Sankey Brook, part of which it occupies. The main park itself covers over 1½ miles between Sankey Bridges in the south and Callands in the north. The park can get very busy when the weather is nice and is enjoyed by walkers, cyclists and anglers. The central section of the park is family orientated with children's play features, a maze and lawned areas. Bewsey Old Hall sits on the edge of the central section of the park and RAF Burtonwood lies one mile to the west. The Trans Pennine Trail passes around 500 yards from the southern tip of the park.
History
England's first canal, Sankey Canal, follows the course of Sankey Valley and stretches for 15 miles from St. Helens through Warrington to Widnes. The canal was opened in 1757 to carry coal from the mines around the St. Helens area to the markets of Liverpool and Cheshire, it pioneered the canal age. The canal was responsible for shaping the valley, its environment and development from the late 18th century to the early 20th century.
With the advent of the railways began the long decline of the canals but the stretch of the Sankey canal that now occupies Sankey Valley Park remained open until 1963. Today the local authorities of Warrington, St. Helens and Halton along with the Sankey Canal Restoration Society, are developing the Sankey Canal Trail as a 15-mile greenway either side of the park, whilst working towards the restoration of a navigation route.
On the western side of the park lies Bewsey Old Hall. Prior to the Hall being built, a monastic grange existed on the site. A hall was first built on the site by William Fitz Almeric le Boteler. The Hall and estate was home to the Lords of Warrington from the 13th century for many generations. The current hall is a three storey, mostly Jacobean building. It has distinctive chimneys and stone mullion windows which are most likely the work of Sir Thomas Ireland and date back to around 1600. Sir Thomas was knighted at Bewsey by King James I in 1617. Later additions to the Hall include a farmhouse and kitchen, dating from the 18th century and 19th century with earlier foundations. The original 14th century moat only partly holds water today.
The park
The park is largely linear, following a stretch of Sankey Brook and the old Sankey Canal. In several places the park opens up into open, lawned areas and features such as a hedge maze, a meadow, mature woodland and a wetland nature reserve. One main asphalt footpath stretches the length of the park whilst several narrower paths split from the main path in the wider spaces of the park. The central section of the park is family orientated with children's play features and picnic areas. The park is also patrolled by park rangers and a rangers' office is located in the central section of the park close to Bewsey Old Hall.
Wildlife and nature
An array of wildlife can be found in the park. Diurnal creatures include squirrels, swans, butterflies and woodland birds. Nocturnal inhabitants include foxes, owls, mice, hedgehogs and bats. More rarely seen species such as stoats and weasels, treecreepers, kingfishers, water voles and reed bunting have all been spotted in the park.
In late spring, orchids can be found in the meadow, whilst a wealth of butterflies visit during the summer. Most of the mature woodlands within the Valley are owned by the Woodland Trust who safeguard woods within the landscape, protect habitats for the benefit of wildlife and encourage public access and enjoyment. The woods are particularly picturesque around spring, when an assortment of wild flowers can be seen, and during the autumn leaf falls. A variety of water plants, animals and birds can be seen on or around the park's many ponds, Sankey Brook, the Wetland Nature Reserve or the Canal.
Getting There
By car: If you are approaching the valley from the east, there is a free car park located on Lilford Avenue, at the end of Lodge Lane. If you are approaching from the west there is a small free car park located on Ledyard Close, off Old Hall Road. Coordinates for both car parks are given below.
By bus: From Warrington Interchange take bus No.18 to Callands or No.16 to Dallam.