Strothers Hills is a wondeful, peaceful little wood featuring some natural semi ancient woodland and meadows. It is unusual in that it has a reed bed in the centre of the wood, very rare in Northern England. Strother is a celtic word meaning 'dwelling by the stream'.
From 1870-1962 a railway ran through the site from the colliery at Victoria Garesfield to the cokeworks at Highfield, and its embankments can still be seen today.
It is now an SNCI (site of nature conservation interest). Since 1986 it has been an SSSI for its species diversity. Its a great place to see and hear Red Kites. The nearby meadow is full of flowers and butterflies.
Obviously being close to the reed bed/pond, keep an eye on children and animals.