Nature Watch with Ron Freethy

THE woodlands which surround Towneley Park at Burnley and the wonderful hall which dominates the area have probably been studied more than most in Lancashire.

The reason is not hard to find. In the 1940s and 1950s Clifford Oakes was writing his classic book The Birds of Lancashire and his pioneering work was continued by Ken Spencer.

Because of these two modest men, the cause of scientific birdwatching in Lancashire was set on the right lines.

Alongside one of the footpaths through the park, a stone bears a plaque to the memory of Clifford Oakes.

In the early 1970s, nature trails and what is now the natural history centre were set up by the local council, Eric Halsall (who later became famous as the first presenter of the TV series One Man and His Dog), Dennis Hartley, Ken Spencer and myself. On a lovely day recently I followed those paths.

Birds were singing in the trees, the rooks were busy incubating their eggs near the cafe and lapwings were feeding in the fields running down to the River Calder.

Oyster fungus on the trunks of trees looked colourful and the little bridge over a tributary stream running through the park was a delight.

Over most of its length these days the Calder is a joy.

Not long ago it was stained red due to iron oxide (rust) deposits running out of the coal mines which once surrounded the Burnley area. The Thanet Lee woodland has probably changed little since the Towneleys were in residence.

The last member of the family to live in the historic hall was Lady O'Hagan, who sold her home to Burnley Council in 1902.

The local council is still maintaining a high environmental profile and the recent scheme to plant at least a million trees in the area is exciting to say the least.

The new scheme is a follow-up to past initiatives which involved landscaping of old mine workings, many in the area around the Towneley and the Rowley areas.

All I can say to everybody involved is keep up the good work.

The more pleasant walks I can take in my adopted home town, the better I will like it.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.