Trip reports

Field Trip to Sutton Manor Woodlands

Wednesday, 11 June 2008

The latest North Cheshire RSPB field trip took place on Wed Jun 11th at Sutton Manor near St. Helens. The site was once a disused colliery, in recent years it has been restored by the Forestry Commission which has planted areas of woodland, planted wildflower meadows and created several ponds. A number of footpaths have also been built to allow easy access to the site.

The site attracts a variety of wildlife, Song Thrush, Blackcap and Chiffchaff sang from the woodland areas whilst in the more scrubby areas birds such as Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Yellowhammer were recorded. In the wetland areas Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting were seen, at least one Skylark was still heard singing over the grassland. There were also a wide variety of wild flowers seen including Bee and Marsh Orchid.