Saturday called for me to go pick up some friends from the airport in the early afternoon. Before leaving, I decided this was a good opportunity to go exploring. After a quick internet search, I discovered a fair few nature reserves on the way to the airport. I decided on one, typed the coordinates into the sat nav, and off I went with Mother in tow. The place we had decided on visiting was a place we’d seen signposted on our way to many a shopping trip to Cheshire Oaks but had never paid it any mind: Stanney Woods.
Stanney Woods is surrounded by housing estates so it’s easy to miss it as you whizz past on the carriage way. As we pulled out of the unusually busy but still-a-bit-quiet-for-a-Saturday traffic, we were greeted by a near empty car park. Stepping out of the car, although the road still close by, we were protected from the majority of the hustle and bustle sound by the calm rustling of the tree branches hanging overhead, inviting us into the woods. After a quick glance at the map on the notice board, we ventured inside. It was quite surreal I must admit, to be walking down a woodland path looking to your left to see a myriad of trees and trails then to your right, to see a myriad of houses and cars. It possessed the gorgeous woodland smell that I love so much but it was mixed in with the smell of industrialisation. It didn’t ruin the oaky notes but it did emphasize the fact to me that at least man was trying to make space for nature in this ever growing world. Walking along, we noticed that the trees, in a perfect juxtaposition to the symmetrical houses, grew in new and interesting shapes and hid many secrets within their branches. Venturing off the beaten track, where many a parent and child were out on their bikes, we discovered various ponds. Some were covered in a green algae substance and others were more mud than water. At first glance, they were the usual council estate ponds containing no life and the odd Cola bottle but on closer inspection they were the home of many a tiny insect; flies flew around in groups whilst butterflies danced just above the green surfaces proving that beauty can indeed be found in unlikely places.
Moving on down the path we had chosen, one could well forget that they were next to a carriageway. Now in the woods, the road noise was barely audible over the sound of Doves, Jays and Robins. A few of the said Jays led us on a wild goose chase. As we gazed up into the tall trees, they teased us with fleeting images as they sped from one tree to another. They always proved to be just out of reach to photograph properly (if you see any on my photos, then please tell me where they are!)
As we walked on, I imagined being a child around here and how many adventures one could have in these woods! We turned off onto a little path that led us into the heart of the woods. It was filled with mud pits, long grass and secret hideaways in tree roots. There was also a long thin watery ditch that was only passable by either balancing on a broken tree branch or swinging from another. If I were a kid, I would’ve pretended to be some great explorer in the Amazon, gallantly fighting my way through everything nature had to throw at me.
To me, having something like this for a child to experience nearby is essential. They are free to explore and learn about nature of their own free will and parents are able to spend real quality time with their kids as they set off on adventures with them.
Back at the car, we ate Mum’s home-made pork pies and some cherry tomatoes washed down by some cherry cake.
Although not a nature reserve in the truest sense of the word, Stanney Woods provides an outdoor classroom for kids about nature and proves to be a place of respite from the busy world that lies just outside its doors.
