Warrington
Woodland Trust wood group
Size:
5.63 ha (13.91 acres)
Grid reference:
SJ587909
Map reference:
Explorer 276
OS Landranger 108
Seeds Plantation is a tranquil haven in busy, urban Warrington and popular with local people. The site is actually a series of linked woods made up of Seeds Plantation itself, Big Moss Wood, Little Moss Wood and Little Moss Copse and provides a good network of level, mostly surfaced paths suitable for pushchairs and buggies.
At its heart is a core of mature woodland with beech, oak and horse chestnut trees that are up to 150 years old. In recent years, more trees have been added, including wild cherry and rowan. The woodland habitats it provides for flora and fauna has led to its designation as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).
Seeds Plantation is a 6.4-hectare (15.8-acre) site in the Callands area of Warrington, Cheshire. Together with Big Moss Wood, Little Moss Wood and Little Moss Copse, the site stretches between Callands Road and Cromwell Avenue (A574).
From Warrington, head north on the A49, then turn left onto the A574 (Cromwell Avenue). At the first roundabout, take the first exit onto Callands Road. The wood is on the left after the housing estate.
The nearest train station is Warrington Central, which is 5.3km (3.3 miles) from Seeds Plantation.
Visit National Rail for more information.
There are bus stops along Callands Road that are served by 17, 18 and 18A buses.
Visit Traveline for more information.
There are a number of access points and an adjacent green space with a play park (at Callands Road and Ridgeborne Close). However, access is limited to an area north of the site, which is bounded by housing and separated from the adjacent woodland by Goldcliffe Close.
The woodland is crossed with tarmac paths that link surrounding housing, and by a minor road. It is relatively flat and the mostly surfaced paths mean that it is accessible to pushchairs and buggies.
Roadside parking is permitted in residential areas.
The nearest toilets can be found at either Gemini Retail Park, which is about 0.8km (0.5 miles) to the north-west of Seeds Plantation, or at the Westbrook Centre, which is roughly the same distance to the south-west. Both are signposted from Cromwell Avenue (A574).
Despite its urban setting, Seeds Plantation is still home to an abundance of wildlife.
Look out for:
Seeds Plantation has a mature, high forest canopy and veteran trees. The centre and north-west corner of the site are dominated by large, mature trees.
Little Moss Wood has a mix of mature birch and oak, while Big Moss Wood is predominantly young birch woodland and Little Moss Copse a new plantation of mixed woodland and grassland. Look out for mosses and liverworts throughout the woodland.
Look out for:
In an urban area, Seeds Plantation provides important woodland and grassland habitats for local wildlife to feed, breed and live in.
Explore:
Seeds Plantation has a heart of mature woodland, but in the past much of the site was used for farmland with small pockets of woodland – which included Seeds Plantation and Little Moss Wood. In recent years, more trees have been planted in the woodland and Little Moss Copse added to the site in 2000 as part of the ‘Woods on Your Doorstop’ millennium project.
The mature areas of woodland are thought to be around 150 years old. The site was given to us by the local council in the 1990s.
Visiting woods
Dogs are welcome for walkies in our woods. Take a look at our tips and guidelines for ensuring we keep our woods safe and special for dogs and wildlife.
Visiting woods
Discover events at our woods and the festivals and fairs you can find us at soon.
Visiting woods
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