Countryside events in the Rochdale borough
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Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre exhibitions
- 10 November to 2 December - Art, Crafts &
Photographs A collection from local crafts people, with
demonstrations and have-a-go workshops running every weekend
throughout the exhibition
- 10 December to 2 January 2012 - Seasons Greetings
by Hollingworth lake Ranger Service
- 5 January to 31 January 2012 - Healey
Dell
- 2 February to 28 February - Heywood
Artists
- 2 March to 21 March - Wardle Artists
- 23 March to 11 April - Rochdale Camera
Club
November
Sunday 20 November - Postcard from the Arctic
Time: 2.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
A slideshow talk by Frank Harrison from Lancashire Wildlife Trust
as part of the Arts, Craft & Photographic Exhibition. 1-2
hours.
Thursday 24 November - Roch Valley Walk
Time: 1.00pm
Place: Queen’s Park Lodge, Queen’s Park Road,
Heywood
Enjoy a short walk through the woodlands of the Roch Valley. 2
hours.
Saturday 26 November - RSPB information stall
Time: 11.00 – 4.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Find out more about the local birds in the area and talk with RSPB
expert Jo Keene about the best places to go.
Saturday 26 November - GO WILD Feed the Birds
Time: 2.00 – 4.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Booking essential: Limited places. Call 01706 373421. Cost £1.00
per person
As part of National Tree Week enjoy a walk through the woods,
discovering what birds are around and make your own bird feeders
with woodland fruits, logs and sticks. 1-2 hours.
December
Sunday 4 December - Tree Dressing
Time: 11.00am
Place: Lever Bridge, Alkrington Woods (off
Manchester Old Road) Middleton M24 1WD
Make some decorations and help dress a tree with Friends of
Alkrington Woods and Rangers on Alkrington Hall Slope. 2 hours.
Saturday 10 December - Community Litter Pick
Time: 1.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Help the Rangers with a pre-festive litter pick around the Lake and
enjoy a mince pie to finish. All equipment provided. 2 hours.
Sunday 11 December - Natural Crafts
Time: 2.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Booking essential: Limited places. Call 01706 373421. Cost £1.00
per person
Make seasonal decorations from willow and natural materials.
Includes a short walk to gather inspiration and materials. Children
must be accompanied by an adult. 2 hours.
Saturday 17 December to Monday 2 January - Christmas
Trail
Time: Self led
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Collect a trail leaflet from the visitor centre and go out and
explore the lake for yourself, looking for clues along the way.
Suitable for all the family. 2-3 hours.
Monday 26 December, Boxing Day - Punch and Mince
Pies
Time: From 11.00am
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Call in at the Visitor Centre to enjoy seasonal punch and mince
pies.
January 2012
Sunday 1 January - Walk in the Park
Time: 11.30am
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Welcome the New Year in with this fantastic walk in the country
park. Booking not essential but please call 01706 373421 in case of
bad weather. 2-3 hours.
Sunday 15 January - Winter Wonderland
Time: 10.00am
Place: Lever Bridge, Alkrington Woods (off
Manchester Old Road), Middleton M24 1WD
Enjoy a winter walk through the woods with the Friends of
Alkrington Woods and Rangers. Learn how to identify the trees in
their winter disguise. 2 hours.
Saturday 21 January - Brown Wardle
Time: 10.30am
Place: Healey Dell Ranger Office, Dell Road, OL12
6BG
A circular 6 mile walk from Healey Dell to the top of Brown Wardle
via Man Stone Edge. 4 hours.
Saturday 21 January - Go Wild Signs of Nature
Time: 2.00– 4.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Booking essential: Limited places. Call 01706 373421. Cost £1.00
per person.
Learn how to use natural things to help find your way around the
Country Park and discover more about its winter wildlife. 1-2
hours.
Thursday 26 January - Roch Valley Walk
Time: 1.00pm
Place: Queen’s Park Lodge, Queen’s Park Road,
Heywood
Enjoy a short walk through the woodlands of the Roch Valley. 2
hours.
Saturday 28 January - RSPB STALL & Big Garden
Birdwatch
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Throughout the day visit the RSPB stall and find out everything you
wanted to know about birds and the best places to hear and see
them. Then join us and have a go at spotting some birds as part of
the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch at 2.00pm.
February
Sunday 5 February - Winter Tree ID
Time: 1.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor
Centre Join the countryside rangers and Pennine Edge Forest officer
and learn basic tree identification using shape, buds and bark. 2
hours.
Sunday 12 February - Hall to Hall
Time: 10.00am
Place: Lever Bridge, Alkrington Woods (off
Manchester Old Road), Middleton M24 1WD
Come for a walk from Alkrington Hall to Hopwood with the Friends of
Alkrington Woods and Rangers. Bring a packed lunch. 4 hours.
Saturday 18 February - Greenbooth
Time: 10.30am
Place: Healey Dell Rangers Office, OL12 6BG
A circular 6 mile walk from Healey Dell to Greenbooth and Naden
Reservoirs via Rooley Moor Road. Bring a packed lunch. 4 hours.
Saturday 18 February - Community Litter Pick
Time: 1.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre Help the
Rangers with a litter pick around the Lake.
All equipment provided. 2 hours.
Sunday 19 February - Bird ID and Bird Boxes
Time: 10.30am
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Join local experts on this short bird walk, followed by a bird box
making workshop. Box is £2.50 to take home. 2 hours.
Sunday 19 February - RSPB STALL
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Throughout the day, visit the RSPB stall and find out everything
you wanted to know about birds and the best places to hear and see
them.
Thursday 23 February - Roch Valley Walk
Time: 1.00pm
Place: Queen’s Park Lodge, Queen’s Park Road,
Heywood
Enjoy a short walk through the woodlands of the Roch Valley. 2
hours.
March
Saturday 3 March - Go Wild Signs of Spring
Time: 2.00– 4.00pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
Booking essential: Limited places. Call 01706 373421. Cost £1.00
per person
Buds are bursting, bulbs are emerging and birds are busy making
nests. Take a walk in the woods searching for signs of Spring. 1-2
hours.
Sunday 4 March - Watergrove Walk
Time: 10.00am
Place: Healey Dell Ranger Office, Dell Road, OL12
6BG
An 11 mile walk from Healey Dell to Watergrove Reservoir via Brown
Wardle, passing Whitworth Square on the return. Bring a packed
lunch. Approx 6 hours.
Sunday 18 March - Mysteries in History
Time: 1.30pm
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre Discover
the hidden secrets of Hollingworth Lake’s history with Ranger Jude
Murray and Friends of Hollingworth Lake. Approx 2 hours.
Saturday 24 March - Spring Clean and BBQ
Time: 10.00am
Place: Healey Dell Ranger Office Duration: 2-3
hours Help the countryside rangers and the Friends of Healey Dell
prepare for summer, then relax and chat over a well earned BBQ
lunch. 2-3 hours.
Saturday 24 March - Duck Race
Time: 2.00pm
Place: Boardman Brook, Off Manchester New Road,
Middleton.
Follow the path opposite Mainway Race your chosen duck down
Boardman Brook in Alkrington Woods. Prizes awarded for the winning
ducks. This is a free family event run by Friends of Alkrington
Woods and Rangers – come and enjoy! 1-2 hours.
Sunday 25 March - Lunch at the Dell
Time: 10.30am
Place: Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre
All day circular walk from Hollingworth Lake Visitor Centre. Bring
a packed lunch to enjoy at Healey Dell. 5 hours.
Thursday 29 March - Roch Valley Walk
Time: 1.00pm
Place: Queen’s Park Lodge, Queen’s Park Road,
Heywood Enjoy a short walk through the woodlands of the Roch
Valley. 2 hours