Ecclesall Woods facts for kids
Ecclesall Woods is a large and beautiful woodland area in the south-west of Sheffield, England. It's located between Abbeydale Road South and the area called Ecclesall. These woods cover about 350 acres (or 1.4 square kilometers) of old, natural forest.
Long ago, people used the trees here for wood and to make charcoal. Today, the city council looks after the woods. They make sure it's a great place for wildlife and for people to visit. You can find two roads and more than 15 kilometers of walking paths winding through the woods. There's even a fun Abbeydale miniature railway hidden inside! Ecclesall Woods is also a special place called a Local Nature Reserve. This means it's protected for its important plants and animals.
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What Makes Ecclesall Woods Special?
Ecclesall Woods is full of interesting historical spots. You can find old mill sites and other cool things from the past.
Ryecroft Mill: An Old Water Mill
Ryecroft Mill was a mill powered by water from the Limb Brook stream. It was used to melt lead, which is a type of metal. This mill has been around since at least the 1600s! Later, it was used to grind corn into flour.
Ecclesall Woods Sawmill: Modern Woodwork
There's a modern sawmill right inside the woods. It was built after a big storm in 1962 damaged many trees. A private company runs it now. There are plans to make it both a working sawmill and a place where visitors can learn more about the woods.
Q Pits: Mystery of White Coal
Deep in the woods, you can find many old pits. There are about a hundred places where people made charcoal. You can also see two hundred "Q pits." Experts believe these pits were used to make something called "white coal." This was a special type of fuel.
Charcoal Burner's Grave: A Sad Story
There's a grave site in the woods that tells a sad story. It remembers a man named George Yardley. He died in 1786 when his cabin caught fire. This grave is now a protected historical site.
Prehistoric Carved Stone: Ancient Art
In 1981, a very old stone with carvings was found in the woods. It has special "cup and ring" marks on it. Experts think these carvings were made a very long time ago, during the late Stone Age or Bronze Age. This stone and the area around it are now a protected ancient monument.
