Harmers Wood facts for kids
Harmers Wood is a small, interesting woodland located in the village of Helsby, in the northern part of Cheshire, England. It covers about nine acres and is home to many silver birch trees, along with some oak, holly, rowan, hawthorn, and gorse. This special wood is owned by the Friends of Harmers Wood Trust. They manage it as a non-profit area for everyone in the local community to enjoy.
The Rocks of Harmers Wood
The ground you walk on in Harmers Wood is made of a type of rock called sandstone. This sandstone is incredibly old, about 225 million years old! It formed during a time called the Triassic period. You can find different kinds of sandstone here: some is soft and red, while other parts are harder and white. During the 1800s, people dug up this harder white sandstone from four different spots in the wood. They used it to build many of the local buildings you can still see today.
Fun for Climbers
Harmers Wood is a popular spot for people who love rock climbing. Two of the old quarries in the wood have become well-known climbing areas. There are over sixty different climbing routes here, ranging from easy climbs for beginners to more challenging ones for experienced climbers. It's a great place for adventure!
A Look Back in Time
This woodland was once known as the Pine Wood, probably because many pine trees grew there. However, during World War II, most of the trees were sadly destroyed. This happened when German planes dropped bombs after their raids on the city of Liverpool.
The stone quarrying in Harmers Wood took place between 1830 and 1870. Workers used hand tools and large steam cranes to dig out the sandstone. This stone was then used to construct local buildings, including St Paul's Church in Helsby.
