A HISTORIC Whitefield park, just a stones throw away from the busy M60 motorway and a haven for wildlife, will be enjoyed by generations to come following the announcement that it is set to become one of Bury's first nature reserves.

The 100-plus acres of Philips Park, bought by Whitefield Council for the sum of £7,250 in 1948, has been earmarked along with Chesham Woods in Bury to receive local nature reserve designation from English Nature, the Government's adviser on the natural environment.

Local Nature Reserves are picked for their for their combination of wildlife, community use and educational resources.

And with the park scoring 43 out of 45 on an assessment by the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, it is hoped the decision will be rubber stamped, giving wildlife officers a lever to attract funding for improvements to facilities.

So the Guide decided to take a look at the history of the park which has long been a favourite spot for people enjoying a picnic, a walk of bike ride while the Barn Countryside Centre is the focal point for school and community groups taking part in pond dipping, wood crafts and bat walks. Bury's projects and wildlife officer Mr Dave Dutton said the designation would be the "icing on the cake" for Philips Park which is already protected by Grade 2 historical park status thanks to its formal Victorian gardens, lodges and cloughs.

The 126-acres of land was bought in 1800 by Robert Philips and is thought to have been the largest area of land in Pilkington at the time not owned by the Earl of Derby.

Three generations of the family lived in The Park, as it was then known, including Robert's sons Mark, an MP, and Robert Needham who built Park Lane School in 1848, later replaced by Higher Lane CP School.

Many of the park's buildings have since been demolished by the former Whitefield Council and Bury Council, including several lodges and a thatched cottage which made way for the motorway.

A viaduct was also blown up by the Army in 1965 after it fell into disrepair and rumours have it that a film company caught the event on film for posterity.

Mr Dutton said: "Philips Park Hall was demolished 40 years ago but the stable block was retained and the gardens next to these.

"The park is a popular area for walking and the lodges are very popular with school groups while the Barn Countryside Centre is a focus point for pupils and training courses.

"We are already carrying out wildlife management and the park is looking very, very good at the moment.

"It has already had money spent on it and the Local Nature Reserve status would be the icing on the cake - Philips Park certainly fulfils all criteria."

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