Major cash boost for popular woodland next to Shireoaks Marina

The cash, from Notts County Council’s Supporting Local Communities (SLC) fund, has been used to improve access over the site and to create a pond at the area.

The area, known locally as Woodlands, was named after the large house which once stood on the site before the development of Shireoaks Colliery.

The majority of the money has been spent on a new access path with steps from the south west corner of the site, near to Rhodesia.

Coun Sybil Fielding, a founding member of the Friends of Woodlands and Coachwood Green group, says she is ‘thrilled to bits’ by the improvements.

“The area has been used much more since the improvements were made and it is very popular with everyone from dog walkers to runners and members of the public just enjoying a stroll,” she said.

The path was previously an informal route only, used by hardy walkers to get across the field and up an unsuitable and dangerous steep bank.

The new footpath can be reached from Shireoaks Road and opposite Doefield Dun lock on the Chesterfield Canal. This provides access to the Woodlands for pedestrians from the southern part of Worksop and Rhodesia from the canal towpath.

It will also link the Woodlands across the canal at Doefield Dun lock with the public footpaths on the southern side of the canal to Steetley, Whitwell and beyond.

Coun Fielding added: “It’s a great example of what supporting local communities is all about – working with local people to create something for the local area and helping to make a green space more accessible to everyone.”

The SLC fund helps deliver improvement schemes for local people who need it most in their areas.