Everything you need to know about Bolton's Kingfisher Trail

For decades, I have yearned to see one but the closest I came was a split-second glimpse of a vibrant blue bullet speeding along a Grasmere brook.

The difficulty in spying one lends it an almost mythic status, which is highly appropriate since it inspired a number of classical myths.

Thank goodness then for Wildlife Trust of Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside whose Kingfisher Trail will increase the chances of spotting one of these jewel-like birds, writes Neil Brandwood.

This 20-year labour of love is scenic 14-mile route connecting the rural West Pennine Moors to the centres of Bury, Bolton and Salford.

Working with community groups and dedicated organisations, the Trust has, and continues to, revive sites along the trail.

Ringley Woods by Steheffphotography

A spokesperson said: “This project is all about sharing, whether knowledge, resources or expertise, to better manage the route and improve it for both people and nature.

“We want the Kingfisher Trail to be one of the most important areas in Greater Manchester for people to engage with nature, learn about their local heritage and have fun with their families, friends and communities.”

The trail connects sites including Ringley Woods, Philips Park, Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, Moses Gate Country Park, Leverhulme Park and Upper Bradshaw Valley Nature Reserve.

Moses Gate Country Park. Picture by Mike Gregson

The trail was originally set up by the Croal-Irwell Valley Ranger Service in the early 1990s to highlight the incredible abundance of wildlife reclaiming a once industrial valley.

Following the disbanding of this service the Trust is re-establishing the trail as a way of focusing attention on this key living landscape which nowadays an army of passionate volunteers and community groups help the local authorities to manage the sites and run a range of events across the valley

The Wildlife Trust of Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside has created a downloadable map and guide to The Kingfisher Trail. It has also produced a guide to the art and sculptures top discover on the trail.

To find out more, and to download the guides, visit www.lancswt.org.uk/our-work/projects/kingfisher-trail

Sights on the King Fisher Train include Bradshaw Hall, Rock Hall Firwood Fold Meccano Bridge,

The Kingfisher Trail is home to a wide range of wildlife species and provides a recreation resource which the trust says is important for the region’s people, wildlife and heritage.

While exploring the trail in the hope of getting a glimpse of the majestic Kingfisher, look out for dippers, grey wagtails, herons.

In the woods nuthatches, treecreepers and great-spotted woodpeckers are regularly seen clinging to the mighty trees, while buzzards circle overhead and sparrowhawks flash through the branche sin the Upper Bradshaw Valley Local Nature Reserve

Longsight Park is home to home to a wonderful arboretum.

Spot the four key water birds - dipper, grey wagtail, grey heron and the' jewel of our rivers', the kingfisher in Longsight Park

(Image: Jane Wilcock)
The walk also takes in Seven Acres Local Nature Reserve, Leverhulme Park Local Nature Reserve, Darcy Lever Gravel Pits Moses Gate Country Park and Nob End Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Ringley Woods is also part of the trail and an absolute must to visit.

The trust says that much of Ringley Woods is classed as ancient and is home to all the wildlife you would expect to find in an ancient woodland ­— treecreepers and nuthatches, and listen out for the calls of buzzards, sparrowhawks and tawny owls among the towering clusters of sycamore, willow and English oak trees.