Opening of the new Woolfold Viaduct

We have just got back from an 'historic event' in the Tottington area.

Train going over the old Woolfold viaduct

The Bury to Holcombe Brook Branch Railway was in use from 1882 to 1963. In 1972 the then Tottington Council considered changing the track of the railway into an off road path. Today, 40 years later, that path finally opened. It is now possible to walk or cycle from Greenmount, through Tottington, Woolfold and Brandlesholme, to Bury without having to negotiate roads.

In December 1974 the old Woolfold viaduct was demolished. The rest of the path could be opened fairly easily, but having no viaduct at Woolfold would mean a lot more planning, and more importantly money, would be required. However, in December 2007 Sustrans' Connect2 programme was awarded £50M of lottery fund money following a TV vote. Sustrans Homepage. This  meant that the project could begin.

The new viaduct, officially opened 7.5.12

There was a lot of planning, design and land acquisition to be done, but work started in February 2011.

Sustrans also has a Portrait Bench project, which is for public art. A Portrait Bench is a simple bench with three life sized figures close by. These figures are chosen by the community for their contribution to local life, culture or history (NB it is now my ambition to be next to a portrait bench....or be a mayor). The figures are cut from sheet steel. Next to the Woolfold viaduct we have David Swithenbank, Reginald Harris and Ralph Rooney.

Ralph Rooney, taken before the opening.

Ralph Rooney (1862 to 1949) was well known in the Tottington area as a councillor, long distance walker and naturalist. After working for 44 years in a mill he became under gardener at Croich Hey.

Reg Harris, taken before the opening.

Reg Harris OBE (1920 to 1992) grew up in Bury. He won two silver medals in the 1948 Olympic Games as well as several other professional titles. He was awarded an OBE (another of my ambitions) in 1958 and was named Sportsman of the Year by the BBC Sporting Record in 1949.

David Swithenbank is a lifelong resident of Holcombe. He is a walker and an artist, currently being the president of Bury Art Society. He campaigned for public rights of access on Holcombe Moor, and it was partly due to his campaigns that it was sold to the National Trust by the Ministry of Defence.



David Swithenbank today, 7.5.12

The start of the walk.

It is David Swithenbank who officially opened the viaduct today, piecing together the off road path. The whole event came together with planning from several organisations, in particular Greenmount Village Community. www.greenmountvillage.org.uk. Bury Ranger Service were there along with Sustrans, and South Lancs Bat Group came to give a talk on the bats around the Kirklees Trail (they bought a bat with them too). I was there representing Tottington Wildlife Watch Group (TWIGs), the children's branch of The Wildlife Trust. Our group is for 8 to 13 year olds, although we aren't strict about the ages. We meet every month and do 'something' outdoors. This can be pond dipping, vegetable planting, willow weaving, a bat walk and many other activities. Today, we ran the family quiz that people could complete as they walked along the trail.

Nearing the end of the walk.

After the official opening people were invited to walk the approximately two miles along the trail to Greenmount Old School where there were displays and exhibitions about the area, as well as pasties and peas for people to replenish their energy with. I was 'livetweeting' along the way, and I was amazed how many people turned up. It was fabulous seeing so many people walking and cycling along the Kirklees Trail and then joining us at the school afterwards. It was a real sense of community, and when I got home, over six hours after I had left this morning, I really felt like some good had been done.


The sun stayed out until most people were safely at the school having a cuppa, which was brilliant as the forecast had been awful. I think this will encourage people to get out in the open more as it is so safe for children to be on their bikes. It is now a lovely walk to the town centre for those feeling energetic, and there are so many entrances along the way that people from all the way from Bury to Greenmount can find somewhere to join it.

We are so lucky living here, and today everyone pulled together to make this event a huge success. Well done everyone.