Burrs Country Park

The park covers an area once housing the mill complex of the Burr and Higher Woodhill cotton mills.[1] The old mill remains were in the main removed from the site with certain features of interest left in situ, these include the Burrs Mill chimney, the mill floor and water wheel pit. The park also contains the feeder canal for Elton Reservoir, which is the source of water for the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal. The site is on the Irwell Sculpture Trail and has three sculptures, 'Waterwheel' by David Kemp, 'Stone Cycle' by Julie Edwards and 'Picnic Area' by David Fryer.[2] The site is also home to the Bury Agricultural Society Show Ground, moved here in 2001 following the loss of the Bury Show Ground. Bury MBC have a Countryside Warden service office located in a mill old cottage on Stock Street. It has been awarded Green Flag accreditation for 2007/08.[3]

The site boasts many leisure activities including[4]

• Outdoor pursuits (walking and orienteering trails, climbing and abseiling). Outdoor and adventure activities, especially for school children are organised by the Burrs Activity Centre, based in a row of refurbished cottages.[5]
• Canoeing (training pool and slalom course). The long established Bury Canoe Club is based at the Burrs.[6]
• Playground
• Industrial archaeology - interpretation boards explain the history of the mills and cottages
• Picnic tables
• Visitor centre and cafe (open weekends and school holidays). This facility is run by the Burrs Activity Centre.
• Campsite
• Caravanning - The Caravan Club has recently opened a purpose built camping and caravan site.[7]
• Fishing
• Bird watching
• Cycling (lies on the National Cycle Route 6)[8]
• Nature study (woodland, wetland and open space habitats)

The park lies on several bus routes from Bury town centre. There is a railway station on the East Lancashire Railway nearby to the park which was opened in October 2016[9] and since January 2017, has seen regular passenger services. The park is easily accessible by car or bicycle from Bury Bridge on the A58 and by footpaths leading from the suburbs of Brandlesholme, to the west, and Walmersley, Seedfield and Limefield to the east.

Bury MBC provide several guides to the area including the Irwell Sculpture Trail, activity Centre, wildlife, fishing and industrial heritage. These are available from Bury MBC at the site or can be downloaded at the Bury MBC website.[10]