A HISTORIC woodland is enjoying a new lease of life following a restoration programme.

Big Wood in Runcorn has undergone a series of works to make it more accessible for visitors in time for the summer holidays.

The wood, in Windmill Hill, was formerly part of the Norton Priory estate, which was bought by Sir Richard Brooke in 1545.

In the 1770s, the Brooke family wanted to landscape the grounds of the mature, broadleaf woodland, which also features monkey puzzle and dawn redwood trees, and to stop grazing cattle from wandering into their gardens.

A ha-ha wall, which features a ditch before the structure, was erected in order to prevent animals from accessing the land but this has since collapsed in places.

Tony Hickinbottom from the Earth Skills Project has worked to rebuild the historical wall as part of the Woodland Trust’s restorations of Big Wood.

Other work has including clearing non-native, invasive rhododendrons from the wood to allow more delicate native flora to thrive.

Paths throughout the wood have also been cleared to make them easier to navigate, while new information boards will be introduced later this year.

Site manager Neil Oxley said: “Big Wood has got a rich history and is a valuable local habitat, so we were keen to make it easier to explore.

“I hope people enjoy learning more about the former pleasure grounds and the quirky features that still exist today.”