Funday to celebrate launch of new heritage trail

Summit Quarry; part of the new heritage trail.

To celebrate the launch of the new Summit and Calderbrook Heritage Trail, the Friends of Summit and Calderbrook, Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale and Rochdale Council's Countryside Service are holding a fun day on Saturday (4 April) at Summit Quarry Nature Site.

The event starts at 10.30am and will include the grand opening of the heritage trail by the Mayor of Rochdale at 11am, a children’s Easter Egg Hunt at 11.30am and a walk of the trail at 12.30pm.

The Summit and Calderbrook Heritage Trail celebrates the diverse natural, cultural and industrial heritage of the local area through connecting four local nature sites and taking in many of the area’s key heritage points of interest.

The trail has been developed by a partnership between the Friends of Summit and Calderbrook Group, Rochdale Council Countryside Services and Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale. The development of the trail has taken place over the past three months and has included practical conservation work carried out by volunteers from both Groundwork and the Rochdale Countryside Service rangers.

This work has included the construction of way-marker posts, installation of a bench along the trail and improving the accessibility of the nature sites and footpaths.

Beth Sutcliffe, Rochdale Council Countryside Ranger, said: “This event is a celebration of all the hard work and effort from everyone who has helped with this project. We are now opening up the trail to the local community, and hope the trail will foster pride and interest in this area’s rich heritage.”

James Perkins, v challenge graduate volunteer at Groundwork, said: “It has been very rewarding working on this project as it has real benefits for the local community, and I am sure it will become a valuable community resource.”

The Summit Quarry nature site is situated behind the Summit Pub off Todmorden Road in Summit. Everyone is welcome to come along, children under eight years old must be accompanied by an adult.