Replacement signs for Canklow Woods

Visitors to one of Rotherham's most important woodlands can once again fully appreciate their green surroundings thanks to the installation of new information signs.

The new signs, made from glass reinforced plastic, make up the self-guided trail through Canklow Woods - important ancient woodland close to Rotherham Town Centre - owned by the Council.

The new information signs, together with some of the entrance signs, replace those stolen two years ago, possibly for their perceived high scrap value.

They were designed to make the 83 hectares of woodland more welcoming to visitors and to provide information about its long history and importance. The self-guided trail was officially opened in 2005 and was well-received by woodland visitors.

The 1.6 mile trail is just one of the improvements made by the Council since it bought the woodlands from the Duke of Norfolk in 2000. The site overlooking the Rother Valley was bought with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund to ensure its long-term security for public benefit.

The installation of the information signs has formed part of a larger package of improvement works that include limiting illegal access, rebuilding historic boundary walls, improving some of the main paths and bridleways, enhancing the value of important wildlife habitats and the production of information leaflets.

Now, the signage has been replaced and visitors can once again, appreciate in further detail the importance of their surroundings. Wood and timber from woods such as Canklow was used as the main source of energy in the very early days of steel production and part of the trail is routed over Canklow Earthworks, a scheduled ancient monument which is legally protected due to its national importance.

Cllr Gerald Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transport said he was sure visitors would appreciate the new replacement signage.

He added: "The self-guided trail was particularly well received and appreciated by many of the woodland's visitors when it was installed and so it was a considerable setback when the signs were stolen. We have worked hard to find a suitable replacement that will not attract thieves but will be a valuable guide to people who use and love these woods, which are sited on the doorstep of the town centre."

The trail can be walked using a leaflet produced as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund award. Copies of the leaflet, together with leaflets for the other ancient woodlands in Rotherham are available from the visitor centre in Rotherham town centre, can be downloaded from the Council's Streetpride webpages or by calling the Trees and Woodlands section of Streetpride on 01709 822177.

The trail work was completed as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund Award to restore 35 ancient woodlands throughout South Yorkshire together with grant assistance from South Yorkshire Forest Partnership.

A considerable amount of work has also been carried out over the years in conjunction with South Yorkshire Police, particularly with the support of the Rotherham North Safer Neighbourhood Team, to limit illegal access.

Collectively this work has greatly improved the feel of the woodland and has helped ensure that it remains a significant asset to Rotherham.

The Council continues to implement the management plan for Canklow Wood and will in due course be consulting widely on a new five year work programme to continue the benefits of the work complete so far.

Canklow Wood forms part of the Council's woodland estate. It is the largest of the 43 woodlands that the council owns and is particularly important given its very close proximity to Rotherham town centre.