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Location Longworth Clough lies within the valley of Eagley Brook. It is on the northern outskirts of Bolton, about 1km (0.5 mile) northwest of Egerton and the same distance southeast of Belmont. Parking is possible in rough lay-bys on the Longworth Road. Vehicles are left entirely at the owner's risk. Buses run through Egerton and Belmont from Blackburn and Bolton. |
Access The nature reserve is open to the general public and several public footpaths pass through it. In the interest of wildlife conservation and your own safety please stay on the footpaths. Some of the fields have livestock grazing them, please ensure you dog is on a lead at all times. Status Longworth Clough nature reserve covers an area of 42 ha. It is nationally important for its wildlife and most of it has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, updated by the Countryside & Rights of Way Act 2000. All of it is owned by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside except for a building and some other structures, which are owned by United Utilities plc. |
Longworth Clough
Nearest Towns: Bolton, Egerton and Belmont
OSGB Grid Reference: SD 695 102; Landranger 109, Explorer 287
Longworth Clough nature reserve lies within the West Pennine Moors Management Area. It supports an outstanding mosaic of woodland, wetland and grassland, rich in wildlife.
The Clough was once part of the estate of Longworth Hall, the seat of the Longworth family. The Hall's earliest mention is in a deed of 1630. It lay on the Longworth Road but was demolished around the time of the construction of Delph Reservoir (1908-21). The whole of the Eagley Brook was a hive of industrial activity throughout much of the 19th century, and Belmont Print Works and Belmont paper mill continue in business upstream of the nature reserve today. Evidence of Longworth Mill, demolished in 1912, can still be seen on flat land next to a stone bridge across the Eagley Brook. That mill was powered by water carried along a goyt from further upstream. The disused goyt is still a significant feature on the nature reserve today.
The complex drainage of the site is not well understood but the resultant ground water seepages produce patches of flush-mire, supporting yellow iris, common spotted orchid, bog asphodel and sneezewort; and areas of alder and willow carr, supporting great horsetail, marsh marigold, and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage. Sessile oak woodland dominates the drier slopes.
Acid grassland on the steeper slopes supports heath bedstraw and tormentil; especially on the banks of the old goyt and in parts of Oak Field, next to the Longworth Road. A few splashes of lilac are provided in late summer by flowering Devil's-bit scabious.
Recent survey work has confirmed that Longworth Clough supports a very rich invertebrate community, particularly in respect of insects. Most of these won't be obvious to the casual visitor, but butterflies found include small skipper, large white, green-veined white, red admiral, peacock, comma, gatekeeper and meadow brown.
Numerous woodland bird species breed on the nature reserve, including woodcock, tawny owl, tree pipit, wood warbler and long-tailed tit. A dipper has occasionally been seen feeding in the Eagley Brook.
