St Helens
Background and analysis
The landscape assessment placed most of the district within one region: the St. Helens coalfield, which is characterised by the urban nature of the area. This overlays the natural landscape of the Lancashire Plain and Mersey Valley regions. A small area of Lancashire Plain occurs in the north-west of the district and the open agricultural land in the south-east is within the Mersey Valley region. The landform is gently rolling, but rises steeply in the north at Billinge Hill. South of St. Helens, the land slopes gently down into the Mersey Valley. The large number of colliery tips in southern St. Helens and Haydock has made a significant impact on the landscape, creating an undulating landform in an otherwise flat area.
The nature of the urban area is very different from other urban areas in the Forest and has resulted from the development of the coalfield and related industries. Historically, the district was sparsely populated; as mines were developed, settlements grew up around them and these coalesced to form the present urban area. So the urban edge is highly convoluted, partially enclosing large areas of open and agricultural land.
Within the urban area, there are large open spaces, mainly tips or derelict land. Industrial sites are scattered and intermingled with housing areas and, indeed, a large industrial site is immediately adjacent to the city centre. The decline of the coal industry and related activities has left a legacy of derelict sites, disused infrastructure and a very poor quality urban environment. This is being addressed by initiatives such as Ravenhead Renaissance and Wasteland to Woodland, and its successors. Both are partnerships between the local authority and private sector to regenerate the area.
The agricultural land near the urban edge has lost its historic structure through a combination of factors. These include trespass, vandalism, construction of railways and pylon lines, poor upkeep of hedges and buildings, horse-keeping and abandonment of cropping.
To the north of St. Helens, the landscape is more intact, but has lost some structure through urban influences and agricultural intensification. The basic hedgerow pattern is still visible, although in a poor condition.
The land to the south-east of St. Helens around Bold Heath and stretching north across the M62 is intensively farmed for cereals. This has caused a dramatic loss of hedgerows and landscape structure. However, the landscape of scattered woodlands on the borough boundary is a designed landscape created in the eighteenth century, rather than the remnants of the historically evolved landscape seen elsewhere.
Guiding principles
Create a woodland structure based on large derelict sites in south and east St. Helens by supporting the Wasteland to Woodland project.
- Provide a woodland buffer around the urban edge.
- Extend planting into the urban area by taking advantage of appropriate open land and the greenway network based on existing watercourses.
- Provide a new woodland structure for the surrounding agricultural areas.
Policies and opportunities
Numbers refer to the 'St Helens planting strategy' map.
CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE LARGE SCALE MAP
SH1 In the agricultural area to the north of St. Helens, restore hedges and hedgerow trees, and plant copses and small woodlands within the existing field pattern. Increase the density and size of woodlands adjacent to the A580(T) and around the Haydock Industrial Estate. Careful design of layout will be required on the hillside.
SH2 In the agricultural area to the west of Eccleston, restore hedges and hedgerow trees, and plant small copses and woodlands.
SH3 Retain and manage existing woodland and create new woodlands as part of any redevelopment around Rainhill Hospital.
SH4 A significant area of the agricultural land around Blundells Hill has now been converted into a golf course with substantial areas of woodland planting sympathetically planted to provide landscaping and screening from the M62.
SH5 Whilst the planting of the road verges along the M62 link road into St Helens is now complete, opportunities exist to create additional woodland and other habitats adjacent to the road, particularly where new development is taking place. This planting could link across to the Wasteland to Woodland sites in Thatto Heath creating green wildlife corridors.
SH6 Create a well-wooded landscape on the open land to the east of Rainhill.
SH7 Create a sweep of woodland around the southern edge of the urban area from Marshalls Cross, through Sutton Manor to Clockface Colliery.
SH8 South of the M62, plant copses and small to medium-sized woodlands in balance with the open agricultural landscape. Support the management of existing woodlands in the east of this area.
SH9 Establish woodlands around the periphery of the urban fringe and industrial edge to the east of Sutton Leach.
SH10 Support the Wasteland to Woodland and Groundwork initiatives for the creation of a large area of woodland in the area of Bold Moss and Bold Power Station. Undertake any redevelopment in a woodland setting.
SH11 Carry out woodland planting in the Sankey Valley extending into the urban area and along the edge of Newton-le-Willows. Work with Warrington Borough to enhance the existing green corridor.
SH12 Create a well-wooded landscape in the open land between Blackbrook, Haydock, Newton le Willows and extending across the M6.
SH13 Create an 'in the Forest' landscape for the M6 motorway north from the Liverpool-Manchester Railway to the borough boundary; preserve some views out, especially towards the Race Course.
SH14 Create a well-wooded landscape for the area around Parkside Colliery.
SH15 Extend periphery planting into the urban area by planting on all available and appropriate sites, especially to create a new woodland setting for re-development of derelict or vacant sites. Continue work on the developing greenway network.
