The most outstanding feature of Sutton Colliery was the pit tip that smouldered and glowed red at night time. Buried deep under the spoil heap was Brierley Pond which was once alive with minnows, sticklebacks, newts, tadpoles and frogs. Take a walk up Rooley Lane towards the site of the old railway bridge and the former mine. The miners would walk this route each day up to Sutton Colliery.
The grey spoil mound that was clearly visible from around the park has now been transformed by the planting of trees.
The winding wheels from the colliery have been installed on the path to Brierley Waters, a large pond created in 1998 and planted with range of floating, emergent, marginal and submerged plants. A picnic area is sited adjacent to the pond.
Wildflower meadows have been sown with native species such as yarrow and ox-eye daisy, and wetland areas created. A wide variety of wildlife now flourishes in the park, for example a large population of skylarks nest on the spoil heap. Other residents include foxes, owls, meadow pipits and lapwings.
Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre offers refreshments, exhibitions and information. The forest is acclaimed as the largest urban community forest in the East Midlands.
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Every effort is made to make sure that all the information is correct but we strongly recommend that you call Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre before you set off on your day out to confirm opening times and admission prices.
Please also note that the position on Google maps for Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre is a rough estimate using their postcode in the database and might be slightly out.
It may also be worth clicking the web link for Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre to see if there are any special events coming up or currently on.
Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre