Old colliery becomes green oasis

Water Haigh Woodland Park provides scope for walking the dog, birdwatching or just a stroll

The site of the former Water Haigh colliery on the edge of Oulton has been transformed from a former spoil heap to a green oasis of flora and fauna.

Leeds City Councils Parks and Countryside team have been able to plant new woodland compounds.

They've also strengthened hedgerows and created new footpaths for people to access the park on Fleet Lane, Oulton.

The newly formed park is helping to transform the once industrial lower Aire Valley into a haven for wildlife.

The park is helping forge a major green corridor connecting St Aidan's Country Park, Rothwell Country Park, Temple Newsam Estate and extending up towards the city centre.

In addition, the installation of new signs and interpretation panels, plus the creation of a seating and picnic area along the edge of the Trans Pennine trail has really brought the park to life.

The park is home to over 40,000 new saplings, and expands for as far as the eye can see forming a green ribbon along the River Aire's banks.

This is the culmination of a long term project. Beautification of the area was first started in the 1970s and extensive tree-planting means that you can now see birch, larch, rowan, alder, oak and pine in the area.

In pictures: Water Haigh Woodland Park