Darcy Lever Gravel Pits

Darcy Lever Gravel Pits – A Hidden Wildlife Haven

Nestled within Moses Gate Country Park, the Darcy Lever Gravel Pits offer a peaceful retreat where nature has reclaimed an industrial past. Once a vast excavation site supplying gravel for the construction of St Peter’s Way (A666), this area has transformed into a thriving habitat for wildlife. Over the decades, natural processes, careful conservation efforts, and dedicated local volunteers have helped shape this former quarry into a rich mosaic of wetlands, woodlands, and meadows.

Today, the Gravel Pits are recognised as one of Bolton’s most valuable wildlife sites. The network of ponds provides a crucial breeding ground for amphibians, including frogs, toads, and newts, while the surrounding vegetation supports a diverse array of bird species. Among the site’s most spectacular inhabitants are the dragonflies and damselflies that flit over the water during the warmer months. With 12 recorded resident species, including the striking Red-eyed Damselfly, these insects are a testament to the site’s ecological importance.

Visitors may also be lucky enough to spot roe deer moving through the trees or catch a glimpse of other native wildlife that now calls the Gravel Pits home. Whether you’re an avid birdwatcher, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking for a tranquil place to walk, this scenic spot has something to offer.

Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, conservation efforts have helped to restore and enhance the Gravel Pits. Local volunteers and the Gravel Pits Action Group work tirelessly alongside the park’s rangers to manage the landscape, planting new trees, maintaining footpaths, and tackling invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam. Their dedication ensures that the site remains a haven for both wildlife and visitors for years to come.

A network of footpaths and bridleways winds through the site, making it ideal for leisurely walks, horse riding, and wildlife spotting. The ponds, woodland, and meadows provide a variety of scenic routes, and with access points leading to the wider Moses Gate Country Park, visitors can easily extend their adventure. Whether you’re exploring on foot or simply enjoying the peace and quiet, the Darcy Lever Gravel Pits offer an opportunity to connect with nature in the heart of Bolton.

The Gravel Pits are part of Moses Gate Country Park, managed by Bolton Council, and are open to the public all year round. The Rock Hall Visitor Centre, located within the park, provides further information about the area, including guided walks and conservation activities.

MOSES GATE COUNTRY PARK

DARCY LEVER GRAVEL PITS

Welcome to Darcy Lever Gravel Pits,

Part of Moses Gate Country Park

A Rocky Start

When you visit the Gravel Pits today, you may find it difficult to imagine that in the 1960s, the entire site was a vast hole as gravel was excavated for the construction of St. Peter’s Way (A666).

Since then, natural processes have set to work, and the former gravel workings have become a series of valuable wildlife ponds. These have been helped by a variety of plants and animals that now call the Gravel Pits their home, making it a rich and diverse habitat for wildlife that we can enjoy today.

Here be Dragons!

Today, the Gravel Pits is one of Bolton’s best wildlife sites. The ponds are home to toads, frogs, and newts. Some of the more spectacular creatures you can see here in late spring and summer are the many dragonflies and damselflies which breed in the pools. Records are showing that the ponds are home to 12 species of resident dragonflies, as well as a visitor, the Red-eyed Damselfly, from our overseas summer visitors.

Roe deer are regularly seen around the Gravel Pits and are also a haven for some of our loveliest British birds.

A Lottery Winner

In 2005, the Gravel Pits Action Group received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out important conservation work on the site and involve the local community. In partnership with the Rangers, they have improved the site with new tree-planting projects, wetland improvements, and the removal of invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam.

Action in the Gravel Pits

The Gravel Pits Action Group is a team of volunteers who regularly help to improve and maintain the site. They assist the Rangers with conservation work, from controlling invasive species to planting trees.

A Secure Future

The Gravel Pits are managed by Bolton Council as part of Moses Gate Country Park. The Rangers work closely with schools and the local community on regular conservation and environmental education activities.

Created: 15  February  2025  Edited: 15  February  2025