Birch Wood
Rawmarsh
Birch Wood lies approximately 5 kilometres north of the centre of Rotherham, on the northern edge of Rawmarsh. The wood forms part of the Warren Vale Local Nature Reserve in the sometimes steep-sided valley of the Collier Brook. A bridge in the form of a monster or dragon has been erected crossing Collier Brook. It's cast in metal so it might be vandal-proof, but when I visited (August 2003) the bridge had only been up about five months and the metal was already rusty.
The bridge was designed by Jason Thomson and the children of Rawmarsh Thorogate Junior and Infant Primary School in November 2002. I believe that it was installed in April 2003.
There are a number of surfaced footpaths but many of the paths and rights of way are muddy during all but the driest weather. The small car park has been blocked off to prevent tipping when the Dumpit site opposite is closed but you can park on the road or in Victoria Park. Bikie boys are a continuing problem here as elsewhere and some access gates had been padlocked to prevent them entering the site. You'll be glad to hear that walkers have no problem. Last time I visited the padlocks had been removed but by whom?
Birch Wood was a part of Rawmarsh Common and grazed as woodland pasture. A document from 1557 gave access to the common and woods of Rawmarsh as part of a marriage settlement, and allowed the married couple to pasture animals and collect wood. Rawmarsh Common was enclosed in 1781.
There is no documentary evidence showing that Birch Wood is an ancient woodland but it is typical of ancient woodlands both in situation and flora. The first record mention of the wood itself dates from 1776. The woodland is largely a mixture of mature sessile oak, beech and maturing sycamore, whilst there is a small area of marshland and an area of botanically rich grassland on the eastern edge.
For more information about the nature reserve please visit onsite at Recreation - Rotherham's Parks - LNRs - Warren Vale.