Ballington Wood

Wood, Forest in Staffordshire Staffordshire Moorlands

England

Ballington Wood

Farm buildings south-east of Leek, Staffordshire Seen from a passing train on the Churnet Valley Railway.
Farm buildings south-east of Leek, Staffordshire Credit: Roger Kidd

Ballington Wood is a picturesque forest located in Staffordshire, England. Covering an area of approximately 100 acres, it is a haven for nature enthusiasts and provides a tranquil escape from the bustling city life. The wood is primarily made up of deciduous trees, including oak, beech, and ash, which create a dense canopy overhead, casting dappled sunlight onto the forest floor.

The wood is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including deer, foxes, badgers, and a variety of bird species. It is a popular spot for birdwatching, with visitors often spotting woodpeckers, owls, and various songbirds. The forest floor is teeming with wildflowers, ferns, and mosses, creating a vibrant and colorful carpet during the spring and summer months.

Several walking trails wind through the wood, offering visitors the opportunity to explore its beauty at their own pace. These well-maintained paths meander through the trees, leading to hidden clearings and viewpoints that offer stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside. The wood also features a small picnic area, providing a perfect spot for visitors to relax and enjoy a packed lunch amidst the natural beauty.

Ballington Wood is managed by the local council, which ensures its preservation and maintenance. It serves as an important natural habitat and contributes to the biodiversity of the Staffordshire region. The wood attracts both locals and tourists throughout the year, who come to immerse themselves in the peaceful ambiance and reconnect with nature.

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Ballington Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.095112/-2.0168637 or Grid Reference SJ9855. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Farm buildings south-east of Leek, Staffordshire Seen from a passing train on the Churnet Valley Railway.
Farm buildings south-east of Leek, Staffordshire
Seen from a passing train on the Churnet Valley Railway.
Farm buildings south-east of Leek, Staffordshire Buildings at Cliff Farm seen from a passing train on the Churnet Valley Railway.
Farm buildings south-east of Leek, Staffordshire
Buildings at Cliff Farm seen from a passing train on the Churnet Valley Railway.
Railway trackside south-east of Leek, Staffordshire A public footpath crosses the line here near Cliff Farm.

The preserved Churnet Valley Railway operates steam and diesel (sometimes both!) locomotives to haul trains between Kingsley and Froghall Station to Cheddleton, and sometimes beyond to Ipstones. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Railway trackside south-east of Leek, Staffordshire
A public footpath crosses the line here near Cliff Farm. The preserved Churnet Valley Railway operates steam and diesel (sometimes both!) locomotives to haul trains between Kingsley and Froghall Station to Cheddleton, and sometimes beyond to Ipstones. LinkExternal link
Farmland by the railway near Bradnop, Staffordshire Seen from a passing train approaching the footpath crossing near Cliff Farm.

The preserved Churnet Valley Railway operates steam and diesel (sometimes both!) locomotives to haul trains between Kingsley and Froghall Station to Cheddleton, and sometimes beyond to Ipstones. <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.churnet-valley-railway.co.uk/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span>
Farmland by the railway near Bradnop, Staffordshire
Seen from a passing train approaching the footpath crossing near Cliff Farm. The preserved Churnet Valley Railway operates steam and diesel (sometimes both!) locomotives to haul trains between Kingsley and Froghall Station to Cheddleton, and sometimes beyond to Ipstones. LinkExternal link
Farm land south-east of Leek, Staffordshire Seen from a passing train, this telephoto assisted image shows Wildgoose Farm.
Farm land south-east of Leek, Staffordshire
Seen from a passing train, this telephoto assisted image shows Wildgoose Farm.
Railway at Bradnop, Staffordshire This is looking back (south-east) at the bridge at Bradnop. The train is being pulled on the return to Froghall by a diesel unit which helped the small green Polish steam locomotive haul it up the gradient to Ipstones by pushing from the rear.
The line is currently being used as far as the former Ipstones Station by the Churnet Valley Railway Company, but is currently owned by the Moorland and City Railways Company, with plans to reopen lines as far as Leek and Stoke, and agreements likely that CVR will have access to all of its tracks.
Railway at Bradnop, Staffordshire
This is looking back (south-east) at the bridge at Bradnop. The train is being pulled on the return to Froghall by a diesel unit which helped the small green Polish steam locomotive haul it up the gradient to Ipstones by pushing from the rear. The line is currently being used as far as the former Ipstones Station by the Churnet Valley Railway Company, but is currently owned by the Moorland and City Railways Company, with plans to reopen lines as far as Leek and Stoke, and agreements likely that CVR will have access to all of its tracks.
Pasture south-east of Leek, Staffordshire Looking at land by Wildgoose Farm on a very gloomy morning, seen from a passing Churnet Valley Railway train.
Pasture south-east of Leek, Staffordshire
Looking at land by Wildgoose Farm on a very gloomy morning, seen from a passing Churnet Valley Railway train.
Bridge near Bradnop View from steam train on the Cauldon Lowe Branch
Bridge near Bradnop
View from steam train on the Cauldon Lowe Branch
Old Milepost by the A523, Ashbourne Road, Bradnop Ashbourne iron bobbin by the A523, in parish of Bradnop (Staffordshire Moorlands District), West of Bradnop, on grass verge.

Inscription reads:-
: LEEK / 2 / MILES : : LONDON 152 MILES : : ASHBOURNE / 13 / MILES :

'Lost' since 2010

Milestone Society National ID: ST_LKAB02
Old Milepost by the A523, Ashbourne Road, Bradnop
Ashbourne iron bobbin by the A523, in parish of Bradnop (Staffordshire Moorlands District), West of Bradnop, on grass verge. Inscription reads:- : LEEK / 2 / MILES : : LONDON 152 MILES : : ASHBOURNE / 13 / MILES : 'Lost' since 2010 Milestone Society National ID: ST_LKAB02
Hidden valley Valley of brook running southwards towards the River Churnet
Hidden valley
Valley of brook running southwards towards the River Churnet
Stream running towards Ashenhurst
Stream running towards Ashenhurst
Railway Cottages Ashbourne Road, Bradnop. Back in 1905 there were no planning committees to say "you can't build in brick - the natural building material in this area is stone". So the North Staffordshire Railway <span class="nowrap"><a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Staffordshire_Railway" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Staffordshire_Railway">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> erected the same pattern housing as everywhere else in their network. In this case it was for the staff of Bradnop Station nearby.
Railway Cottages
Ashbourne Road, Bradnop. Back in 1905 there were no planning committees to say "you can't build in brick - the natural building material in this area is stone". So the North Staffordshire Railway LinkExternal link erected the same pattern housing as everywhere else in their network. In this case it was for the staff of Bradnop Station nearby.
Milepost on the A523 Quite a few of these cast iron mileposts dating from 1839 still remain along the Ashbourne to Leek road.  As can be seen this one is 2 miles from Leek.
Milepost on the A523
Quite a few of these cast iron mileposts dating from 1839 still remain along the Ashbourne to Leek road. As can be seen this one is 2 miles from Leek.
Milepost on the A523 Quite a few of these cast iron mileposts dating from 1834 still remain along the Ashbourne to Leek road.  As can be seen this one is 13 miles from Ashbourne.

Update Aug 2016: This one has I think now gone.
Milepost on the A523
Quite a few of these cast iron mileposts dating from 1834 still remain along the Ashbourne to Leek road. As can be seen this one is 13 miles from Ashbourne. Update Aug 2016: This one has I think now gone.
Brightly lit chevrons Lit by the rapidly westering sun.  They're on a bend in the A523 just to the east of Leek.
Brightly lit chevrons
Lit by the rapidly westering sun. They're on a bend in the A523 just to the east of Leek.
The A523 east of Leek
The A523 east of Leek
Ford below Cliff Farm
Ford below Cliff Farm
Farm crossing on the Cauldon Lowe Line In 2010, the Cauldon Lowe Branch Line was restored and reopened. This farm and footpath crossing was cleared and given new fencing, gates and signs.
Farm crossing on the Cauldon Lowe Line
In 2010, the Cauldon Lowe Branch Line was restored and reopened. This farm and footpath crossing was cleared and given new fencing, gates and signs.
Show me another place!

Ballington Wood is located at Grid Ref: SJ9855 (Lat: 53.095112, Lng: -2.0168637)

Administrative County: Staffordshire

District: Staffordshire Moorlands

Police Authority: Staffordshire

What 3 Words

///wipe.blasted.unionists. Near Leek, Staffordshire

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 53.095112,-2.0168637
Barrier: lift_gate
Lat/Long: 53.0952435/-2.0217487
Barrier: lift_gate
Lat/Long: 53.0952918/-2.0217134
Barrier: lift_gate
Lat/Long: 53.0951503/-2.0229093
Bus Stop
Brittania Head Office
Bus: yes
Naptan AtcoCode: 3800C809100
Naptan Bearing: N
Naptan CommonName: Brittania Head Office
Naptan Indicator: Adj
Naptan Landmark: Brittania Head Office
Naptan Street: Cheddleton Rd
Naptan Verified: no
Public Transport: platform
Source: naptan_import
Lat/Long: 53.0958222/-2.0226846
Bus Stop
Brittania Head Office
Bus: yes
Naptan AtcoCode: 3800C809101
Naptan Bearing: S
Naptan CommonName: Brittania Head Office
Naptan Indicator: Opp
Naptan Landmark: Brittania Head Office
Naptan Street: Cheddleton Rd
Naptan Verified: no
Public Transport: platform
Source: naptan_import
Lat/Long: 53.0958132/-2.0224606
Bus Stop
Sandybrook Lane
Bus: yes
Naptan AtcoCode: 3800C819601
Naptan Bearing: S
Naptan CommonName: Sandybrook Lane
Naptan Indicator: Adj
Naptan Landmark: Sandybrook Lane
Naptan Street: Cheddleton Road
Naptan Verified: no
Public Transport: platform
Source: naptan_import
Lat/Long: 53.0922177/-2.0214731
Bus Stop
Sandybrook Lane
Bus: yes
Naptan AtcoCode: 3800C819602
Naptan Bearing: N
Naptan CommonName: Sandybrook Lane
Naptan Indicator: Opp
Naptan Landmark: Sandybrook Lane
Naptan Street: Cheddleton Road
Naptan Verified: no
Public Transport: platform
Source: naptan_import
Lat/Long: 53.0924694/-2.0216674
Barrier: bollard
Bicycle: yes
Foot: yes
Lat/Long: 53.0961251/-2.0225316
Barrier: bollard
Bicycle: yes
Foot: yes
Lat/Long: 53.0960791/-2.0228658
Barrier: swing_gate
Bicycle: yes
Foot: yes
Swing Gate Type: double
Lat/Long: 53.0938347/-2.0220718
Barrier: stile
Bicycle: no
Foot: yes
Material: wood
Step Count: 0
Stile: stepover
Lat/Long: 53.0955587/-2.0137663
Material: wood
Operator Ref: MIDE
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 53.0964614/-2.0125813
Material: wood
Operator Ref: MIDE
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 53.096396/-2.0148671
Material: wood
Operator Ref: MIDE
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 53.0968698/-2.0168362
Barrier: stile
Bicycle: no
Foot: yes
Material: wood
Step Count: 1
Stile: stepover
Lat/Long: 53.0968946/-2.0167829
LIA 1855 LB
Historic: monument
Note: Boundary stone of the Leek Improvement Act of 1855
Lat/Long: 53.0938032/-2.0219392
Plague Stone
Historic: monument
Lat/Long: 53.0938897/-2.0219694
Barrier: stile
Lat/Long: 53.0938014/-2.010462
Material: wood
Operator Ref: MIDE
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 53.0966415/-2.015907
Material: wood
Operator Ref: MIDE
Power: pole
Lat/Long: 53.0965785/-2.0103518
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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