Editing Stalybridge (section)

==Environment==
[[File:Walkerwood.jpg|thumb|right|Walkerwood Reservoir in the Brushes Valley]]
Much of the upland areas of the town are [[grouse]] [[moorland|moors]]. Boar Flat is part of the [[Dark Peak]] [[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater Manchester|Site of Special Scientific Interest]], as classified by [[Natural England]].<ref name="Ref_p">{{cite web |title=Dark Peak |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003028.pdf |publisher=EnglishNature.org |access-date=27 January 2008}}</ref> The slopes below the moors, particularly beneath Harridge Pike, are used for sheep grazing by the hill farms. The Stalybridge Country Park centres on two areas. Firstly, the Brushes Valley, with its four reservoirs running up into the Pennine Moors, and secondly Carrbrook, lying in the shadow of [[Buckton Castle]]. Linking the two areas, although outside the country park boundaries, is a good rights of way network,<ref name="Ref_q">[http://www.tameside.gov.uk/stalybridgecp Stalybridge Country Park<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531002146/http://www.tameside.gov.uk/stalybridgecp |date=31 May 2008 }}</ref> and areas of designated [[Freedom to roam#England and Wales|access land]] which take visitors into the Tame Valley, [[Longdendale]] and the [[Peak District]]. The country park affords views of the [[Cheshire Plain]], [[Jodrell Bank]] and on very clear days the mountains of [[Snowdonia]]. Buckton Castle and Stalybridge cairn, a round [[cairn]], west of Hollingworthhall Moor are both [[scheduled monument]]s.<ref name="Ref_r">[http://www.tameside.gov.uk/udp/udp1996/appendix6 UDP Appendix 6<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502030435/http://www.tameside.gov.uk/udp/udp1996/appendix6 |date=2 May 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Cheetham's Park in Stalybridge, England.jpg|thumb|left|Cheetham Park]]
The town's two parks are the main open spaces in the town centre. Cheetham Park was opened in June 1932 to a crowd of 15,000 people. The park was left to the town under the will of [[John Frederick Cheetham]] along with his house, Eastwood, and his collection of paintings, which now form part of the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery collection. The park is landscaped informally with large areas of woodland. Adjacent to Cheetham's Park lies the [[Eastwood Nature Reserve]]. Eastwood was one of the first reserves to be owned by the [[RSPB]]. It is managed by [[Cheshire Wildlife Trust]].<ref name="Ref_s">{{cite web |url=http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk/ |title=Cheshire Wildlife Trust |publisher=Cheshire Wildlife Trust |access-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313060239/http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk/ |archive-date=13 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The reserve is a cut-over, lowland, raised mire [[SSSI]], surrounded by a woodland fringe. Characteristic bog plants include [[sphagnum]] mosses, cotton grass and cross-leaved heath. Nine species of [[dragonfly]] and [[damselfly]] have been recorded on the reserve, along with the [[green hairstreak]] butterfly. The steep-sided broad-leaved woodland is bisected by Acres Brook and contains several old mill ponds. The geology is shale and sandstone, with a rich variety of plants and animals typical of woodland habitat on an acid soil. Access is from the A6018 Mottram Road. Car parking is available in [[Stalybridge Celtic FC]]'s car park. The reserve occupies {{convert|4.7|ha|acre|abbr=off}}.

[[File:Stalybridge - Stamford Park Boating Lake.JPG|thumb|right|Boating lake at Stamford Park]]
Stamford Park is registered by [[English Heritage]] as being of special interest.<ref name="Ref_t">[http://www.cartoplus.co.uk/tameside/text/pt_2_01_reasoned.htm Tameside Unitary Development Plan<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107125841/http://www.cartoplus.co.uk/tameside/text/pt_2_01_reasoned.htm |date=7 January 2007 }}</ref> In 1865, local mill owner Abel Harrison died and his home, Highfield House, and its extensive grounds, on the border with Ashton were bought by the two towns. Neighbouring land was donated by [[George Grey, 7th Earl of Stamford|George Harry Grey, 7th Earl of Stamford and 3rd Earl of Warrington]]. The whole area was landscaped to become Stamford Park and opened by the Earl on 12 July 1873. The former mill reservoir, known as Chadwick Dams, was incorporated into the park in 1891. The reservoir was divided in two by an embankment, with the southern section becoming the present boating lake. This area includes waterfalls cascading over rock faces and [[gargoyles]] built into the bridges and walls. The park has tennis courts, bowling greens, a children's playground, The park is the venue for the annual Tulip Sunday Festival.