Leafy Lytham - Green Drive....

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The oldest trees in the woodland were planted in the mid 19thcentury by a local landlord who favoured native trees. The landlord passed the site into council ownership in 1925 for the use of the people of Lytham.

Towards the end of the 20thcentury little management of the site was carried out, until in 2002, Fylde Borough Council (FBC) instigated the Friends of Green Drive (FoGD) and produced a management plan for the site. Postcard from circa 1900...



The site is a 1km long corridor of mixed age deciduous woodland. The oldest trees, Oak, Beech and Lime, were planted in the mid 19th Century. Native flora and fauna abound, but exotic species are also present. Some, like the cultivated daffodils, were planted. There are also some garden escapees like Himalayan Balsam.
Beech, Ash and Sycamore regenerate readily and Oak regenerates where the top soil is humus rich. A number of felled Elm and Sycamore now form thick coppice stands.

 		  

Above what once was a gated entrance to a former family of the landed gentry of Lytham’s Victorian past, The Clifton’s. There was only one house actually built within the ‘domain’ of Green Drive & this was formally a lodge or entrance gatehouse
 

Postcard circa 1900's showing the gates 

Images more present taken by  myself in 2008 - Used to love walking Christo here ! 

 

 The Beast of Lytham raised its paws and head in 2005. In the summer months over twenty sightings have been reported around the Green Drive area of Lytham. The mysterious creature has been spotted roaming in thick woodland at a beauty spot. About as tall as a collie dog but with huge ears, a large mouth and a lolloping gait, local Illustrator Sam Shearon came up with his drawing after speaking to several witnesses. They included Sandra Sturrock who was walking her dog, and Willie Davidson was playing bowls when he heard snarling behind him. One theory is that it could be a muntjac deer, one of the last remaining from a herd brought to Lytham Hall by the local squire over a century ago.



Comments

  1. Unknown12 March 2016 at 02:03

    I like the Beast of Lytham. It creeps up behind people and breathes in their ears when they're playing bowls.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lynda (Granny K)12 March 2016 at 03:16

    Very interesting, i'll definitely check it out. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Joolz14 March 2016 at 12:41

    Your welcome Lynda !

    ReplyDelete

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