Birchwood
Encyclopedia
Birchwood is a civil parish in the north-eastern part of Warrington
, Cheshire
, England
with a population of 11,395 (as at the 2001 census). Historically a part of Lancashire
, it is the easternmost part of the Warrington urban area. It was built during the time of much expansion in Warrington as it became a "new town
". Birchwood is separated into three residential estates: Gorse Covert (grid ref SJ665925, population 2,790), Oakwood (grid ref SJ656914, population 4,381) and Locking Stumps (grid ref SJ645918, population 2,759), with all the main facilities centred around the centre.
forests and Risley Moss
, part of the Mersey Forest
. Risley Moss is a site of special scientific interest
. The bulk of Birchwood is built on the site of the former ROF Risley
Royal Ordnance Factory, with Birchwood Forest Park lying in the centre, in which the old bunkers from the factory form part of the landscape.
as he rode through Risley in 1724. (Later part of the Risley area was renamed Birchwood as the Warrington 'New town' development).
In the past travellers avoided the Risley (Birchwood) area because it of its dangerous moss
land, however gradually over time much of the fertile mossland was reclaimed and turned into farm land. With the advent of the Second World War, 927 acres (3.8 km²) of agricultural land was changed into a massive Royal Ordnance Factory
, ROF Risley
. The location was chosen because the low lying mist and cloud helped camouflage
the factory from the air; according to a local builder: "It was very lonely and misty at night, and that's why the factory was constructed there ... it was usually covered with a mist or cloud. It was hard to see it in the day time, you know". Although the location of the factory was known by the German Air Force
, the factory was bombed only once during the war.
A number of bunkers were also built (some can still be seen today) to house the munitions, to protect them from potential bombing, and also to segregate the site and reduce the consequences of any accidental explosions during manufacture or storage. Although these bunkers are on the surface, they are covered with soil and turf and so give the impression of being underground.
However after the war the factory no longer had a purpose other than as a storage depot and so in 1956 the north west of the factory was sold to UKAEA with the entire disused area being put on the market in 1963. No buyer was found for it until 1968, when the Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation
bought the site and turned it into the new town of Birchwood.
store, two pound stores and a Greggs
. There are also a number of smaller shops in each village of the town. Each one has a local convenience store
that sell instant needs such as bread and milk. There are local milk and vegetable delivery services that supplies houses in the area, as well as the delivery services from the large supermarkets. There are a few farms in the area that sell small quantities of eggs and other local produce directly to local shoppers.
Birchwood is located close to the intersections between the M6
and M62
and the M6 and M56
and the railway station
on the Liverpool
--Manchester
train line. There are frequent bus
services (routes 24, 25, 26 and 27) to Warrington town centre, and to Culcheth and Leigh (routes 28 and 28A). Details of all these services can be found on the Warrington Borough Transport web site.
, Liverpool
and Warrington Central
, and surrounding areas, as well as long distance services to Scarborough, Leeds
, Newcastle
and York
. Trains pass through three times an hour (two operated by Northern Rail
on the hour and half-hour, as well as a train operated by TransPennine Express, all trains will operate the Manchester-Liverpool via Warrington line, while the transpennine trains go on to further afield.
, providing access to Liverpool
(22 miles/35 km) and Manchester
(15 miles/24 km). Junction 11 is notable for the Encounter statue (also known as the Angel of Birchwood). Birchwood is close to Junction 21 of the M6
, giving access to Birmingham
(80 miles/128 km).
Birchwood is approximately 5 miles (8 km) from Warrington town centre (via Birchwood Way) and Leigh
(11 miles/18 km) (via Warrington Road).
.
The 24, 25, 26 and 27 operate through all parts of Birchwood to Warrington, with the Gorse Covert SPAR
shop (25-27) or Oakwood Keyes Close (24) acting as temini. The routes differ in the precise routes they take to Warrington bus station, and in their regularity. Service 25 is the main service, on which the others are based. 26/27 runs evenings and Sundays. 24 runs half-hourly in each direction, the 24A operates round the employment area.
The 28 also starts at Warrington bus station, then through Birchwood and on to Leigh
via Culcheth
. The 28A operates the same route but does not stop at Birchwood Shopping Centre.
A shuttle bus service for workers runs between the railway station and Birchwood Park business park.
(ROF), Risley, was the site chosen for the design offices and headquarters of the Department of ATomic ENergy (DATEN) after the Second World War. Later to become the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
(UKAEA), the offices were charged with the manufacture of the nuclear reactors
and process plants at Windscale to help build the UKs atomic defence. Following on from the weapons program, the Risley offices were responsible for the building of the Magnox
and AGR
designs of reactor in the UK. In 1971 BNFL
was set up from the production division of the (UKAEA), and until 2003 its headquarters were based at Risley, near Warrington
. BNFL
s headquarters are now at Daresbury
Park industrial estate, also near to Warrington.
BNFL (now represented by Sellafield Ltd and Nexia Solutions) maintains a large office of the site, which is something of a nuclear nexus, with AMEC
(Formerly NNC), WS Atkins
Design, Environment & Engineering, Nuclear Technologies plc, Serco and Assurance Quintessa (among others) based on Birchwood Park.
Atkins PLC|WS Atkins]] has one office in Birchwood, Warrington - Chadwick House (containing various business units including Water, Highways and Transportation, Design Solutions,Rail and Nuclear).
. It is also the most easterly part of the Warrington urban area (though not of Warrington borough). It was formerly site 6 of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Risley. It is now a large, suburban residential area with a mixture of good quality housing. It has a pub, (The Poacher), a primary school (Gorse Covert Primary School) and a local shop (Spar
). Gorse covert also has woodland areas and walks with views from Pestfurlong Hill.
At the 2001 census
(the next one scheduled for 2011), there were 2790 residents living in 1191 properties (statistic areas 005B and 004B - Gorse Covert, Risley South and Locking Stumps East). Of these properties 81% are owner occupied, with the remainder being rented, either from the council, local housing authority or private landlords. Gorse Covert residents are approximately 23% more likely to be in paid employment than the average for England
and Wales
, with an unemployment
rate of around 1.9% (around 53 residents) of all economically active people aged 16–74. 16% of economically active residents (i.e. 16-74 year olds) don't have any form of qualification (around 446 residents)
(The Turf and Feather), takeaway shop, primary school (Locking Stumps Community Primary School), and a modern church (The Thomas Risley
United Reformed Church). This was enlarged in 2001 due to the growth of its congeragtion.
At the 2001 census, Office for National Statistics areas 004C and 004D the housing breaks down into:
873 owner occupied houses; 35 council owned houses; 189 rented (non-council) houses; and 5 which have undisclosed status.
(source:Office for National Statistics http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodProfileSearch.do?areaId=562457&ward=true&wardName=Birchwood&$ph=72)
Oakwood has various basic ameninties including a convenience
store, a pub (Nelsons Quarterdeck), a takeaway shop, the Church of Transfiguration, a primary school (Birchwood CofE Primary and Nursery School) and a high school (Birchwood Community High School) which is now a Business and Enterprise College, and is a beacon high school for the UK.
At the 2001 census, of 2003 possible houses in Oakwood: 46% are owner occupied; 8% are council owned;
43% are rented (non council) properties; and 3% did not disclose their status
of Zones
The site is owned by MEPC
. 4,200 people are employed on the park, and a free bus service runs twice each morning from Warrington Bank Quay Station.
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with a population of 11,395 (as at the 2001 census). Historically a part of Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, it is the easternmost part of the Warrington urban area. It was built during the time of much expansion in Warrington as it became a "new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
". Birchwood is separated into three residential estates: Gorse Covert (grid ref SJ665925, population 2,790), Oakwood (grid ref SJ656914, population 4,381) and Locking Stumps (grid ref SJ645918, population 2,759), with all the main facilities centred around the centre.
Geography
The area east of Birchwood is mainly birchBirch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
forests and Risley Moss
Risley Moss
Risley Moss is an area of peat bog situated near Birchwood in Warrington, England. It covers an area of and is one of the last remaining fragments of the raised bogs that once covered large areas of South Lancashire and North Cheshire...
, part of the Mersey Forest
Mersey Forest
This article is about a community forest in the United Kingdom. See also Mersey Forest, Tasmania.The Mersey Forest is a network of woodlands and green spaces being created across Merseyside and North Cheshire by a wide-ranging partnership of different organisations including local authorities,...
. Risley Moss is a site of special scientific interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
. The bulk of Birchwood is built on the site of the former ROF Risley
ROF Risley
ROF Risley, was a large World War II Royal Ordnance Factory filling munitions, including the Grand Slam bomb, in the UK.-World War Two:...
Royal Ordnance Factory, with Birchwood Forest Park lying in the centre, in which the old bunkers from the factory form part of the landscape.
History
"The surface, at a distance, looks black and dirty, and will bear neither horse nor man….. What nature meant by such a useless production ‘tis hard to imagine, but the land is entirely to waste" are the words of Daniel DefoeDaniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe , born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, who gained fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain and along with others such as Richardson,...
as he rode through Risley in 1724. (Later part of the Risley area was renamed Birchwood as the Warrington 'New town' development).
In the past travellers avoided the Risley (Birchwood) area because it of its dangerous moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
land, however gradually over time much of the fertile mossland was reclaimed and turned into farm land. With the advent of the Second World War, 927 acres (3.8 km²) of agricultural land was changed into a massive Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
, ROF Risley
ROF Risley
ROF Risley, was a large World War II Royal Ordnance Factory filling munitions, including the Grand Slam bomb, in the UK.-World War Two:...
. The location was chosen because the low lying mist and cloud helped camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
the factory from the air; according to a local builder: "It was very lonely and misty at night, and that's why the factory was constructed there ... it was usually covered with a mist or cloud. It was hard to see it in the day time, you know". Although the location of the factory was known by the German Air Force
History of the Luftwaffe during World War II
The German Luftwaffe was one of the strongest, most doctrinally advanced, and most battle-experienced air forces in the world when World War II started in Europe in September 1939. Officially unveiled in 1935, in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, its purpose was to support Adolf Hitler's...
, the factory was bombed only once during the war.
A number of bunkers were also built (some can still be seen today) to house the munitions, to protect them from potential bombing, and also to segregate the site and reduce the consequences of any accidental explosions during manufacture or storage. Although these bunkers are on the surface, they are covered with soil and turf and so give the impression of being underground.
However after the war the factory no longer had a purpose other than as a storage depot and so in 1956 the north west of the factory was sold to UKAEA with the entire disused area being put on the market in 1963. No buyer was found for it until 1968, when the Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation
Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation
The Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation was a Development Corporation formed in the 1980s by the merger of the Warrington Development Corporation and the Runcorn Development Corporation, which covered two adjacent areas....
bought the site and turned it into the new town of Birchwood.
Shopping
The area's principal shopping needs are serviced by Birchwood Mall, a recently renovated mall with many shops and a large AsdaAsda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
store, two pound stores and a Greggs
Greggs
Greggs plc is the largest specialist retail bakery chain in the United Kingdom. It was established in the 1930s as a single shop but has approximately 1,500 outlets....
. There are also a number of smaller shops in each village of the town. Each one has a local convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
that sell instant needs such as bread and milk. There are local milk and vegetable delivery services that supplies houses in the area, as well as the delivery services from the large supermarkets. There are a few farms in the area that sell small quantities of eggs and other local produce directly to local shoppers.
Transport
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
and M62
M62 motorway
The M62 motorway is a west–east trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22...
and the M6 and M56
M56 motorway
The M56 Motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, is in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, England. It runs from Junction 4 of the M60 to Dunkirk, Cheshire and is in length. It is often busy with long-distance commuter traffic towards North Wales...
and the railway station
Birchwood railway station
Birchwood railway station is a railway station serving the Birchwood district to the north east of Warrington, Cheshire, in the north west of England. The station is 21 km west of Manchester Piccadilly on the Manchester-Liverpool Line....
on the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
--Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
train line. There are frequent bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
services (routes 24, 25, 26 and 27) to Warrington town centre, and to Culcheth and Leigh (routes 28 and 28A). Details of all these services can be found on the Warrington Borough Transport web site.
Birchwood railway station
Birchwood Station is a mainline station with trains stopping bound for ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Warrington Central
Warrington Central railway station
Warrington Central railway station is one of two main railway stations serving the town of Warrington in the north-west of England. It is located on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester Line , and is situated around halfway between the two cities...
, and surrounding areas, as well as long distance services to Scarborough, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Trains pass through three times an hour (two operated by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
on the hour and half-hour, as well as a train operated by TransPennine Express, all trains will operate the Manchester-Liverpool via Warrington line, while the transpennine trains go on to further afield.
Road
Birchwood is very close to Junction 11 of the M62M62 motorway
The M62 motorway is a west–east trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22...
, providing access to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
(22 miles/35 km) and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
(15 miles/24 km). Junction 11 is notable for the Encounter statue (also known as the Angel of Birchwood). Birchwood is close to Junction 21 of the M6
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
, giving access to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
(80 miles/128 km).
Birchwood is approximately 5 miles (8 km) from Warrington town centre (via Birchwood Way) and Leigh
Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....
(11 miles/18 km) (via Warrington Road).
Buses
There are 6 bus routes operating through the Birchwood area, all of which are operated by Warrington Borough TransportWarrington Borough Transport
Warrington Borough Transport is a bus operator running a network of services within the Borough of Warrington, England and into the surrounding area, including Altrincham, Leigh, Earlestown and Northwich. The network of services is marketed under the Network Warrington name, with both names...
.
The 24, 25, 26 and 27 operate through all parts of Birchwood to Warrington, with the Gorse Covert SPAR
SPAR
Spar , trades from approximately 12400 stores in 34 countries worldwide and is the world's largest independent voluntary retail trading chain. Spar was founded in the Netherlands in 1932 by retailer Adriaan Van Well and now, through its affiliate organisations, operates through most European...
shop (25-27) or Oakwood Keyes Close (24) acting as temini. The routes differ in the precise routes they take to Warrington bus station, and in their regularity. Service 25 is the main service, on which the others are based. 26/27 runs evenings and Sundays. 24 runs half-hourly in each direction, the 24A operates round the employment area.
The 28 also starts at Warrington bus station, then through Birchwood and on to Leigh
Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....
via Culcheth
Culcheth
Culcheth is a large village approximately 6 miles north-east of Warrington, England. It is the principal settlement in Culcheth and Glazebury civil parish. The village has many amenities which make it a popular place to live. These include a library, a village hall, sports facilities, two...
. The 28A operates the same route but does not stop at Birchwood Shopping Centre.
A shuttle bus service for workers runs between the railway station and Birchwood Park business park.
Education
Birchwood is served by three primary schools, one per area, Birchwood Community High School, and a special school for disabled children (Fox Wood School). There is also a Birchwood College which is next to the high school.Industry
To the north of the Royal Ordnance FactoryRoyal Ordnance Factory
Royal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
(ROF), Risley, was the site chosen for the design offices and headquarters of the Department of ATomic ENergy (DATEN) after the Second World War. Later to become the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...
(UKAEA), the offices were charged with the manufacture of the nuclear reactors
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
and process plants at Windscale to help build the UKs atomic defence. Following on from the weapons program, the Risley offices were responsible for the building of the Magnox
Magnox
Magnox is a now obsolete type of nuclear power reactor which was designed and is still in use in the United Kingdom, and was exported to other countries, both as a power plant, and, when operated accordingly, as a producer of plutonium for nuclear weapons...
and AGR
Advanced gas-cooled reactor
An advanced gas-cooled reactor is a type of nuclear reactor. These are the second generation of British gas-cooled reactors, using graphite as the neutron moderator and carbon dioxide as coolant...
designs of reactor in the UK. In 1971 BNFL
BNFL
British Nuclear Fuels Limited was a nuclear energy and fuels company owned by the UK Government. It was a former manufacturer and transporter of nuclear fuel , ran reactors, generated and sold electricity, reprocessed and managed spent fuel , and decommissioned nuclear plants and other similar...
was set up from the production division of the (UKAEA), and until 2003 its headquarters were based at Risley, near Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
. BNFL
BNFL
British Nuclear Fuels Limited was a nuclear energy and fuels company owned by the UK Government. It was a former manufacturer and transporter of nuclear fuel , ran reactors, generated and sold electricity, reprocessed and managed spent fuel , and decommissioned nuclear plants and other similar...
s headquarters are now at Daresbury
Daresbury
Daresbury is a small rural village, civil parish and ward in the unitary authority of Halton and part of the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is covered by the Weaver Vale constituency...
Park industrial estate, also near to Warrington.
BNFL (now represented by Sellafield Ltd and Nexia Solutions) maintains a large office of the site, which is something of a nuclear nexus, with AMEC
AMEC
AMEC plc is a global consultancy, engineering and project management company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is focused on the oil and gas, minerals and metals, renewable energy, environment and infrastructure sectors and has offices in 40 countries worldwide...
(Formerly NNC), WS Atkins
WS Atkins PLC
WS Atkins plc is a multinational engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services company headquartered in Epsom, United Kingdom...
Design, Environment & Engineering, Nuclear Technologies plc, Serco and Assurance Quintessa (among others) based on Birchwood Park.
Atkins PLC|WS Atkins]] has one office in Birchwood, Warrington - Chadwick House (containing various business units including Water, Highways and Transportation, Design Solutions,Rail and Nuclear).
Politics
It is in the Birchwood ward of Warrington borough. There are three councillors. All councillors for this area are representatives of the Labour Party.Population and ethnicity
Birchwood has a total population of 11,220 residents, of which 50.3% are male and 49.7% are female. The average age of the population at the census was 37.2 years. The majority of the population describe their race as white (97.05), while significant minorities are Mixed (0.9%), Black (0.4%) and Asian (0.9%). Other racial origins account for 0.8% of the population.Housing and social situation
At the census, the Birchwood ward of Warrington had 4,919 houses. 65.6% are classed as owner occupied, 28.3% are council accommodation, 4.8% are rented from other sources and 1.3% of houses have residents living rent free. The average house price for all houses in Birchwood was £118,635. 7% of all households in the ward are overcrowded. The population density in the ward is 13.9 residents per hectare. In terms of the ACORN index, 35.7% (the majority) describe Warrington as a comfortably well-off area, on the other hand in terms of economic indices, Birchwood is a slightly below-average area. 5.4% of residents at the last survey were on some form of benefits.Employment and education
At 2005, Birchwood had 65.6% employment, with only 3.4% of all economically active people unemployed. 2.8% of the population are students in full-time higher education. 28.2% of the total population are economically inactive (due to retirement, ill health, or full-time carer status). According to ward statistics, of the population (in Birchwood ward). 24.2% are unqualified (either due to leaving school early or failing the end of school examinations). 48.4% have level 1 or 2 qualifications (level 1 being 1+ GCSE (A*-G) or "O" Level or equivalent, level 2 being 5+ GCSEs (grades A*-C), 1+'A' levels/ AS levels (A-E) or equivalent). 20.8% have received level 3+ qualifications (meaning 2+ A-levels (A-E), 4+ AS-levels (A-E) or equivalent minimum).Districts
Gorse Covert
Gorse Covert is the easternmost of the districts which form the town of Birchwood in WarringtonWarrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
. It is also the most easterly part of the Warrington urban area (though not of Warrington borough). It was formerly site 6 of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Risley. It is now a large, suburban residential area with a mixture of good quality housing. It has a pub, (The Poacher), a primary school (Gorse Covert Primary School) and a local shop (Spar
Spar
In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fiber used on a sailing vessel. Spars of all types In sailing, a spar is a...
). Gorse covert also has woodland areas and walks with views from Pestfurlong Hill.
At the 2001 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
(the next one scheduled for 2011), there were 2790 residents living in 1191 properties (statistic areas 005B and 004B - Gorse Covert, Risley South and Locking Stumps East). Of these properties 81% are owner occupied, with the remainder being rented, either from the council, local housing authority or private landlords. Gorse Covert residents are approximately 23% more likely to be in paid employment than the average for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, with an unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
rate of around 1.9% (around 53 residents) of all economically active people aged 16–74. 16% of economically active residents (i.e. 16-74 year olds) don't have any form of qualification (around 446 residents)
Locking Stumps
Locking Stumps, is the furthest west of the three districts in Birchwood. It has a population of residents in households. It is a relatively large district with a shop, public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
(The Turf and Feather), takeaway shop, primary school (Locking Stumps Community Primary School), and a modern church (The Thomas Risley
Thomas Risley
Reverend Thomas Risley was a Presbyterian minister who founded the Thomas Risley Chapel.- His early life :Thomas Risley was born on 27 August 1630, the second son of Thomas Risley and Thomasin Lathon Risley and christened at Newchurch, Kenyon, Lancashire on 2 September 1630...
United Reformed Church). This was enlarged in 2001 due to the growth of its congeragtion.
At the 2001 census, Office for National Statistics areas 004C and 004D the housing breaks down into:
873 owner occupied houses; 35 council owned houses; 189 rented (non-council) houses; and 5 which have undisclosed status.
(source:Office for National Statistics http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodProfileSearch.do?areaId=562457&ward=true&wardName=Birchwood&$ph=72)
Oakwood
Oakwood is a district of Birchwood, which is very close to the Birchwood centre. According to the 2001 census, there are 2003 properties, with a total of 4381 residents (this covers the ONS areas of 005A (Oakwood West, near Birchwood), 005C (Oakwood East, near Risely Moss) and 005D (Oakwood Central)).Oakwood has various basic ameninties including a convenience
store, a pub (Nelsons Quarterdeck), a takeaway shop, the Church of Transfiguration, a primary school (Birchwood CofE Primary and Nursery School) and a high school (Birchwood Community High School) which is now a Business and Enterprise College, and is a beacon high school for the UK.
At the 2001 census, of 2003 possible houses in Oakwood: 46% are owner occupied; 8% are council owned;
43% are rented (non council) properties; and 3% did not disclose their status
of Zones
Birchwood Park (Business Park)
Birchwood Park is a 123 acre (0.49776378 km²) mixed use business park and is located in the North West of England close to Warrington between Manchester and Liverpool. The M6 and M62 interchange is only minutes away and provides links to the surrounding region and beyond.The site is owned by MEPC
MEPC plc
MEPC plc is a leading British-based property investment and development business. It is headquartered in London. It used to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
. 4,200 people are employed on the park, and a free bus service runs twice each morning from Warrington Bank Quay Station.
See also
- Birchwood Forest ParkBirchwood Forest ParkBirchwood Forest Park covers the area formerly occupied by the Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF Risley, in Birchwood, Warrington, in north-west England...
- Risley, Warrington
- Royal Ordnance FactoryRoyal Ordnance FactoryRoyal Ordnance Factories was the collective name of the UK government's munitions factories in and after World War II. Until privatisation in 1987 they were the responsibility of the Ministry of Supply and later the Ministry of Defence....
- Birchwood railway stationBirchwood railway stationBirchwood railway station is a railway station serving the Birchwood district to the north east of Warrington, Cheshire, in the north west of England. The station is 21 km west of Manchester Piccadilly on the Manchester-Liverpool Line....
Birchwood
- Warrington Borough transport timetables
- Royal Ordnance Factory, Risley Note: As of 2008 November 23 this site appears to be non-functional. However, the Internet Archive has several cached snapshots over its period of operation 2001-2007
- Birchwood Community High School
- Birchwood Evangelical Church
- Birchwood Park business park
- Birchwood Neighbourhoods Association
Gorse Covert
- Map of Statistic Zones
- Timetable for bus routes 25-27
- Inspection report for Gorse Covert Primary School
- Gorse Covert Community Church
- Gallery of images of Gorse Covert
- Gorse Covert Pre-School