Brief History of Scutchers Acres
Tucked in behind Hobcross Lane and Flax Lane, and straddling the river which changes name from
Abbey Brook to Ellerbrook, about 25 metres above sea level, are the 11 hectares of a Local Site for
Nature Conservation called Scutchers Acres. The three major subdivisions are Ellerbrook Woods,
Flax Field and Scutchers Woods, and more detailed naming of compartments.
The name is taken name from the ancient ale house called Scutchers Arms, now called Qualco
Kennels, which served the 'scutchers' who beat the locally grown flax to release its fibres, and
presumably also 'retted' the flax in adjacent ponds, or river..
At the beginning of the 19th century the land gently rising on either side of the river was in use as
pasture land, though the woodland along the riverbank remained in continuity upstream with Mill
Dam woods, already shown on the 1848 maps. The mature trees in Ellerbrook woodland were
planted in the first part of the 19th century, and at this time the Ellerbrook was straightened in parts
both to the west and to the east. Lines of field drains were sunk every 10 yards. Flax Lane was
created and a bridge constructed over the Ellerbrook around 1830.
During the 20th century the land was owned by Burscough Mill owners Ainscoughs, and the
Scutchers Wood area was under arable crops at times though the heavy boulder clay was associated
with poor drainage. This is also reflected in the presence of some ponds on site. When the land was
bought as a tree nursery in 1988, additional furrows were created to assist in the drainage, and a
mixture of amenity trees had been planted over about half of Scutchers Acres, though Flax Field
remained as rough unmanaged grass meadow.
I took over Scutchers Acres and Ellerbrook Woods in 1997 with the objective of enhancing its value
for wildlife by the creation of new woodland and glades. So some 20,000 native trees and shrubs
were planted after clearing the majority of the amenity trees though small numbers were left to
enrich the site's arboricultural interest, which will be more fully developed in the future. Flax Field
was bought more recently and is being developed as a wildflower meadow and community orchard.
It also contains has a 'Christmas tree' plantation of 0.33 hectares.
Overall, the site has species representative of ancient woodland, a mixture of trees planted nearly
200 years ago and more recent planting of some exotic trees and native species. Some native
plants, as for instance in the Miry Pond have been introduced within the last decade to enhance its
wildlife value after it had been excavated, and all such tree and plant introductions are documented.
Formal and personal ecological surveys have been undertaken over the last decade and the Bioblitz
represents a wonderful opportunity to consolidate its status as a valuable place for wildlife to be
enjoyed by local people in years to come.
10/4/2011 JWHW