Welcome to Rollins Wood Community

Rollins Wood is a community-owned 7.5-acre woodland in Marple Bridge, between the river Goyt, Rollins Lane and Compstall Rd.

We are a co-operative - we own the land and have over 120 members, more are welcome.  Members join in our social events, volunteering activities and we all share in the enjoyment of the landscape and wildlife and our produce - fruit, vegetables, firewood, honey, cider, hay (in a good year!), basket willow and hazel coppice sticks.

To join online, click on the link on the right - buy at least one £1 share and a year's adult membership for £10 - £11 in total.  Junior membership is free, children need at least one share each.

The land is used by local people for recreation, adventures, events and education such as Forest School groups. Permissive paths lead through towards Brabyns Park as a useful access for walkers.

Where are we? We are in Marple Bridge, on the way to Compstall. The entrance is a little alley on the left at no.35 Compstall Rd, a little beyond the Spring Gardens pub and the wine shop. By car – park on or off Compstall Rd and walk across at no. 35 – we have limited parking space for residents only. On foot, from Marple Bridge: go through Brabyns Park to the Iron Bridge, on into Rollins Lane, then right at the big oak and up through the oak wood. Our postcode is SK6 5HG.

Our history:  in early 2014 Sally Mitchell and Matilda Simon secured the land with the intention of making a community woodland. Originally two grazing fields, it had been little used in recent years and had become an overgrown wildlife haven, with fox, badger, weasels, voles, bats and many birds, from chiffchaff to sparrowhawks and owls. Plants include many common wild flowers such as bluebells and less common species including orchids, woodrush and saxifrage. Sally died in November 2015 but the land is a legacy for future generations. Her vision has been realised by volunteers who have put in many hours of willing work to develop the woodland. 1,500 trees were planted, the orchard, hazel and willow coppice and the vegetable and flower garden dug.