Tandle Hill

• Oldham OL2 5UX
• Car park facility available
• English Oak, Hawthorn

In 2016 Oldham Council graciously released a new memorial tree planting area within Tandle Hill Country Park. The area is to the rear of the park overlooking the scout field and offers impressive views of the Manchester and Cheshire skyline, on a clear day Jodrell Bank can be seen clearly on the horizon.

The specification of the new memorial trees is focused on being predominantly an Oak woodland. This is not only to help diversify the established beech tree plantations within the park and help to diversify the age structure of the trees to ensure there is a thriving woodland on site for future generations to enjoy.

Most of the new area will be left wild to help provide a home for nature and protect wildlife habitats that are enjoyed by small mammals, insects and butterflies.

With the aim of the new plantation being to create a more natural memorial forest for all park users to enjoy a 2.5" (63mm) diameter circular plaque now replaces the standard rectangular plaque. The plaque will accommodate a 20-word sentiment of your choosing. The plaque is installed on top of the tree supporting stake and no longer on a separate post in front of the tree. The stake will remain with the tree for up to 5 years, after this time the stake will be removed, and the plaque then attached to the maturing memorial tree.

The closest pedestrian only access to the area is from Oozewood Road entrance to the park and the there is also access from the main car park. Maps with directions to the planting area can be requested from the office and a map will also be sent out with order confirmation when an order has been placed.

Life for a Life planting areas are natural environments where we encourage wildlife and plantlife to flourish, as such additional items should not be added to the tree or the space around it, especially as they can cause damage to the tree.Please be aware that any prohibited items left on or around memorial trees will be removed.

There is no longer space available for trees in the original planting area near the Rotary Wheel.

What happens now?

Now that the original planting are is now closed to new tree planting you will see slight changes in the way we manage the site. The aim is to create a forest that will mature over time and become a local amenity for both visitors and wildlife. Therefore, the management regime will move to one which is more sympathetic to the environment. In practical terms, this will mean a gradual reduction in grass cutting as the tree canopy closes to help promote a richer diversity of wildflowers and other ground flora.
All the memorial trees are guaranteed for 25 years and any tree which has unfortunately not established itself successfully will be replaced from a selected mixture of 'understory' species consisting of either Hazel, Hawthorn or Holly that will help diversify the woodland creating an even better home for nature.
Furthermore, as the memorial trees grow they will be 'crown-lifted' which involves removing the lower limbs of the trees to help maintain access as the trees continue to mature and allow air and light to pass through. Eventually, the plaque in front of the trees will be removed as the site transitions from a formalised memorial woodland into the memorial forest we all want it to become. At this point a new sign will be erected that will let people know how the forest was established and what the trees represent.