LGS 7 Target Wall Fields
Local Green Space Number 7
Target Wall Field and wooded area alongside
the Warm Brook Trail
Map ref. SK062 804
Criteria and reason for protection
1. Is the green space in reasonably close
proximity to the community it serves?
YES: immediately adjacent to the built up area
2.
YES: see below
Is the green space demonstrably special to
the local community and hold a particular
local significance?
a) Are there significant views from the local
area into or across the site?
YES. From the Warm Brook Trail footpath
alongside the brook and the path from Lower
Eaves heading south. There are also views into
the site from surrounding hills particularly
Combs Moss and Martinside.
b) Does the site afford the public with
significant views out into the wider
countryside?
YES. Southwards across tranquil agricultural
fields towards the hills and open country to the
south, east and west and across the town and
historic church to distant hills in the north
c) Does the site have special historic
significance or features?
YES. It is the site of the historical target wall
used for military training for more than 200
years. The wall itself was demolished at the time
when the Parish Council were applying for listed
status. (see local newspaper article below)
d) Does the site have recreational value?
YES: Popular for walking. Public footpath
FP114 is on the north east boundary and public
footpath FP 122 runs through the site. The
Warmbrook Trail footpath which runs from the
beautiful wooded section near Long Lane to
Brookside Road, on the north west boundary,
has a hard surface and is suitable for push
chairs and disabled use. Children playing in the
field and learning about the countryside, wildlife
and history of the Target Wall
e) Is the site particularly tranquil?
YES. Away from main roads and leading to open
country.
f)
YES. Warm Brook running to north west side of
the site provides biodiversity. Amphibians, fish,
water birds (Heron, Mallard seen in 20 mins on
site 11/2/2014). Woodland alongside the brook
provides rich habitat for birds and animals
(Jackdaws, Goldfinches, Blue and Great Tits,
Robin, Wren seen on site in 20 mins on
11/2/2014). Woodland wildflowers including
Does the site have ecological value?
wood anemones and bluebells are seen in this
area. The sloping field is marshland with reed
beds and habitat for amphibians and wetland
birds. The field is edged by intermittent hedges
and trees, some of which are mature and
outstanding.
A large part of the area is designated as a
Derbyshire Wildlife site. Also a large part of the
area is subject to Entry Level and Higher Level
Environmental Stewardship Agreements with
Natural England
g) Does the site form a significant green break
within the settlement?
It is a significant green space immediately
adjacent to the built up area.
h) Are there other reasons that make the site
special to local people?
It was noted that the High Peak Local Plan
Impact Assessment (Jan 2014) identified this as
an area that could not accommodate
development in landscape terms
i) Is there evidence demonstrating that the site
is special to local people?
YES: local Press Article re Target Wall and
Photographs, see below
In response to the Chapel Vision Survey in 2012
more than 40 people identified this as an area
they regarded as particularly special and wished
to protect from development.
Talking to local residents it is clear that many
local people support the proposal to designation
this site as a LGS
In March 2014, 200 people signed a petition
stating that this site is special to local people
and supporting its designation as a Local Green
Space.
See the photographs and comments by local
people below:
3. Is the green area:
a) local in character?
b) an extensive tract of land?
a) YES: It has clear physical boundaries; the
larger part has a railway embankment to the
south-east, a tree lined drain on the southwest boundary, the Warm Brook Trail and
the built up area to the north-west and the
track to Eaves Hall to the north-east. The 1.3
ha wooded area along the brook is bounded
by the Warmbrook trail to the north-west and
the south-east boundary is fenced.
b) NO: Taken together the two areas occupy
only about 0.4% of the Neighbourhood Plan
area.
Is there public access to the site?
Would the site provide the public with amenity
value without public access?
Summary and recommendations:
YES: Regularly used public footpaths alongside
and through the site. The field and surrounding
area is the subject of some local controversy
regarding access. A footbridge over the brook
which improved access to the area (see photo)
was recently demolished despite regular use by
local people for generations. The bridge
destruction has disrupted what was a
continuous path from Long Lane through the
field and into the town.
The Target Wall Field and the wooded area
alongside the Warm Brook Trail is
recommended for protection as a Local Green
Space. It is highly valued by many local people
as an historical, ecological, and public amenity
site. It also provides attractive and interesting
walks and wide and outstanding views of the
countryside.
A selection of the many comments made by local people
Joe and Sandra Badura: We have walked this field for years with the dog, watched the tadpoles every
year in the pond. All our children have played in these fields. Now our grandchildren play (there). So safe
and close to our house for them to play.
Paul May: Lovely place to escape to, walking and watching wildlife.
Yvonne Cohen: Comment on the target wall area and why it's special: A lovely, green, tranquil space, rich
in wildlife and biodiversity, and rich in historic social value. That a wall stood in the fields for however many
years - under which ponds held frogspawn in the early months of the year signaling spring was on its
way (until it was demolished and the ponds dried up) - and was used for target practice, made going there
as a child - during peaceful times when the wall was no longer needed for target practice - fun and exciting
by imaging the people who'd stood there previously, facing and aiming at the wall, what they were doing
there, why they had to be there to do what they were doing, even though target practice for war purposes
was an ultimately tragic undertaking. But it's part of the social history of Chapel-en-le-Frith, which has
happily meant wildlife and a wide range of ecosystems thrived and flourished, and demolishing it for
housing would be equivalent to erasing that social history and erasing the memories of all those who have
played, enjoyed, relaxed and created memories there. The "secret" demolition of the wall during the time
that protected status was being sought for it was a disgrace and underhand and those responsible should
be ashamed of themselves. Don't repeat the insult to the memory of those who practiced at the wall that
gives the site its name, some of whom gave their lives during wartime for Britain, by allowing the site to be
destroyed and built upon.
Frances Cohen: The Target Wall field has been accessed for recreation by the local community including
Brownies, Cubs, Girl Guides from the time the council estate was built nearby in the 1950’s. For 19 years
access across the Warm Brook stream to these open fields was by a wooden footbridge, recently
destroyed by the new landowners. Before the bridge was constructed, access across Warm Brook was by
stepping stones. This area should be given the status of Local Green Space and right of access should be
re-established to the footpaths and fields used in this way for so long.
Pat Craven. There is a lovely walk along the Warm Brook trail alongside the brook with its trees and
wildflowers near the Long Lane end of the walk with all sorts of birds and usually a heron in the brook. Then
open views looking across the brook towards the railway and an interesting walk in the fields where the
footbridge and target wall used to be.
Developers in firing line over Target Wall
Shot down: Chapel Parish Councillor Malcolm Cawthorn and local historian Graham Harper on the
rubble of the wall in 1991. Cllr Cawthorn is holding one of the cups won for shooting by Mr Nichols.
Published on Wednesday 24 August 2011 09:00
Last week’s letter about The Target Wall in Chapel-en-le-Frith prompted a trawl through the
archives to find out more.
And we discovered that a wall which had survived being shot at for two centuries was knocked
down because it had been deemed “unsafe” – just before it was due to be listed to save it from
development.
The demolition of the Wall in October 1991 caused a stir which resulted in a front page splash in
the Advertiser of the day.
The historic Wall behind the Brookside estate was built by the Chapel Volunteers, a group on
roughly similar lines to today’s Territorial Army, for shooting practice more than 200 years ago.
They fired from 1,000 yards away in what is now Chapel Infants School, and the wall was there to
stop the bullets causing damage.
The volunteers merged with the Sherwood Foresters in 1804, and the wall was used for practice
by soldiers who went on to fight in the Boer War and both World Wars.
Chapel Parish Council had just announced its intention to seek listed status to protect the wall
when developers knocked it down, claiming it was unsafe.
One local resident of the day, Florrie Nichols, who was 79 in 1991, remembered her late father
Fred winning trophies for shooting at the Wall in 1902 and 1912.
http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/community/nostalgia/developers-in-firing-line-over-target-wall-1-3688651