Mining

The slag heaps or pit mounds of closed mines have been put to many new uses. Some have been developed whilst others were made into nature reserves.

One example of a nature reserve is The Crostan (from Craw stone the name of the slag itself). This popular wood is also known as Styches Wood because it is on the pit mound of Styches colliery.  The colliery closed in 1912 and the mine shafts were filled in and a network of paths created. The mound has strong memories of past industrial use for many local people.

Some of the wood was planted with Corsican pine and Scots pine but the rest grew naturally. The natural regeneration is mainly oak, birch, willow and aspen.

Crostan wood is managed by the Severn Gorge Countryside Trust on a 999 year lease from the Telford Development Corporation. This trust cares for many other reserves in the area for the local community to enjoy.

A clearing in the centre of the wood has plants typical of a heathland such as bilberry and heather. Britain's only poisonous snake, the adder, has been seen here too. It won't hurt you, if you don't hurt it!. Despite the distinctive zigzag stripes along its back it is quite well camouflaged amongst the grass.