Woodhead Surface Mine

In April 2001, planning permission was granted for the Woodhead surface mine, which is located adjacent to Wombwell Woods near Barnsley. Following the commencement of the Woodhead site an additional coal reserve was identified to the west. Planning permission was granted for this area in September 2002. The two schemes produced somewhere in the region of 450,000 tonnes of coal.

The site was restored to top soil level in August 2005. The majority of the site has been cultivated and sown down to grass which is currently been grazed by sheep. The road to Woodhead Farm has now been constructed with an avenue of lime trees and fenced off with traditional parkland fencing. Internal stock fences and gates/stiles have all been erected as well.

All public footpath and bridal ways have been restored across the site and can be accessed. The footpath from Wombwell Lane has now been upgraded to a bridal way with a wider access point been constructed in the wall adjacent to Wentworth Road. Extensive repairs to the retaining wall adjacent to Wentworth Road have now also been completed.