Lever Park is protected by the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902 and Lever Park Act 1969, link here and those acts ensure "free and uninterrupted enjoyment by the public" but those rights are constantly under threat. 

Public Access Land

There had been historical attempts to take away the rights to roam at Winter Hill when Colonel Richard Henry Ainsworth erected gates across access roads to the Smithells estate so walkers would not interfere with his shooting, he had put up "Trespassers will be prosecuted" signs and hired men to warn people off, this led to the great Winter Hill Trespass of 10,000 people 6th September 1896, a week after the mass trespass 12,000 crossed the land again, unchallenged, reclaiming their rights of way on the moorlands.

Today Winter Hill is Access Land, on open access land you are not confined to the use of paths. Winter Hill along with Rivington Pike, Rivington Moor, Crooked Edge Hill, Adam Hill, Smithills Moor, Counting Hill, Whimberry Hill, Folds Pasture, Hordern Stoops, Sharples Higher End and Turton Heights, including area within the Terraced Gardens known as the Japanese and Kitchen gardens are all public access land recorded by Lancashire Council the full map can be downloaded from https://www.bolton.gov.uk/downloads/file/249/access-to-land-map.

By checking mario maps under Countryside, Environment and waste tab, then tick access land it can be seen the Japanese Gardens, within the former Bungalow Grounds are also open access land. The road passing through the Bungalow Grounds under seven arch bridge is a publicly maintainable ORPA, other road with public access and is recorded on the National Street Gazetteer.

Some activities may not be conducted on access land, such as camping, details on what is permissible can be found at this page https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam

Attempts were made to close access to the public of Rivington in 1989 when 3000 took a pledge to protect their rights to roam. A further attempt was made by a change to the management of the park when the water company United Utilities, successor to the Liverpool Corporation tried to pass a Water Bill in 1998 which would have stopped "free and uninterrupted enjoyment by the public" in supporting measures to allow the public access to uncultivated land in the House of Commons in 1999 Sir David Crausby, Bolton MP mentioned the 1896 Mass Trespass as an example of why there was a need to protect rights of way, the risk is ongoing.

Lancashire County Council enforce rights of way on the Chorley side of the border, the major land owner at Rivington United Utilities also has additional responsibilities see http://council.lancashire.gov.uk/documents/s58499/Report.pdf

DON'T LOSE YOUR WAY CAMPAIGN

The Ramblers Association have launched a campaign to preserve rights of way due to be lost by 2026, more details at their official web site, the campaign is in response to a change in law by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, section 53 to 56 which means the legal right to use unregistered routes will be extinguished in 2026.  There are many routes not recorded on the map and those routes will be lost. If you wish to check the location of registered rights of way you may find these at Mario Maps to check the definitive map, you may also find footpaths and bridleways using Rowmaps

Terraced Gardens: The former Terraced Gardens are not protected by the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902 and not part of the original park. Only one public footpath (no 82) is registered through the Terraced Gardens, other routes to / from and in the Terraced Gardens are unregistered on the definitive map and will be stopped from 2026.

The Rivington Pledge

We pledge our lifelong intent to regard ourselves at liberty, in exercise of the simple human freedoms which we rightly claim, to walk with our families and friends for recreation of body and mind wherever public access to open country is presently allowed by the water authorities. We shall cause no damage, break no criminal law, neither threaten nor commit any violence nor intrude upon anybody’s privacy. But if free access to these lands is at any time denied we now declare that the threat of legal action for trespass, which is not a criminal offence, shall not deter us from exercising our traditional right of access to the hills.

Pledge was taken by 3000 at Rivington 7th May 1989 and led by Richard Harland, Open Spaces Society.

 

References