The restored Plantation Gates and Lodges at Haigh Woodland Park are due to open to visitors on Saturday 4 July 2026, giving residents a first chance to step inside buildings many have only seen from the outside.
The grand opening is free to attend, but booking is required during the opening weekend. Wigan Council says visitors can book a slot through Eventbrite, with the link available on the Haigh Woodland Park website and social channels.
Event details confirmed so far:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Grand opening of Plantation Gates and Lodges |
| Date | Saturday 4 July 2026 |
| Venue | Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan |
| Cost | Free |
| Booking | Required for opening weekend |
| Time | Exact opening-event times have not been stated |
| Usual opening pattern | Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 2pm |
Restored lodges become a visitor centre and art space
The Grade II* listed Plantation Gates and Lodges have undergone a multi-million pound renovation, with the buildings turned into an art installation and visitor centre at one of Wigan’s best-known green spaces.
The opening will include access to an immersive visual experience inside the North Lodge. Titled What the Walls Remember, the eight-minute artwork has been designed by regional artists Leo Mercer and James Hooton with a team of illustrators.
The piece uses music, light and storytelling to explore the lodges, Haigh’s history, the woodland landscape and the wider transformation of the site.
What visitors will see inside the North Lodge
The artwork was shaped by workshops involving former residents of the lodges, visitors, staff and volunteers at Haigh Woodland Park, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary and young people from Wigan Youth Zone.
Participants were encouraged to draw their favourite areas of Haigh, with those contributions incorporated into the final visual experience. The result is intended to connect the restored buildings with memories of the park and its landscape, rather than treating the lodges as a standalone heritage project.
Councillor Chris Ready, Wigan Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said residents had long wanted to get inside the Gates and Lodges. He said the immersive experience brings something new to Haigh and the borough, and was developed through work with people connected to the park and the wider community.
The restoration work behind the reopening
Since work began last year, the roofs of both lodges have been fully restored using Burlington Blue Slates, matching materials used on the Hall and Bothy Cottages restoration.
The original chimneys have been reinstated, while a roof light has been added to the North Lodge to bring natural light into the building. Stone repairs, mortar raking and repointing have also been completed.
New bespoke window frames have been installed, with traditional sash windows designed to reflect the lodges’ historic appearance. Wigan Council says the colour has been matched to the windows on the Hall.
The exterior stonework of the lodges and archway has had a gentle clean, while the gates and railings were sent off site to be shot blasted, repaired and redecorated.
How to book for the opening weekend
The lodges will be free to access, but visitors need to book during the opening weekend. Booking slots are being handled through Eventbrite, with the link signposted by Haigh Woodland Park online.
The council says usual opening times are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm, although longer hours are planned for the opening weekend. Exact times for Saturday 4 July have not been listed in the source notice.
For readers planning a local weekend, there is also a free Wigan Borough walk at Pennington Flash scheduled for the following day, Sunday 5 July.
Source: Wigan Council
Source check Source trail
This event preview is based on Wigan Council's published notice and keeps unconfirmed details, including exact opening times, clearly marked as not stated.
- Confirmed the event date as Saturday 4 July 2026.
- Confirmed the venue as Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan.
- Confirmed that entry is free but booking is required for the opening weekend.
- Checked that the named artwork is What the Walls Remember by Leo Mercer and James Hooton.
- Source
- Wigan Council
- Scope
- Wigan
- Updated
- 2026-06-24 16:34
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