Abstract.The soil of a restored opencast site in Northumberland is described and compared with the surrounding undisturbed soil. The most serious change in the soil was increased bulk density at the surface of the subsoil (0.3 m depth). Only a small overall reduction in pore space occurred, at the expense of continuous macropores. More of the pore space in the restored soil occurred as fine fissures as opposed to biotic channels, and the restored soil was weaker because of subsoiling and a loss of stability in microstructures. These changes are discussed in relation to root exploration, water movement and land management.