Former coal mines that have transformed into Wigan and Leigh ’s popular green spaces have been nationally recognised as nature reserves. What were once colliery areas known for smoke and soot, loved for their huge employment boosts in their hayday, have now become the ‘lungs of Wigan’ that dog walkers, bird watchers and nature lovers now aspire to visit.
The areas, now called ‘The Flashes of Wigan and Leigh’, will knit together a total of thirteen sites including Wigan Flashes, Amberswood, Three Sisters, Bickershaw Country Park, Pennington Flash and Viridor Wood near Bamfurlong in Wigan, creating the first National Nature Reserve in Greater Manchester. Dozens of environment and political figures gathered at Amberswood on October 3 to celebrate the momentous occasion.
The new NNR will protect 738.21 hectares of precious wetland habitats, home to nationally significant wildlife populations including the willow tit, water voles and great crested newt.
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The wetlands were originally formed through the flooding of land which had subsided due to significant coal mining during the 1800-1900s. The flooding created a cluster of shallow open water and wetland habitats which support a rich diversity of birds and other species.
Councillor David Molyneux MBE. Leader of Wigan Council, said: “Coal mining shaped the borough, and it shaped our communities, villages and towns. It has had a major impact on our borough for 200 years and I think the legacy that was left behind in the 60’s and 70’s has now been reshaped into something people do feel very proud of.
“These places have been one of our best kept secrets, but at the same time we’ve always realised how important this is. I think people have a vision of Wigan being a dark, grim, satanic mill sort of site but these places have always been here and taken advantage of by local people.
“This is well worth coming to have a look at. Looking at the locations in the middle of urban sprawls and suddenly you have a magnificent green oasis, even the swans will put on a show for you occasionally.”
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) were established to protect some of England’s most important habitats, species and geology, provide ‘outdoor laboratories’ for research and offer opportunities to the public, schools and specialist interest groups to experience wildlife first-hand along with learning more about nature conservation.
The occasion at Amberswood demonstrates how the Government plans on delivering on the Environment Act – a key target of which is to halt the decline in our wildlife populations through a legally binding target for species abundance by 2030. These ‘nature hotspots’ are ‘key’ to restoring nature across England and helping to bring green space and wildlife to everyone, including those who live in towns and cities.
Ginny Hinton, Area Director of Natural England, said: “The creation of this National Nature Reserve close to so many people is an important moment for nature recovery, not only in Wigan, Leigh and the Northwest but for England. This is not least because it presents a practical demonstration of what can be done by working in partnership across the landscape at scale to reverse nature’s decline.
“Seventy years from the creation of our first National Nature Reserves in England, these wonderful places are needed now more than ever as we face the challenges of global warming, wildlife decline and reconnecting people with the natural world.”
Jo Kennedy, Living Landscapes Development Manager from Lancashire Wildlife Trusts said: "The declaration of The Flashes of Wigan and Leigh as a National Nature Reserve is an opportunity to celebrate, protect and enhance this area where nature has taken back places once dominated by coalfields. It is now a vitally important part of the North West’s Nature Recovery Network and is a home for breeding and wintering wetlands birds.
“It also holds two per cent of the national population of willow tit, the UK’s most endangered small bird. Our team was at the Flashes only last week and saw willow tit and a rare bittern, that was circling the site looking for a winter base.
“It truly is an important and most beautiful site just minutes from the busy streets of urban Wigan and Leigh."
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