With a new declaration, The Flashes of Wigan and Leigh will become one of the largest urban nature reserves.
For more than 300,000 locals, a 738-hectare green beacon adjacent to major metropolitan areas will give access to nature.
Rare willow tits, bitterns, and water voles will be protected thanks to nationally significant habitat.
A former industrial wasteland that is now a crucial habitat for endangered species like the bittern and willow tit is slated to grow into one of England’s biggest urban nature reserves.
Today (3 October), The Flashes of Wigan and Leigh, a 738-hectare patch of marsh, meadows, and woods that is rich in species, will be added to England’s network of National Nature Reserves.
The distinction, which will be the first in the Greater Manchester region, honors the Flashes’ remarkable evolution over the last century. As natural recolonization and extensive reclamation projects repaired the wounds of industry, lakes created as a consequence of mining subsidence provided a haven for animals like the “booming bittern.”
The community values the former industrial environment for its recreational opportunities as well as its significance in conserving wildlife and natural resources. It is believed that the location, which offers a range of activities from fishing to cycling, nature hikes, and birding, would open up new possibilities for sustainable tourism and attract both locals and people from other areas.
With Wigan being acknowledged as one of the UK’s greenest metropolitan districts, the new protected reserve will offer a haven for wildlife.
A wide variety of bird and other species are supported by the mosaic of shallow open water and wetland habitats (swamp, reedbed, tall herb fen, wet marshy grassland, and wet forest).
This contains over 52 pairs of willow tit, which make up over 2% of England’s population, as well as water voles, great crested newts, and bitterns that resemble herons.
Marian Spain, the chief executive of Natural England, said that national nature reserves help people rediscover their connection to nature by giving them the chance to explore our wonderful countryside, which is essential for their health and wellness.
Growth in the economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand. We can protect endangered species and preserve essential greenspace by cooperating to create solid partnerships like those we see here in the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh. As a result, Wigan and Leigh will become excellent locations to live and do business, encouraging foreign investment.
Nature’s reclamation of abandoned industrial land created the distinctive wetlands in Wigan and Leigh. The designation made today shows how the deterioration of nature may be stopped.
The British economy is supported by nature, with our natural capital valued at £1.2 trillion in 2019. By ensuring that communities and young people have access to outdoor space for health, enjoyment, and wellness, the site will benefit more than 300,000 local residents.
Realizing this new National Nature Reserve required collaboration with local communities. Wigan Flashes, Amberswood, Three Sisters, and Bickershaw Country Park are just a few of the 13 sites that make up the NNR, which was established by Natural England in collaboration with Wigan Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and Forestry England. Viridor forest was also planted there by Forestry England a little over 20 years ago.
National Nature Reserves were created as “outside laboratories” for scientific study and to safeguard some of the most significant habitats for endangered species.
They provide crucial chances for the general public, educational institutions, and niche interest groups to interact with animals up close and learn more about environmental protection.
The first nature reserve in England was established 70 years ago this year, marking a significant milestone in the long history of efforts to restore nature and make green space and animals accessible to everybody.
Currently, there are 220 National Nature Reserve locations spread over more than 103,000 hectares.
The Government’s primary goal is to stop the loss in animal populations by 2030, and these natural hotspots are essential to attempts to restore nature across England.
They will play a significant part in the nation’s nature recovery network.