Project summary:
A grant was awarded to Lancashire Wildlife Trust to support the employment of a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) and for practical project work on the proposed local nature reserve.

The Wigan Flashes lie at the heart of Wigan town centre and were created as a result of mining activity. Natural colonisation in combination with large-scale land reclamation has taken place resulting in the establishment of a locally and nationally important wildlife resource. However, the area has a poor image making local people reluctant to use the area and discouraging potential new inward investment. The CLO will facilitate work to reverse this trend. In doing so the CLO will aim to link to other healthy living strategies and initiatives promoting the value of the LNR for social well being.

The projects aims are to: conduct ‘Planning for Real’ exercises, hold public meetings, community surveys, and offer volunteering and training opportunities. The CLO will work in partnership with other organisations to target local schools, community groups and raise awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues. A programme of public events and a production of a leaflet will be undertaken to raise awareness of the LNR and the CLO will seek to identify innovative projects that will attract the attention of local people and media.

Practical project work on the site includes improving access by improving the footpath network. Habitat management work will be carried out on the tall fen areas and reedbed to enhance the area for bittern with the long-term target being to attract breeding Bitterns. Other habitat management will also be undertaken which will help to deliver the local biodiversity action plan (LBAP) (for more information see the UK BAP website http://www.ukbap.org.uk.