Last updated: June 2024
Wigan Flashes Project is encouraging natural re-colonisation to a site of very high conservation value and an enormous asset for recreation for the local community. The Wigan Flashes are a group of eight shallow wetlands, formed originally as a result of mining subsidence, which extend south from near Wigan's town centre. Over time, the industrial landscape has evolved in to a mixture of open water, reedbed, mossland, willow carr and fenland (ref 1).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Lakes/ponds
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Conversion of former industrial areas
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Project objectives
Transforming a post-industrial wetland into a natural landscape, creating new habitat for wildlife and a place for local people to enjoy (ref 3)
Some overall goals of the Great Manchester Wetlands project are (ref 4):
1. improving water quality
2. improving access for people
3. providing health benefits and opportunities for recreation and skills training.
Implementation activities
This project is transforming the damaged landscape back to its former glory so that it can benefit the six million people who live close by. It will link the flashes to a larger network of important wetland habitats along a 9km stretch of the Leigh branch of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal (ref 1)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- Citizens or community group
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project of enhancing the Wigan Flashes is a working partnership of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Wigan Council who owns much of the land (ref 1 ). In addition, a number of partners are mentioned : Forestry Commission, United Utilities, Red Rose Forest, Groundwork, British Waterways, Highways Commission, Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, Wigan LCT, RSPB, local authorities, local landowners (ref 3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(1. Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora 1992 (ref 5)
2. Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) also known as the CROW Act (ref 5)
3. Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (as amended by 97/49/EC) (ref 5))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve. (n.d.). Wigan Flashes Conservation and Community Group. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 12 July 2020)
2. Green Infrastruture to Combat Climate Change. (2008). A Living Landscape: A Call to Restore the UK's Battered Ecosystems, for Wildlife and People. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 12 July 2020)
3. Lancashire Manchester North Merseyside. (n.d.) Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 12 July 2020)
4. Source link. (n.d.) Chapter 4: Wetlands and flashes. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 12 July 2020)
5. Lancashire Life. (2019). Why you should visit Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
2. Green Infrastruture to Combat Climate Change. (2008). A Living Landscape: A Call to Restore the UK's Battered Ecosystems, for Wildlife and People. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 12 July 2020)
3. Lancashire Manchester North Merseyside. (n.d.) Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 12 July 2020)
4. Source link. (n.d.) Chapter 4: Wetlands and flashes. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 12 July 2020)
5. Lancashire Life. (2019). Why you should visit Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)