PROPOSED WIGAN NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE- YOUR CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED

GM Local Record Centre · Status: Offline

RE: PROPOSED WIGAN NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE- YOUR CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED

GM Local Record Centre · Status: Offline

Dave,

Thank you for your kind words. As you indicate, it has been a combined effort involving a number of key people going back to 2005 and beyond, which has ensured your records have been made available to the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) and shared with both Natural England and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

It is thanks, in large part, to your incredible recording effort over the years (and not least this difficult year) that the importance of Chat Moss (including the constituent mosslands of Barton, Cadishead, Great Woolden, Irlam and Little Woolden) for farmland birds and other wildlife has been recognised. Your Chat Moss field numbers map was ground breaking at the time but what none of us realised was how valuable it would become with today's GIS mapping technology. So GMEU are now able to produce maps for individual species such as Skylark, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer (all Red-listed) showing exactly which fields you have recorded them on. We will post an example on here soon.

The "Southern Mosslands", and those to the north as well, will form a key part of Greater Manchester's Nature Recovery Network (NRN) and Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and these are being worked on at the moment. Natural England wishes to engage local recorders and recording groups in the processes (please refer to the Nature Recovery Networks document posted on the Wigan National Nature Reserve thread on 28th October). The proposed Wigan NNR is just one component of a much bigger picture which will be explained in detail in the near future. So please keep an eye on this thread for news in the next week.

Yesterday's post by Ian was intended to encourage birdwatchers who don't currently submit records to get in touch with him to discuss how they might contribute. You clearly understand how valuable records are in identifying those areas which are of key importance for GM's birds and other wildlife. You are on course for a record year in 2020 in terms of the number of high quality records submitted. Please keep up the fantastic work.

Steve

-- Edited by GM Local Record Centre on Friday 27th of November 2020 10:14:08 AM

Dave Steel · Status: Offline

....and why does this not include the 'Southern Mosslands', as Eddie LOS, calls the Moss, collectively known as CHAT MOSS...since Judith Smith our Previous GMBRG Recorder encouraged me to input records electronically in 2005 I have, including today, (261120) contributed (and with reference my my ad-hoc map numbering of the moss in order to prove the value of each field...which has been put on...and used on this site since Judith handed over to I Mc whom I assume put it on the site) input to the GMEU and GMBRG (via Steve Atkins...what a stoic he is for GMEU and GMBRG record recording ) 135226 Records...all with a hope that the precious Mosslands might ONE DAY have such a NNR designation....you don't need to poll for this recorder to gather records...they are already there as evidence....'just a thought'....! Dave.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Natural England is leading on an exciting new project, which they (and GMBRG, the Greater Manchester Bird Recording Group) hope will result in the designation of a new National Nature Reserve (NNR) in Wigan covering the Abram Flashes SSSI, Bickershaw LNR, Pennington Flash LNR and the Wigan Flashes LNR, including Bryn Marsh and Ince Moss SSSI.

Many GMBRG and Manchester Birding Forum members know how important these sites are individually for both birds and other wildlife. Those of you who have bird watched at the Leigh, Lightshaw and Wigan flashes over many years will be aware of the incredible transformation that has taken place in the habitats and that this is still ongoing. Whilst they are individually significant, if combined into a single National Nature Reserve these LNR’s and SSSI’s would, it is believed, be of national importance and would be the first example in the UK of an urban, post-industrial NNR which could demonstrate how other sites across the country might be transformed for the benefit of biodiversity.

The Greater Manchester Ecology Unit is building the evidence base to support the potential designation by analysing records from many sources going back to 2010, including those submitted by GMBRG recorders. The initial focus is on breeding bird assemblages (terrestrial and wetland), non-breeding wetland birds, Willow Tits, bats and Great Crested Newts.

Other sites may also be included within the proposed NNR boundary once the analysis is complete and the plan is for any gaps in the data to be filled by organising surveys starting early in 2021.

This may well be a once in a lifetime opportunity to support this work leading to the potential NNR designation, which if successful would establish the first National Nature Reserve in Greater Manchester.

Natural England are keen for local birdwatchers and naturalists to contribute towards the evidence building process. Some of you have detailed local knowledge of these sites going back over many years which could prove invaluable. In addition, your skills in species identification and experience of recording mean you can make an important contribution to this project.

If you are interested in supporting this potential NNR designation, please contact County Bird Recorder Ian McKerchar to discuss how you can get involved.

Attached is a presentation from the public meeting which took place in early November which carries some more information.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 27th of November 2020 12:09:08 PM