Flashes of Wigan and Leigh: new national nature reserve status for former coal mining area
and live on Freeview channel 276
An historic expanse of former coal mines in Wigan and Leigh has today been recognised for its importance for nature and the local community.
The newly named ‘Flashes of Wigan and Leigh’ has been formally declared a National Nature Reserve (NNR) by Natural England bringing Wigan Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Forestry England together to protect 738.21 hectares of wetlands.
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Hide AdThe 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 (swamp, reedbed, tall herb fen, wet marshy grassland and wet woodland) which support a rich diversity of birds and other species.
We went along to take a video tour.
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