HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND PLEDGES £539,000 TO CONSERVE LIGHTSHAW MEADOWS!

22 March 2010  

Purchase of Lightshaw Meadows will mean preservation of historic landscape

Community Forests Northwest has been awarded £539,300 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to fund the conservation of one of the area's most important natural landscapes.

The grant will be used to purchase Lightshaw Meadows - a Site of Special Scientific Interest - and preserve this significant wetland landscape. Delivered in partnership with Red Rose Forest, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency, this will be a major contribution to the development of Wigan's Greenheart Regional Park.

The scheme will also introduce public access to the site for the first time, creating volunteer opportunities so that local people can take part in the future management of the meadows.

Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said:

"Lightshaw Meadows is a wonderful example of the balance of natural and industrial heritage in the North West. The effect of shallow-mining on the landscape has resulted in a mosaic of different habitats that are home to species that are in decline elsewhere, making a huge contribution to the biodiversity of the UK as a whole. The conservation of the site will ensure that the meadows can be enjoyed by local people for many generations to come."

Tony Hothersall, Forest Director, Red Rose Forest, said:

"We are delighted that Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting this important project in Wigan. Community Forests North West, Red Rose Forest and Lancashire Wildlife Trust will be improving the area for an exciting range of wildlife, and giving people the chance to learn more about the history of the area and its special natural heritage. Community forestry is about so much more than just trees, and this is a great example of organisations working together on the development of a wet grassland nature reserve and of course, for the benefits for local people."

Lightshaw Meadows form part of the Wigan Flashes, between Wigan and Leigh, and are an important legacy from the area's industrial past. These wetlands were created by flooding caused by shallow-mining subsidence.

The resulting landscape contains a number of important wildlife habitats including large open bodies of water, reedbed, fen, wet woodland and flower rich meadows. Over 200 species of bird, 15 species of dragonfly and 6 species of orchid have been recorded. These include a number of species that are in decline, such as the Skylark, Willow Tit, Snipe and Redshank. This project will ensure the survival and conservation of these species and habitats.

Volunteer opportunities for local people will include practical conservation, wetland and woodland management, tree-planting and surveying species.

Education programmes will be created with local schools, giving young people the chance to learn about biodiversity, natural and industrial heritage. At the same time, Lightshaw Meadows will be able to be enjoyed by a wide range of visitors from casual walkers, to bird-watchers and local historians.

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Pictures available on request

For further information please contact

Roland Smith, Communications Manager, Heritage Lottery Fund
020 7591 6047 | 07713 48 64 20 |

Jessica Boyle, Community Forests Northwest
0161 8721660 |