As the month of September comes to an end so does The Carbon Landscape Partnership. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Carbon Landscape Partnership was a £3.2 million programme, delivering 24 projects over five years! The programme was designed to restore and reconnect wild spaces, improve access to nature for local communities and inspire people to discover and care for nature, and that is exactly what we have done!
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Our Final Carbon Landscape Celebration was a huge success!
We were so happy to see so many people who have helped and supported us throughout this project. The work we have achieved over the past five year is truly remarkable so it was fantastic have everyone come together for one last time.
But it doesn’t end here! There are so many exciting plans for the future that we know the legacy of the Carbon Landscape will be around for...
Hello Everyone,
March has been a slower month as a number of practical’s had to be postponed due to extreme weather and I also went away on holiday towards the end of the month.
I spent quite a few days down at Whitehead Hall Meadows doing various types of habitat maintenance across the site. We started by removing the blackthorn regeneration across the meadow in order to keep it as a meadow. There is a hedge row that was laid a...
Today is World Wildlife Day!
The work that the Carbon Landscape Partnership carries out is vital to the survival of species of wildlife. From reintroducing species thought to be near extinction, to restoring and protecting their habitats in order for them to thrive. Our sites hold some incredible species such as the Bog Bush Crickets and the Large Heath Butterfly to the infamous Willow Tit, Bittern and many more. Protecting our...
What better way to celebrate World Book Day 2022 and mark the end of an incredible year of book highlights then for our final book highlight to be David Attenborough’s ‘Living Planet: The Web of Life on Earth’.
This book is currently a number 1 bestseller… of course it! It’s David Attenborough! This fully updated edition of his seminal biography does not disappoint. His exploration of wildlife and habitats is truly incredible. This...
Hello Everyone,
February was a very busy month and I managed to get involved with lots of different things!
Firstly, I joined the New Cut Heritage group and other volunteers down at Paddington meadows in Warrington to help cut and move an area of reed bed. Diverse reedbeds with different stages of growth are much better for wildlife than an older reedbed which is the same age throughout and is not managed. The cutting was done...
As it is National Nest Box Week we wanted to create some incredible bird boxes!
Last night we joined the 13th Leigh Beavers to make some boxes for our amazing Willow Tits. These incredible birds normally prefer to make nests in old tree stumps so the Beavers decorated their boxes with old leaves, bark and natural materials so that they will blend in with nature!
We had a great time and the nest boxes look incredible!
The Book highlight of the month is ‘Wildlife Adventurer’s Guide’ by Steve Backshall.
This book is the perfect read for anyone looking to get involved with wildlife as it gets you out enjoying the incredible nature that Britain and Northern Europe has to offer! This book explores all the different habitats that wildlife thrives in, including coast, mountains, heathland, garden, wetland, woodland and farmland. Packed full of useful tips...
Today is World Wetland Day!
Restoring and protecting our precious wetlands is a major part of the Carbon Landscape Partnership! Wetlands are incredible habitats that are among the most productive ecosystems in the world! They store rain like sponges which helps to protect us from extreme weather such as floods. They are also home to a vast variety of wildlife such as plants, insects, birds and many more!
Over the years the...
Hi Everyone,
At the beginning of December, I completed the last part of the Willow Tit Habitat assessment at Cadishead and Irlam. I found lots of great areas that in my opinion seem suitable for the Willow Tit. I am hoping that in spring I can get back out to these sights and record whether or not Willow Tit’s are present in these areas. This will then provide the evidence needed to suggest whether or not, looking at the quality of...
Yesterday evening we visited Leigh Brownies. It was too dark for us to head outside so, we brought the outside inside. We created some beautiful pictures made from things you can find in nature and, we had fun exploring all the animals you can find on our Carbon Landscape App.
We have been working a lot with young people and helping them to explore nature. If you are part of a group that would like us to run a well-being nature session...
Such a beautiful and very fresh winters day today! Such a great time to be outdoors! Thanks you to our volunteers who braved the frost to help construct a protective deadhedge around the Orchard at Maypole Woods. Even a little Robin came over to have a look!
Book Highlight of the month is ‘Every Day Nature: How noticing nature can quietly change your life’ by Andy Beer
This month’s book highlight is going to be a little different. This book is something I haven’t read yet, this is something that I’m planning on reading throughout 2022. This book really caught my eye, with daily short installments of ways to notice nature, the witty way it is written along with some beautiful illustrations...
Hello everyone, this is what I got up to last month!
At the beginning of December there was an amazing Hedge laying Workshop at Paddington meadows. Myself and a large group of volunteers helped lay a hedge using tools and methods that have been used for decades. This produces an effective barrier that lasts much longer and has much higher biodiversity levels than the modern alternative of using a tractor and flail. Hedge laying is an...
Hi everyone, last Thursday we were out building birdboxes with the Explorer scouts in Leigh! Everyone made their own birdbox which they were able to take home, whilst also learning about a few common birds, wildflowers and fungi with the swatch books. It was a great evening and we're looking forward to more work with them soon!
Last week our restoration officer and volunteer placement went out to New Moss Wood to carry out some much needed restoration work. They improved the hydrology of a mossland cell by installing an overflow pipe into one of the bunds, allowing water to drain from one cell to the other. This work will help the development of the cell and ensure that some of the more terrestrial sphagnum mosses can thrive.
Common-cotton grass was...
The Carbon Landscape has been working with British cycling to develop some of the trails around the carbon landscape into family friendly bike trails. This involved developing a new Augmented Reality app that will allow people to engage with, and learn about local wildlife and history of each area.
Along the trails you will find signposts with prompts on, inviting you to either download the app on your smartphone or device (this can be...
As today is International Volunteer Day, we wanted to say a huge Thank You to all of you who have helped the Carbon Landscape Partnership these past few years. You have helped us immeasurably with your magnificent deeds, no matter how big or how small!
Our Volunteer Co-ordinator, Steve Ormerod, also wanted to give a brief rundown of everything that we have achieved with the help of our volunteers over this past year!
‘The past...
Book Highlight of the month is ‘Winter- An Anthology for the changing seasons’ Edited by Melissa Harrison
This is the perfect book to read on these cold and dark, wintery nights. Find a little corner, wrap yourself up warm, grab yourself a warm drink and settle down to this fantastic complication of winter-inspired stories and poems by some amazing writers.
Hi everyone, last Thursday I hosted my first event with Willow Project Wigan where I had the chance to spend time with a really great group! They created an amazing art piece using natural materials while we had discussions about how spending time in nature can have a positive impact on our mental health and over all well-being. We also learned how to identify a few trees, birds and fungi!
It was a wonderful evening and we can’t wait...
Hi Everyone
November seems to have flown by! The nights are really drawing in now, so here's a snapshot of what I got up to.
Following on from last month, the data I collected during the Willow Tit Habitat Survey matched up really well with the data collected of Willow Tit presence in the same areas that had been collected in previous years. Because of its success, I will be going back to the Sankey Valley and also along the...
Check out our poet in residence, Clare Shaw as she reads some of her work on location, followed by a conversation with fellow poet Helen Mort about the main themes illuminated through Clare's poetry! This Digital event is freely available to watch from 1pm on Monday 1 November until midnight on Tuesday 30 November!
Click the link below to watch:
Book Highlight of the month is ‘Entangled Life’ by Merlin Sheldrake.
This is a truly fascinating book that highlights the deep connection fungi has with the natural world. It’s thought that nearly 90 per cent of fungi have remained undocumented so you can only imagine all the amazing species that are still out there waiting to be discovered. This book helps to bring to life how fungi affect nature around us and some cases, in ways that...
Hello everyone, October has been a great month and it finally feels like autumn has begun! This is my favourite time of year to go on long walks to enjoy nature and see how much it visibly changes from day to day!
I started this month off at a site I had never been to before, Maypole wood. We spent the day clearing a small area of trees so that an orchard can be planted there in the near future. This meant I was felling small tree’s...
On 5th October myself, Steve Ormerod Landscape Champions Project Officer, Lauren Collier, Community Support Assistant and Tegan Coupe, Volunteer Placement met with volunteers at Maypole Wood in Abram, Wigan.
Maypole Wood stands on the former colliery spoil heap of Maypole Colliery. It is managed by volunteers who lease the woodland from Wigan Council and is a fantastic variety of habitats, from open grassland, glades and woodland to an...
Book highlight of the month is ‘Abundance, Nature in Recovery’ by Karen Lloyd.
A compelling collection of stories that helps you to think about nature as a whole and the species you find there. Why is restoring these landscapes so important and why does it matter to everyone what we do with nature.
If you read this book and feel like you’d like to know more and would like to book onto Karen's free online launch event, on the...
Hi, I’m Tegan and I’m a volunteer placement with the Carbon Landscape Partnership. I am currently studying Ecology & Conservation and have taken a year out between my 2nd and 3rd year at Nottingham Trent University to gain some experience in my desired field of work before I graduate. Following on from Daniel, who has done an amazing job at these monthly updates but has now gone back to his studies, I will be taking over the monthly...
Hello. As I have come to the end of my placement, I thought it would be nice to reflect on my experiences and what I have gained from my time working with the Carbon Landscape.
Since my last monthly news post I have been mainly working on my placement assignments for my university.
I have still been able to go on various site visits and develop my surveying skills over the summer months. I have been out surveying for Bog Bush...
Book highlight of the month is ‘Into the tangled bank’ by Lev Parikian!
It's a really lovely read and would highly recommend giving this book a go. Lev talks about all the amazing ways you can notice nature from roadside pavements to Nature Reserves.
Will any of you be giving this book a read? Do any of you have any good book suggestions for us to try too?
Book highlight of the month is ‘Wilding: The return of nature to British farm’ by Isabella Tree.
It’s a fascinating read about give nature a helping hand and how important it is for vital habitats to be supported and allowed to spread to help our native wildlife.
Have any of you read this book? Will you be reading this book? Let us know!
The Wigan Arts Festival was a two-week multi-arts festival created by Wigan council to get people engaging in the Arts around the Wigan borough. The Carbon Landscape Partnership got involved with this incredible event as it was the perfect way to spread awareness for our project by bringing people along for a weekend of fun and environmental activities.
With over 90 people attending our events...
Book Highlight of the month is ‘Meadowland: the private life of an English field’ by John Lewis-Stempel.
Inspired by #NationalMeadowsDay...
Get outdoors and read a book. Why not read this month's book highlight 'Life on Earth' by David Attenborough.
I mean, does there need to be any other reason to read this book? It's by Sir David Attenborough?! but just in case you want a little more information, here we go. Life on Earth was an outstanding series on the BBC and subsequently a book. Sir David Attenborough and his team took people on a unique journey around the world....
Over the month of May I was involved in surveying and monitoring works on various sites.
I was helping with some habitat surveys on Highfield moss to establish a baseline before restoration works are done to be able to compare before and after intervention works. I was also assisting with some drone flights on Little Woolden moss. These were also to collect pre intervention data on the site, as well as monitoring the vegetation change...
In the heart of Wigan and Leigh, there is a place called Wigan Flashes. Made up of a variety of habitats. These clusters of Sites of Special Scientific Interests (SSSI’s) and Local Nature Reserves (LNR’s) make up this vital piece of nature. On the doorstep of thousands of people, the Wigan Flashes is a wildlife haven for some very important species such as Bitterns, Willow Tits, and Spotted Orchids. To help protect it, a proposal to make it...
The Book Highlight of the Month for May is ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ by Peter Wohlleben.
This book will really make you stop and think about how you look at woodlands and forests. Using his knowledge as a forester in Germany and pulling together scientific research he takes you on a journey of a tree's life. He talks about how trees interact with each other, how they help each other, and why it's important that trees have the space to...
In April I started by completing a chainsaw course! I was able to explore new sites such as Mere Sands wood and Three Sisters LNR. Learning the safe use of a chainsaw, I will be able to maintain pathways by clearing dangerous hanging dead wood, and also help to maintain areas of reserves such as meadows, which are very important habitats for many flowering plants. Overall this experience was challenging both physically and mentally,...
A worldwide initiative to get people outdoors and recording all the amazing wildlife they can find. Not only is this a great way to take those first steps into wildlife recording but the data collected really helps us to see what wildlife species are out there! There is also a fun competition between all the city’s taking part to see who can get the post recorders out there so who...
Mosslands are incredibly diverse, important habitats and we are lucky enough to have several of them right on our doorstep. Join expert Dave Winnard of Discover the Wild as he introduces us to some of the incredible creatures that we are likely to see on the Manchester Mosses.
Booking is essential through our Eventbrite page:
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Join Andy Hankinson as he takes us through the story so far of the reclamation and restoration of Irlam's own wildlife oasis. Learn what makes peat bogs so special and why the work to restore them is so impotant.
Booking essential, so get your free tickets from our Eventbrite page below.
Join wildlife expert Dave Winnard of Discover the Wild as he shows us the wildlife you can expect to see when you're out and about in Wigan and Leigh.
Booking is essential. Get your tickets from our Eventbrite page below.
Inspired by #WorldBookDay on the 4th March, we are going to highlight some amazing books which we think you would like to read. Today we are going to kick things off with ‘Linescapes’ by Hugh Warwick.
In this book, Hugh Warwick talks about how lines effet the landscape he was looking at. He started to notice how railway lines, hedges, walls, or canals, for example, caused habitats to fracture and cause our environment to be fragmented...
Hi I'm Daniel and I’m the Restoration Placement with the Carbon Landscape Partnership. I’ve been volunteering with the Carbon Landscape for the last 3 years and I’ve been the Restoration Placement since September last year. I have been having a great time and learnt so much that I thought it would be a great idea to share my experiences. I hope to inspire or show anyone that is interested in a career in conservation how great a placement can...
Edge Green Common, which has no registered or traceable owner, is already home to a range of habitats including acid grassland, woodland and peat bog. As well as capturing and storing carbon from the atmosphere, it serves as a ‘stepping stone’ between other mossland and wetland sites in the Carbon Landscape for species such as dragonflies and butterflies. The site’s diverse plants and habitats also include some species not seen in any...
Some great news coming from our restoration project at New Moss Wood in Salford. Thanks to the restoration and planting work that was carried out last year, we are now seeing key mossland species taking hold and we are starting to see the peatland habitat coming back to life. Peatlands are so important in the fight against climate change, with their ability to capture and hold carbon, restoring these precious habitats in vital.
Tony...
The Carbon Landscape have been building on from the initial wetland creation efforts wetlands on the ground of Golborne High School. Working with teachers Phil & Simon and their schools Eco Group along with other organisations we have helped to bring this wetland area to life.
The ponds were reprofiled and lined with clay to hold water and a network of smaller ponds were enhanced again to hold water but also to improve the...
Mersey Rivers Trust are the lead on the Hey Brook Revival Project at Low Hall Local Nature Reserve which is located between Platt Bridge and Hindley in Wigan. This beautiful little nature reserve is a hub for local wildlife and a popular walking area for local people. It has a variety of different habitats including woodland, meadows and wetlands thanks to the flow of the Borsdane Brook. Mersey Rivers Trust, a member of the Carbon Landscape...
Whitehead Hall Meadows is a fantastic green space at the heart of the Astley Green community. The majority of the site is wildflower meadow, that is crisscrossed by a series of pathways with a pond as the centrepiece. Due to its history as a community meadow that was then used as a coal tip during World War Two, a unique mix of plants and animals can be found there. These include rare Eyebrights, Yellow Flag Iris and unusual bryophytes,...
A big thank you to everyone that has helped us this year! Come rain or shine you guys have supported us through practical management of our reserves, wildlife surveying, community work, site management, event support and those of you that are glutton for punishment.....administration! We wouldn't be where we are today without the help from volunteers, both on a professional level but a personal one too.
We wish you all the best and are...
New Moss Wood is located on the urban fringe of Cadishead, Salford and sits between Holcroft Moss SSSI and Little Woolden Moss. Its location is partly why this site is so important, contributing to a network of good quality, positively managed wildlife habitats within the Carbon Landscape. The site itself sits on deep peat reserves and years ago was part of the huge Chat Moss peat expanse. For the past 100 or so years, New Moss Wood was a...
Don your very best exploring kit on as you spot wildlife, have a picnic – and look out for animal prints. There are lots of activities to choose from and they’re perfect for children age 3+
All you have to do to join in is click the link below to download the front and back of the leaflet. Use the map...
National Nature Reserves (NNRs) protect some of our most important habitats, species and geology, and provide ‘outdoor laboratories’ for research. There are currently 224 NNRs in England but there are no post-industrial ones.
We are proposing to develop a National Nature Reserve between the Wigan Flashes in Wigan and Pennington Flash in Leigh.
This involves three main aims:
1.Restore Pearsons Flash with Dr Mark Champion...
Yesterday was International Bog Day. It’s a day that people come together to celebrate how amazing bog/peatlands are and educate others on their importance too. With this in mind we thought it would be a great idea to release our ‘Re-Introduce your Love’ Music video! It’s a fun, family friendly way to learn about once local extinct wildlife being re-introduced onto our restored and vital Peatlands. We’ve been showed so much love already but...
