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 surviving mosslands in Lancashire, Greater Manchester or Merseyside. Furthermore, this type of lowland habitat, which is regarded as internationally threatened, is under particular pressure – but thanks to its common land status, the bulk of the site has never been commercially exploited for peat, cultivated for agriculture or developed.
Wigan Council in partnership with LWT and supported by the Carbon Landscape have now come up with a solution by which the remnant mossland in Golborne could be restored to create a ‘carbon sink’ and a refuge for wildlife. Wigan Project Manager, Mark Champion says “We are really hopeful that this project will get the go ahead. It’s an exciting opportunity to work on a site that will really help to improve local biodiversity as well as play an important role in carbon sequestration. I’ve visited the site numerous times and it really is a remarkable place. This place is already so diverse but it’s amazing to think of what it could be like with a helping hand ”. And we couldn’t agree more! With investment already secured from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, not only will this project help to restore this vital site, it will also demonstrate how important green spaces are to help everyone get some daily activity.
We’ll be sure to keep you updated!
