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 Partnership, worked alongside Wigan Council and Natural Course as well as local volunteers. The aim was to help support and improve the way the water flows through this site as well as to support and train volunteers to help monitor and survey the waterways.
Over the past 3 years, 21 volunteers are now river guardians. 136 volunteer days have taken place which has help to carry out important conservation takes around the site, the main task being to tackle the population of Balsam around the reserve. Other important task that were carried out by contractors included creating 3 large ‘leaky dams’ and 5 smaller ponds which were then planted up with important reed species. All this will help to ‘Slow the Flow’ of water and help to improve the water quality by filtering it as it flows through.
Low Hall is certainly worth a visit. It’s great for families thanks to the wood carving trail, wildlife enthusiasts especially in summer when the meadow is in full bloom and if you like stone circles, it’s even got one of them too.
