Bringing Spodden to life

Photo: Alan Wright

LWT will be working on this meadow at Spodden over the coming months

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Naturalists are hoping to attract wildlife and local people to bring a nature reserve to life.

Spodden Valley runs along the route of the River Spodden and next to Market Street in Whitworth, Lancashire. The 100ha site links up with Healey Dell nature reserve in the south but is not nearly as popular with local people.

Now The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is working to attract wildlife and volunteers with conservation events and activities.

The Wildlife Trust’s South Pennine Grasslands Officer Phil Reddell has already held a series of sessions to tidy up areas and create wildflower meadows to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. This, of course, encourages other wildlife.

As well as the river and meadow areas, there are areas of woodland in the reserve, yet it is not heavily used by nature lovers in the surrounding towns and villages.

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust Community Projects Officer Rebecca Witcombe is encouraging local people to visit Spodden Valley. Rebecca said: “It’s a shame that this seems to be quite an unloved area but it really is a lovely place to spend time.

“We are hoping all age groups will come and discover the nature reserve and, hopefully, it will encourage some people to help us to improve the valley by volunteering.

“Once people get here I am sure they will want to help out and get involved in the conservation work. While they are here they might even see some special wildlife.”

Activities throughout 2016 include restoring and improving the wildflower meadows, removing scrub that has encroached the meadows, cutting back overgrown grasslands and planting new wildflowers, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of wildlife.

There will be opportunities for volunteers, schools, community groups and individuals to carry out the practical work. Rebecca said: “As well as helping to improve the valley, volunteering has health benefits and it is an opportunity to meet some of your neighbours with the same concerns as yourself. You will get out in the fresh air, get healthy, help wildlife and learn more about species in the valley.”

Anyone interested in helping with grassland management and scrub clearance can visit the reserve on Wednesday 3 February and the following Wednesday 10 February.

Anyone interested can contact Rebecca at rwitcombe@lancswt.org.uk or call 01282 704605 or Phil at preddell@lancswt.org.uk or 01772 324129.

The work is funded by Lancashire Environment Fund, Wren, Whitworth Town Council, CCG and Newground.