We are all Lottery winners
EARLY last week we had a spell of sunny weather that had us all stripping down to our shirt-sleeves.
On the Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s mosslands reserves volunteers, dressed in woolly winter hats and fleeces, suddenly found themselves overdressed after months of wet and chilly weather.
It was perfect for 20 of our friends from the Heritage Lottery Fund to plant cross-leaved heath plugs on Astley Moss. Cross-leaved heath is a major nectar plant for butterflies that have become extinct in many areas.
The planting sessions were the first part of a major reintroduction plan for these butterflies onto mosses close to Manchester, Salford and Wigan.
And it was great to see the HLF staff as, thanks to National Lottery players, the Heritage Lottery Fund has funded a massive part of the works on the mosslands.
They have helped the Wildlife Trust to buy and restore mosses damaged by peat extraction.
It has led to the restoration of landscapes for wildlife and the return of creatures like the buzzard, brown hare, bog bush cricket, common darter dragonfly and roe deer.
Before the work party arrived, I spotted two roe deer heading off into woodland on the moss.
I just couldn’t get close enough to grab a picture.
As the gang worked away, a buzzard was gracefully gliding on the therms, a hundred feet above us.
Birds of prey are common over the mosses, seeking small mammals that inhabit the wet and grassy carpets.
More than 50 species of bird are recorded on the Chat Moss area every month of the year.
While we were on the moss, a common lizard appeared basking in the first rays of spring sunshine.
There is a huge variety of wildlife on this area just miles from the centre of Salford.
Passion, enthusiasm and a love of wildlife are all musts for the 750,000 volunteers working for the Wildlife Trusts across the UK. Work parties from businesses and organisations are always welcome. It really is a great way to get some fresh air, get to know your colleagues better and create a brilliant team spirit.
For more details go to our website at lancswt.org.uk. »●To become a member of the Trust go to the website or call 01772 324129. For more information about Cheshire Wildlife Trust call 01948 820728.