A Walk On The Wild(Life) Side - Part 1
Since lockdown came back into force in early November, I was back to exploring my local area, and in particular the nearby nature reserves. I found myself taking my Canon camera with me, and swaying to more wildlife orientated photographs as opposed to the landscape photography I normally do in the hills & mountains. The only wildlife photography I have done previously was the Red Deer, & Red Squirrels, but on my local walks it was more bird life I would be engaging with, and their small size & fleeting behaviour meant this would be a bit of a challenge.
The nearest nature reserve to where I live is also the largest nature reserve in the Bolton Borough - Moses Gate Country Park. Made up of old mill lodges, native woodlands, sections of the now disused Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal system, with the River Croal also running through the park, and converging with the River Irwell a mile or two downstream.
Crompton Lodges, named after Robert Crompton (1667-1737), whose paper mills & spinning mills were once prominent in the town, were now a sanctuary for waterfowl - Ducks, Canada Geese, Moorhens, Coots & Mute Swans are all resident, along with plenty of seagulls and pigeons. The majority of visitors will happily stroll the wide flat paths around the three largest lodges, feeding & watching the birds.
On the far side of one of the lodges, near a picnic bench, a path turns into a wooden board-walk through a small part of woodland, and this seems to have become a haven for visitors feeding some of the woodland animals - an attracts a variety of small birds such as Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits & Nuthatch, as well as Grey Squirrels. Every time I've been the trees and bushes in this area has always been alive with birdsong.
At the opposite end of the boardwalk is a small viewing platform, and by just silently standing there for a few minutes it won't be long until something shows up. Be it a Grey Squirrel scurrying on or under the boardwalk, a Robin singing a happy tune in a nearby tree, a Blackbird foraging in the undergrowth, or the tapping of a Woodpecker. There are a few old tree stumps in the area, and again, these are popular with visitors leaving food for the woodland residents.
Away from the lodges, the River Croal weaves it way through the country park. Walking alongside the river, you're likely to spot Grey Wagtails, Dippers, Grey Heron, and if you're very lucky, Kingfishers. Unfortunately, I'm yet to spot a Kingfisher on this stretch of river, although locals I've chatted to have advised they are around.
Running parallel to the river, but slightly higher, is the Little Lever 'upper' section of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal system. This is a lovely stretch of canal, which is still filled with water. It runs for approximately a mile from Hall Lane to Nob End, where the canal reaches a junction with Prestolee Locks. This is a popular with dog walkers and fishermen & in places offer views across the valley, and as far north as Winter Hill.
The locks are now 'dry' and have been out of use for a long time, but a small way down the hill, it is possible to pick up the towpath of the 'lower' section of canal, which is still filled with water, heading towards the village of Ringley. This is a quieter section of canal, and is partly overgrown, which helps attract wildlife.
At the bottom of Prestolee Locks is Nob End SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Bordered on two sides by the confluence of the Rivers Irwell and Croal, Nob End was once the site of a chemical works, and the chemicals that leached into the ground from the factory means the now open grassland is the unique home of some plant species not found anywhere else Greater Manchester, including a few species of orchid. The site is also bordered on its third site by woodland, and aside from the usual Robins & Blue Tits, I have also seen Song Thrush and Dunnock in the area.
From Nob End, heading back along the River Croal to Crompton Lodges, the path heads through dense broadleaf woodland. Once again, I've found if you stand still and lofor long enoughok into the trees , you may spot something you don't expect. On my walks through the woods, I've been lucky enough to spot a Tree-creeper spiralling its way up between tree trunks, as well as Britain's smallest bird - the Goldcrest, which I was pleasantly surprised to find so close to home!
As lockdown continued, I would revisit Moses Gate regularly, and also explore different parts of the local river system, which starts in the reservoirs on the northern fringes of Bolton, and makes its way through a number of parks and nature reserves in the town.
What has surprised me most of all though, is the vast array of wildlife which is right on my doorstep!
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