Wet Willow Wildlife (2024–26)
Lancashire Wildlife Trust and The Conservation Volunteers completed wet-woodland works across Bolton, the Salford and Wigan mosslands, Trafford and the Mersey Gateway. Work included coppicing, selective tree removal, scrub planting, invasive-species control and measures to retain water. These treatments maintain the low, dense woodland and decaying timber used by willow tits.[1][2]
Current position
The project ran from March 2024 to February 2026. Its final results were published on 15 May 2026.
Project details
- 51 hectares of wet woodland improved and 9,462 trees planted.
- The trust reports habitat connections across 632 hectares; that figure is wider than the area directly improved.
- Himalayan balsam was removed at Darcy Lever Gravel Pits, Moses Gate Country Park and New Moss Wood to help native plants re-establish. These are 3 of the programme’s participating sites.
Mapped sites
Darcy Lever Gravel Pits
Representative reserve point. These 3 mapped sites form a partial footprint of the wider programme; Himalayan balsam removal is documented here. [4]
Moses Gate Country Park
Representative park point, not a surveyed work patch. Documented works include Himalayan balsam removal and wet-woodland management. [5]
New Moss Wood
Woodland Trust’s published location for the wood, not a surveyed treatment patch. Himalayan balsam removal is documented here. [6]
Timeline
March 2024
Two-year project begins.
February 2026
Funded works end.
May 2026
Final outputs published.