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Grid
Ref: SD 685103
Size: 18 Hectares
Designated
on the 8th June 1992, Doffcocker Lodge was Bolton's
only Local Nature Reserve until the recent (2000)
designation of Nob End in Moses Gate Country Park.
The site is also a Site of Biological Importance grade
B (SBI), chiefly due to its reedbed habitats and associated
bird species; it is further protected as green belt
land. The reserve is centred on a disused reservoir,
originally created in 1874 by the damming of the Doffcocker
Brook to provide a mill lodge. The lodge itself is
now composed of two water bodies divided by a causeway,
connecting Markland Hill Lane to the south with Moss
Bank Way to the north. The reserve is widely used
by local people for recreational activities. The larger
of these water bodies, which covers 6.3 ha and lies
to the east of the causeway, represents the main focus
of recreational activities, including dog walking,
bird watching and fishing. The main areas of wildlife
interest on this eastern lodge are the stands of reedbed
and marsh habitat. The smaller western lodge which
covers 1.8 ha, possesses the main areas of wildlife
interest, with much swamp and marsh habitat present.
In 1989 a scrape was dug to the west of the lodge
to provide additional wildlife interest, primarily
for wetland bird species.
Flora
The Doffcocker Local Nature Reserve supports a large
and varied range of plants. These make up a number
of different habitat types/communities including marshes
and swamps, grasslands (both neutral and acid) and
areas of scrub woodland.
Fauna
The reserve is most notable for its bird life and
in particular its waders and wildfowl. Great crested
grebes breed in the sheltered areas of the reserve
and the rare slavonian grebe has been recorded on
the reserve. Teal have been known to nest which makes
Doffcocker one on the only two or three places where
this species has bred within Greater Manchester. 21
species of duck have been recorded on the reserve.
Mute Swans nest on the reserve on a regular basis.
Wading birds include, oystercatcher, jack snipe, and
common snipe (these appear to be reduced in numbers
since 1987). Other notable records include black-tailed
godwit, greenshank, green and wood sandpiper and,
in past years, the rare pectoral and curlew sandpipers.
The
reedbed and marsh habitats provide areas for nesting
reed buntings, reed and sedge warblers. Whitethroat,
lesser whitethroat and blackcap have also been noted.
Water rail, a secretive member of the Gallinule family
has also bred on the reserve and 4 members of the
tern family have been seen, including the rare black
tern. Up to 7 pairs of Common Tern now regularly breed
on the rafts on the rerserve.
Birds
of prey species include sparrowhawk, kestrel & tawny
owl, while hobby & peregrine have also been recorded.
As
well as the bird life on the site the site also hosts
populations of Water Vole, Pipistrelle Bat, Common
Shrew, Weasel, Smooth and Palmate Newts, Frog, toad
and many species of insect some of which are recognised
as being locally important.
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Access
Access points on to the reserve are restricted mainly
to areas along Markland Hill and Moss Bank Way, although
an access point for car borne visitors exists off Chorley
Old road, where car parking facilities are provided.
Within the reserve itself access is via a circular path
around the larger of the two lodges, with a less used
linear path, running through to Moss Bank Way. |
