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Grid
Ref: SD 685103
Size: 18 Hectares
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.
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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