I was heading over to meet my esteemed colleague Dr Mark Champion and Andy Gill and Elliot from BBC North West Tonight.

Under the banner of Wigan Greenheart, the Environment Agency, Wigan Council and the Lancashire Wildlife Trust are working on a natural flood management programme on Victoria Fields and Low Hall Nature Reserve.

On New Year’s Day in 2025, water that overflowed from Borsdane Brook submerged streets and caused so much damage that residents were forced to evacuate their houses in Platt Bridge.

Redfox Countryside Services have been helping us to rewiggle Brookside Brook, which was straightened by mining companies during the Industrial Revolution. The new meandering brook, newly created ponds and leaky dams will slow the flow of water, as well as providing nooks, pools and embankments for wildlife.

I had my doubts about rewiggling and leaky dams but the change has been dramatic. Arriving at Brookside Brook the leaky dams look awesome, created using tall trees that have been cut down as part of the clearance. They will not store the water for long, but hold it to slow the flow. 

After a stormy night you could see the build up of water behind the logs. The dams were doing their jobs.

You can also see how the brook was straight but now has twists and niches for fish and insects to gather, providing great buffets for birds. 

Honestly when you are out in nature wonderful things happen and we were looking at the dam when a kingfisher popped in to investigate. Mindblowing stuff.

One thing I love about visiting our projects, is talking to local people and we spoke to two women walking their dogs, who were telling us about this wonderful spot on the edge of Wigan. They had both seen roe deer this week and they love walking along as the birds are singing first thing in the morning.

They are happy with a bit of disruption while Redfox get on with the essential work, because we have promised some lovely new paths in the not-too-distant future. Wiganers tend to be patient and appreciate the good things in life.

I was touched when one of my new friends said: “Please keep up the good work, you are doing a great job.”

• Funding for the work at Victoria Fields has come from the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
• The project is also supporting the wider objectives of the Hindley Integrated Water Management plan to slow, store, and manage surface water within the catchment before it reaches downstream communities, creating a more resilient and sustainable drainage network across the Hindley area. 
• The Environment Agency is working with Wigan Council to develop a multi-million-pound scheme to reduce flooding. That scheme is being designed now and will be ready for construction in 2030.
• The Lancashire Wildlife Trust is asking its supporters and local people to back a national call by The Wildlife Trusts for the Government’s planned Water Bill. The Fix Water campaign includes essential reforms, like treating water as critical national infrastructure, which would support natural solutions to flooding. You can email your MP here.
• If there are any landowners who are interested in Natural Flood Management or looking at ways to develop their land to benefit nature, they should contact our Natureworks team here.