Newt beginning for nature reserve

Staff and volunteers have transformed Cutacre from a poorly maintained agricultural area to a thriving nature reserve.

It's safe to say that our staff and volunteers have breathed new life into this plot of land in Tyldesley, on the border between Wigan and Salford, which now buzzes, croaks and twitters with life.

While we have been transforming the site for six years now, recent funding from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, Viridor Environmental Credits, the Landfill Communities Fund, and Wigan Council’s Brighter Borough Fund mean we have been able to do even more.

A great crested newt swimming upwards in the water, with one arm raised, showing off its bright orange belly with grey spots — Great crested newt

Conservation Officer for Greater Manchester, Martyn Walker, said:

“Four overgrown and silted-up ponds have been restored to create areas of open water. These will support breeding amphibians, including the rare and protected great crested newt. These newts, along with smooth and palmate newts, have already been recorded in ponds on Cutacre.

“Staff and our amazing volunteers have installed five water troughs and a water connection, with more than 600m of underground pipe, within the fields. This will allow our cattle to graze the fields in a way that benefits wildflowers and wading birds.”

The hard-working team has also cut back an amazing eight hectares of dense rush, opening up more areas for birds to breed and flowers to become established. That dense rush was discouraging the highland and longhorn cattle that tear up the grass, leaving clumps of vegetation and muddy areas which are perfect for birds like the lapwing and curlew.

Martyn said: “The work we have done has transformed an area that was just a little bit scruffy and not serving a purpose, into a place where wildlife can thrive. The plants growing there will add lots of colour, which should delight anyone visiting Cutacre.

“Without funding, these areas would deteriorate, but local people and visiting naturalists now have a wild and lovely area which will literally be buzzing and croaking with wildlife in spring and summer.”

Cutacre nature reserve

A group of volunteers standing in a field behind a hedge, waving at the camera and smiling

Cutacre volunteers, by Stephen Cartwright

A newly restored pond sitting amongst bare ground at Cutacre

Newly restored pond at Cutacre, by Stephen Cartwright

Over the past six years, management of the reserve has been aimed at encouraging rare farmland birds such as lapwing, oystercatcher, redshank and skylark to breed. Areas are now opened up for flowers such as cuckooflower, lesser spearwort, ragged robin and marsh bedstraw.

Martyn said “We also get the double benefit that this will provide more succulent rush growth, so we are keeping our cattle workforce happy while reaping the benefits. And all this is good for wildlife.

“The site offers some amazing opportunities to see wildlife, with grasshopper warbler, reed bunting, linnet and stonechat being found in the scrubby areas of the site. Bullfinch, now a scarce bird, can be found within the woodland, whilst snipe, a long-billed wading bird, can be seen foraging around the edge of pools, which is exciting being so close to an urban area.”

Visitors to Cutacre also get an opportunity to see the magnificent cattle that have grazed the British countryside for centuries.

This project is part of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund initiative which is being supported by The Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency, and Forestry Commission.