Place Information
|
Aspull, lying northeast of Wigan, Greater Manchester in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, is a pleasant residential village betraying little evidence of its mining and textile past. With Haigh Country Park estate to the west and Borsdane Wood to the east it still retains a rural aspect, and boasts superb views towards Winter Hill and the West Pennine Moors. The Aspull area of Wigan has a long history of mining, which dates back to the 1700’s, leaving a legacy of old mineshafts, water drainage tunnels (soughs) and abandoned mine workings. One such ‘sough’ in Haigh Country Park for many years has discharged iron rich minewater into the Yellow Brook causing significant deterioration in the aquatic fauna and flora smothering the brook and River Douglas some 460m downstream with ochre deposits. The Coal Authority acquired part of the former Alexandra opencast site for a passive treatment scheme with a ‘window of opportunity’ existing to share access to the site with the Cannon Sharples C of E Primary School development. Ascot Environmental Ltd worked on the £0.75M project to construct a pumping station, twin pipelines, 3 settlement lagoons, 3 reedbeds and extensive landscaping. The scheme was completed in Summer 2004 and provides the benefits of:-
The project included the careful translocation of rare Marsh Orchids to specially prepared landscaped areas. The completed treatment scheme with developing wildlife habitat, public access, information boards, forms a valuable local amenity and school learning experience for the Aspull community whilst enhancing the wider Country Park. Research Tips
|
