Improvements to Westhoughton’s nature reserves

Westhoughton councillors David Wilkinson and Deirdre McGeown at Eatock Lodge

Westhoughton’s picturesque nature reserves are to be improved thanks to funding from Westhoughton Town Council.

The Liberal Democrat run town council has allocated a budget of £7,000 to do works such as improving footpaths, repairs to bridges, planting schemes and hedgerow work at the four nature reserves in the town.

The nature reserves are:

• Eatock Lodge, off The Hoskers in Daisy Hill

• Cunningham Clough, the stream which runs down the side of Wearish Lane and comes out on Hindley Road

• Hall Lee Bank Park, from Park Road to Daisy Hill railway station

• The Bonk, from Bolton Road to Park Road

The Friends of Eatock Lodge were also given a £500 grant by the town council to support maintenance work.

Hall Lee Bank Park on a snowy day in December 2020

Westhoughton councillor David Wilkinson, who has been a town councillor since the town council was formed in 1985, said: “For around 30 years now we have been supporting our wonderful nature reserves and so I’m delighted that we’re able to do this again this year.

“The nature reserves require regular maintenance to ensure they can continue to be enjoyed by Westhoughton’s residents.

“They are tranquil and much needed green spaces as vast swathes of Westhoughton have been gobbled up for housing developments.”