Grassland Restoration, Nob End

Client: Bolton Council
Original Value: £2,830
Final Value: £2,830
Start Date: Sep 2016
Start Date: Sep 2016
Status: Completed 2016
Duration: 4 days

CCNW Solution

CCNW’s professional conservation team has extensive experience with all aspects of habitat management.

Nob End is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and as a Local Nature Reserve. Most importantly, it has a diverse range of habitats and is home to Greater Manchester’s only natural limestone grassland. It stands at the confluence of the Rivers Irwell and Croal and adjacent to the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal with its famous Meccano bridge.

In addition to our work completed on the site in 2014 & 2015, this project involved the restoration of grasslands. Following Natural England’s specification using grass cutting and seed head from donor sites, besides relocating them to receptor areas. We also undertook further spraying to eradicate invasive weeds on site.

A flail mower scarifier collector has been used to harvest the seed heads and undertake grass cutting operations, therefore speeding up operations and reducing disturbance on the site.

The result is a much improved site with increased species diversity.