Wildlife
Biodiversity is all living things from the tiny garden ant to the giant redwood
tree. You will find biodiversity everywhere, in window boxes and wild woods,
roadsides and rainforests, snowfields and the seashore.
We are part of biodiversity and depend on it for quality of life. What we
don’t save now, our children will pay for later. Biodiversity is the
living bank that everyone should invest in. Now it is banking on you.
Wildlife to look out for at Amberswood
The area consists of a series of small lakes, ponds and wetlands, including
a Grade A Site of Biological Importance. The site holds a great range of habitats
with mixed plantation woodlands and neutral grasslands being the most dominant.
There are also substantial amounts of marshy grassland. This mosaic of habitats
allows a wide range of species to flourish.
The birdlife to be found in the area is extensive and sightings include UK Priority Species such as the Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) and Reed Bunting (Ember schoeniclus). A number of species of Conservation Concern have been recorded including Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirapaceus), Great Tit (Parus major) and Chaffinch (Fringilla Coelbs). The open rides, pathways and grasslands of the site are of great value to a variety of butterfly species that range throughout the site. Pyronia tithornus or Gatekeeper, Parage aegeria or Speckled Wood and Gonepteryx rhamni or Brimstone are all species of Conservation Concern recorded in the area. It is hoped that the number of species recorded will increase in future.
The wetland areas and ponds are ideal habitats for many species of Odonata (Dragonflies) and Amphibians. The Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), though rare within the region, has been recorded. A number of other types can be seen, such as the Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) and Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum). In the thirteen ponds in the area you may see Common Toads (Bufo bufo), Common Frogs (Rana temporia) and other amphibians.
The Wigan Council Planning Department actively manages the site to ensure it continues to improve and keep track of what wildlife occurs.