Thursday 24th July 2014 - Wigg Island and Moore Nature Reserve

There is always plenty to see in this area so a few hours allows only a quick snapshot. I had forgotten about the new bridge to be built near the existing Runcorn bridge, so was surprised to see two very large cranes on the Wigg Island site.

Runcorn bridges

This will be a major construction, and will cause significant disruption at the site. Hopefully however once completed, all that will remain on the site will be the bridge supports, allowing flora and wildlife to return. In fact the Mersey Gateway Project (see: http://www.merseygateway.co.uk/about-the-mersey-gateway-project/the-mersey-gateway-project-and-the-environment/) has created the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust which aims to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the environment - there do seem to be interesting environmental projects.


Common Fleabane was noticeable near the car park, Lucerne near the disused canal,

 Common Fleabane ( Pulicaria dysenterica)

Lucerne (Medicago sativa)

and Guelder Rose was fruiting.

Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)

One plant which provided a little confusion is the 'rush' growing in the disused canal.  A conspicuous feature of this plant is the size of the circular stems - about 2m tall and about 3cm in diameter at the base. On searching the rush family (Juncaceae), I could find nothing with this thickness of stem. Eventually I realised is is Common Club-rush, which is sometimes referred to as Bulrush, but this is not a rush - it is a sedge in family Cyperaceae. Incidently, the name Bulrush is also sometimes used for Great Reedmace (Typha latifolia), which is neither a rush nor a sedge, but in its own family - Typhaceae. (I have not even mentioned Spike-rushes which are sedges, and Wood-rushes which are rushes!)

Common Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris)

Common Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris)

Flowering plants noted were: Guelder-rose,Upright Hedge-parsley, Common Knapweed, Woolly Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Common Fleabane, Common Ragwort, Perennial Sow-thistle, Scentless Mayweed, Red Campion, Hedge Bindweed, Common Club-rush, Wild Teasel, Meadow Vetchling, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Lucerne, Melilotus, White Clover, Tufted Vetch, Common Centaury, Mint, Selfheal, Marsh Woundwort, Hedge Woundwort, Purple-loosestrife, Rosebay Willowherb, American Willowherb, Great Willowherb, Creeping Buttercup, Silverweed, Bramble, Common Nettle.

Wildlife included: Mallard, Mute Swan, Northern Lapwing, Magpie, Goldfinch, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Common Coot, Common Moorhen.

And Common Blue Damselfly; Hedge Brown, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood butterflies.

Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris)

Little time was left to explore Moore Nature Reserve. A short walk to the feeding station, but nothing there at the time. By the side of the path to Birch Wood Pool were two stands of Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), not to be confused with the variety seen frequently in gardens (Lysimachia punctata). Seems strange that these two stands occur in isolation here, but they have been here for many years.

Flowering plants noted: Red Campion, Woundwort, Purple-loosestrife, Rosebay Willowherb, Common Evening-primrose, Yellow Loosestrife, Meadowsweet.

Wildlife: Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Canada Goose, Mute Swan, European Robin, Great Crested Grebe, Common Coot, Comma, Hedge Brown and Peacock butterflies, Brown-lipped Snail.

Mike Pettipher