Walking Through Wigg Island - Runcorn, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 20.818 W 002° 42.429
30U E 519495 N 5910909
This sign is one of a series erected as part of the Wigg Island Environmental Trail.
Waymark Code: WMWVFB
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/17/2017
Views: 1
"Wigg Island, also known as Wigg Island Community Park, is a Local Nature Reserve near Runcorn in Halton, Cheshire, England. It lies between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal. It was opened on 19 April 2002 by the Mayor of Halton and Bill Oddie. The island is named after Charles Wigg, who started an alkali works there in the 1860s to extract copper from its ore. It was originally served by the Runcorn to Latchford Canal, and later by the Manchester Ship Canal. During the Second World War it was a centre for the production of mustard gas as Wiggs Works East, then Randles. After the war it was operated by ICI. Production ended in the 1960s.
The nature reserve covers 23 hectares (57 acres) and is used by birdwatchers. Bee Orchids are among the wild flowers found there. There is a visitor centre and a wind turbine. It is reached via a swing bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal. The site was heavily contaminated and had to be cleaned up before use. It is managed by Halton Borough Council. It was made a Local Nature Reserve in 2004 and is a holder of Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award.
link
In 2014 a major project to enhance the existing nearby road network was begun. It includes erecting a new major cable span bridge across the River Mersey, 2,130 metres long with a river span of 1,000 metres.
As part of the project an environmental team was established to monitor the impact of the works on the River Mersey and surrounding area including Wigg Island.
The new bridge opened in October 2017 and as part of the project information boards have been installed on Wigg Island with information about the island, the project and in this case the flora and fauna to be found in and around the island.
This particular board has information about three different environments on the islad; grassland, woodland and wetland.