thanks for the advice ian. next time i post martland marsh ill start a new thread on sightings site,

Perhaps these recent sightings posts could be put on a relative thread on the sightings page Fred? They're likely to be missed on this discussion forum and they're very worth while and would be a shame to be missed.

water rails calling loudly today.sounded like at least three birds but as usual no sight of the blighters

lots of reed warblers singing all along the marsh.willow warblers and whitethroats also in good numbers as well as quite a few reed buntings.i dont know what the water rail population is but they seem to be calling every time i go there so hopefully they are in good numbers as the terrain is ideal.

I doubt very much that this will go ahead. This man does not understand the planning laws. GMEU and Wigan Planning are aware of this and are trying to contact him. If he goes ahead without planning permission he will be in serious trouble, I suspect. This is an SBI Grade B both for botany and birds and Wigan MBC have pledged not to allow detrimental development on SBIs.

a fence is being built around the higher ground where the heather grows by a company called pierhead gates which is owned by mr partington who owns a fishery at orrell water park.they said the marsh itself would not be touched as it is in the douglas floodplain.they said mr partington has owned this higher ground for 20 years.they also said that he is investing 1/2 million pounds in the venture.when i asked them how they could dig it out as access is very difficult they said 2 bridges were being built across the duggy from the road by the soccerdome.i find this alarming because if they are right a beautiful stand of heather will be destroyed as well as serious disturbance to the wildlife on the marsh itself when digging begins.

thankyou for that judith.its heartening to hear that.Myself and my border terriers would sorely miss this piece of "nondescript"land.The higher ground is covered in heather which is just coming in to bloom and is a sight to behold.

I am waiting to hear from the council ecologist who has promised to let me know when a planning application is received. There is no chance of changing it into a fishing lake as it is an SBI Grade B (which WMBC are bound to protect) and the council own it, apparently.

anybody got an update on the situation as it raised its ugly head again in the evening post.the notices are still there but have been badly vandalised.not by me i might add!