A GRANT has been awarded to protect some of Westhoughton's most popular nature reserves.

Beauty spots Eatock Lodge, Hall Lee Bank Park, Hall Lee Brook and Cunningham Clough will all benefit from a slice of £6,000 in funding fromWesthoughton Town Council.

Town councillor David Wilkinson said: “Westhoughton’s open spaces are extremely important for all of our families to enjoy and I want to do everything I can to protect them. This money will go a long way in maintaining and improving these spaces as the town continues to grow.”

Following the flooding on Boxing Day last year, excessive amounts of water drained into Hall Lee Bank Park and Cunningham Clough, causing bank erosion and trees to be uprooted. The northernmost footbridge collapsed after the bank washed away.

Improvements will be carried out in Hall Lee Bank Park including a new coppice woodland. The Edwardian brook edge wall will be renovated and paths will be cleared and hedgerows restocked.

A wildflower meadow will also be created at Hall Lee Brook near Cow Lees and Fieldbrook Walk, footpaths will be resurfaced and the habitats for bees and butterflies will be maintained.

In Eatock Lodge, water lily and pondweed will be treated to prevent fish deaths and the Japanese Knotweed will continue to be tackled.

The open space is a designated Site of Biological Importance and was developed on an old colliery spoil tip known as Hoskers Nook.

The Friends of Eatock Lodge group was set up by residents with the help of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to help maintain the site and raise awareness of its historical and wildlife value.

The group often runs activities including guided walks and talks, family fun days, community clean-ups and educational activities.

Mr Wilkinson added: “Groups like this are the lifeblood of our nature reserves. It is thanks to hard-working volunteers that we can continue to enjoy them.”