Moses Gate Country Park 22nd March 2026
The wildlife garden near Rock Hall in Moses Gate country park has been around for a number of years, and we probably worked on it in the in its early days, but it wasn’t until 2016 that management of the area was handed over to Bolton Conservation Volunteers. Since then we have installed planting beds, laid hedges, and generally maintained the site; we also both of our Wildfest events here.
Out of all of the places we have worked this one is of special importance as it is the place we most associate with our former leader, Rick Parker. Before he passed away in 2024 Rick used the wildlife garden in his teaching sessions, introducing children to wildlife through pond dipping, willow weaving, and species identification. The abundance of frogs, toads, dragonflies, damselflies, newts, butterflies, moths, birds, wild flowers, and fruit trees made it a perfect place for Rick to do the job he loved the most. It’s a legacy we want to continue.
At the time this was originally posted in June 2025 the garden wasn’t in the best condition: the beds were overgrown, the boardwalk had rotted through in several areas and it was in need of extensive repairs. Since then Bolton Council have come in and done a great job removing the old boardwalk and resurfacing the paths, so now we can start work restoring the garden.
To start with we cut back the willow and dogwood, tidied up the planters, and removed the last of the old boardwalk from the pond. We also added a few aquatic plants to get the pond moving again. Finally we rebuilt part of the hurdle that Rick built.
As work progresses more news will be added to this page along with photos, but in the meantime thanks to everyone involved, Rick would be proud of what you all do.
