WiganLeisureandCultureTrustAnnualReviewandReport2008/ 097 Countryside TheDamselNotinDistress- BandeddemoisellesandwatervoleshavelongmadeLow HallPark, Hindleyasiteofspecialbiologicalimportance. Andin2009itofficiallygaineda newstatusastheborough'sfourthlocalnaturereserve. Instrumentaltotheschemehas beentheinvolvementoflocalpeopleintheproject- whohavecometogethertoformthe FriendsofLowHallworkingalongsideWiganLeisureandCultureTrust( WLCT) and LancashireWildlifeTrusttoimprovethearea. WetlandsWonderland- InNovember2008ProfessorDavidBellamyofficiallyopened Wigan'snewestwetland( seepictureopposite). AnareaofcollieryspoilatThreeSistersrecreationareanearAshtonwastransformedinto Wigan'sonlywetlandsitewherethewaterlevelscanbemanagedthroughasystemofsluices. Parks DoubleTop- PenningtonHallParkinLeighandAlexandraParkinNewtown, Wigan, weretwooftheparksnamedinthe2008GreenFlagAwardswinnerslist, producedby TheCivicTrust. Theawardrecognisesthebestparksandgreenspacesinthecountryandisseenasthe benchmarkofexcellenceinrecreationalgreenareas. Asurveyshowedthat74.7% oftheborough'sresidentsaresatisfiedwiththeirparks. MesnesAmbition- ThefirstsignsofMesnesPark'smulti- millionpoundtransformation wereseeninspring2009asscaffoldingwaserectedaroundtheGradeIIlistedlodge building. Worktorestorethepavilion, bandstand, shelter, DaltonStepsandcorefootpathswilltake placeduring2009. In2007theHeritageLotteryFundandtheBigLotteryFundawardedagrantof£ 1.8mto transformandregeneratethepark. Match- fundingfromWiganCouncil, WLCTandFredericks IceCreamsawthetotalinvestmentplannedforPhaseOnereach£ 3.4m. InOctober2008WiganCouncil, inpartnershipwithWLCT, wasawardedadevelopment grantof£ 12,000tomoveforwardwithPhaseTwoofthemuchlovedpark'srestoration. Thislatestgrantannouncementformsthepotentialforafurther£ 3.1minvestment. Hi- de- Hide- Birdloverscanenjoytheirfavouritepastimeafterthefirstnewhidetobebuilt inadecadeatPenningtonFlashwasunveiled. RamsdaleHideoverlooksastretchofwaterknownlocallyasRamsdaleFlashspecifically createdin2004tofurtherimprovethiswonderfulwildlifehaven.` Play PlayingOurPart- Massiveimprovementsinplaywillbeseenoverthenexttwoyears followinga£ 2mgovernmentgrantannouncementinspring09. Morethanaquarterofthe borough'splayareaswillbetransformedaspartofthePlayPathfinderProgramme- aschemetorefurbish28playareasandbuildonebrandnewadventureplayground. ASpringInTheirStep- ResidentsinSpringViewwereabletodiscoverthedelightsofplay followingtheopeningofanewplayareaatReptonAvenue. AlloftheequipmentwaschosenbylocalchildrenandincludedanewHighWireZipLine, SpinnerandinclusiveBasketSwing. PlaySuccess- Morethan19,000childrentookpartinplaysessionsduring2008/ 09. This includesover1,000childrenattendingourNationalPlaydayeventatLilfordWoodsinLeigh. Greenspaces ACutAbove- It'sbeenanotherbusyyearforourGroundsMaintenanceTeam. Followinga rigorousassessmenttheservicewontheNorthofEnglandExcellenceAwardforbestpublic servicewithlessthan250employees. Theyalsoactivelysupportedanumberofeducationalandsocialinitiativesincluding; providingover25workexperienceplacementsfortheChildren& YoungPeople'sService's Project" Trident" andprovidinganumberofworkplacementsforWiganCouncil'sSupported EmploymentServiceandtheCommunityPaybackTeam. HaighHallGolfComplex StayingOnCourse- Morethan39,000roundsofgolfwereplayedatHaighGolfCoursein 2008/ 09whiletherewere200,000visitstotheCountryPark. TheGolfAcademyprovided2000individuallessons, 100juniorclasses, 50junior competitionsandfreefundedtasterstohundredsoflocalschoolchildren. Whilstthe coachingdeliveredtoawidecrosssectionfromAustralianschoolchildren, RAFVeterans, orphansfromChernobylrightthroughtotheNorthWest'sleadingyoungtalentandSenior EuropeanProfessionals. CemeteriesandCrematorium TakingCare- Ourcemeteriesandcrematoriumteamdealwithmorethan2,000funerals eachyear. It'sanextremelydifficulttimeforthoseconcerned. Asurveyshowed70% of boroughresidentsaresatisfiedwithoverallstandardandpresentationofcemeteries. EnvironmentalManagementandSustainability