Wigg Island
Encyclopedia
Wigg Island is a nature reserve near Runcorn
in Halton
, Cheshire, England. It lies in the River Mersey
. 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 (56.8 acre) and is used by birdwatchers. Bee Orchid
s 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.
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
in Halton
Halton (borough)
Halton is a local government district in North West England, with borough status and administered by a unitary authority. It was created in 1974 as a district of Cheshire, and became a unitary authority area on 1 April 1998. It consists of the towns of Widnes and Runcorn and the civil parishes of...
, Cheshire, England. It lies in the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
. It was opened on 19 April 2002 by the Mayor of Halton and Bill Oddie
Bill Oddie
William "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE is an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of The Goodies....
. The island is named after Charles Wigg, who started an alkali works there in the 1860s to extract copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
from its ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
. It was originally served by the Runcorn to Latchford Canal
Runcorn to Latchford Canal
The Runcorn to Latchford Canal ran from Runcorn, Cheshire to the Latchford area of Warrington, then in the historic county of Lancashire...
, and later by the Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
. During the Second World War it was a centre for the production of mustard gas
Sulfur mustard
The sulfur mustards, or sulphur mustards, commonly known as mustard gas, are a class of related cytotoxic, vesicant chemical warfare agents with the ability to form large blisters on exposed skin. Pure sulfur mustards are colorless, viscous liquids at room temperature...
as Wiggs Works East, then Randles. After the war it was operated by ICI
ICI
ICI or Ici may mean:* ICI programming language, a computer programming language developed in 1992* Ici , an alternative weekly newspaper in Montreal, CanadaICI is also an abbreviation which may mean:...
. Production ended in the 1960s.
The nature reserve covers 23 hectares (56.8 acre) and is used by birdwatchers. Bee Orchid
Bee Orchid
The Bee Orchid is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the family Orchidaceae.-Etymology:The name "Ophrys" derives from the Greek word "ophrys", meaning "eyebrow", while the Latin name of the species "apifera" refers to the bee-shaped lip.-Description: The Bee Orchid grows to a height of ....
s 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
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
in 2004 and is a holder of Keep Britain Tidy
Keep Britain Tidy
Keep Britain Tidy is a British campaign run by the Keep Britain Tidy environmental charity, which is part funded by the UK government. The majority of their campaigning is around the issue of litter. They have been using "Keep Britain Tidy" as their slogan for almost fifty years...
's Green Flag Award.