GROUNDWORK Wigan and Chorley took a walk on the wildside today (Thursday) with its partners to celebrate completion of the first stage of the reclamation of Lower Burgh.

The former landfill site near Chorley is being reclaimed to create a haven for wildlife and a place for local residents to enjoy leisure pursuits.

Today's launch saw visitors examining the new boardwalk, which has been laid over a wet area, and the steps built up a slippery slope.

The project aims to improve access to the site, currently overgrown and waterlogged, by creating footpaths, replacing stiles with kissing gates, and adding sign posting and information boards. It will even be made suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Conservation improvements include an ecological survey by Chorley Natural History Society, enhancements of the wildflower meadows and the creation of manageable mown paths that will act as fire breaks to protect the meadows.

Groundwork's Alison Whitehead, who is overseeing the project, said: "The planned work is a result of many discussions, but it's still not too late to make minor changes at this early stage."

It will benefit people who use the site as a link from Eaves Green estate to Yarrow Valley Park, as well as the Model Aircraft Society who use the tip for leisure activities.

The project has been developed with support from Chorley Borough Council which owns the site, the Environmental Agency, LWS, Lancashire Environmental Fund and Lancashire County Council.

Today's launch started at 2.45pm at Lower Burgh, opposite to LWS Household Waste Reception Centre.

Groundwork is a federation of 40-plus Groundwork Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each a partnership between the public, private and voluntary sectors. Groundwork Wigan and Chorley have done much to help environmental programmes, and in 1999/2000 the trust have, among many other things, planted 20,000 trees, and improved 28,000 metres of route.