Poolstock Westwood Autumn Colours

The area of Poolstock/Westwood where the Cooling Towers and Power Station used to sit by the Leeds/Liverpool Leigh Branch is now completely returned to nature.

It is still possible to see the artificial waterways and footprint area of this once huge industrial site, but now the waterways are full of reeds and wildlife, and a large, mainly Birch, woodland is growing wild and free. There is a maze of rough pathways created by walkers and bike scramblers to be able to explore the whole site quite easily.

There is still plenty of colour amongst the Autumn decay and the low Winter light and undulating landscape makes great opportunities for images.

I only took my 'long zoom' lens, so didn't get images that convey the size of the area, I concentrated more on the detail and colour that was available.

Fuji XT20, Fuji 55-200mm lens.

Wigan Greenheart Flashes

A usual haunt but a completely different area that I have never explored at the side of the Leeds/Liverpool Leigh Branch between Hawkley and Bamfurlong.

This is still part of the Greenheart Wigan Flashes area, but on the opposite side of the canal to the main path, and only accessible from Bridge 2.

The Wildlife Trust were strimming the paths to widen and clear them, so it is a more used area than I had realised. Plenty of Reedbeds, woodland, and a small Flash.

Fuji XT2, 60mm Fuji lens.

Bridge 2 Light

Stream Flow Colours

Sparkling Reedbeds

Leaning Over The Canal

Curious Young Swan

Double Exposure Swoosh

Gold On Grey

(Power) Lines In The Landscape

Reedbed Swooshery

Slow Stream Flow

Reed Swoosh

Wildlife Trust workers

Poolstock Autumn Blue Skies

I had an hour on my regular circular walk of Poolstock under clear blue Autumn skies.

My route includes the Leigh Branch of the Leeds/Liverpool Canal, the Wigan Pier Complex on the Canal proper, the abandoned Eckersley's Mill buildings and the River Douglas.

I took my Olympus Stylus 1 camera, a great 'carry round' that produces superb images!

Autumn Colour View Towards Wigan

Floating Autumn Leaf

Lock 1 Reflection

Poolstock Reflection

Three By Three



This Young Swan was a real poser!

Pier Complex

Pier Reflections

Blue Sky Eckersley Tower

Two Towers

Tower and Tree

River Douglas Turn

Fast-Flowing River Waves