Nob End

{{Use British English|date=April 2026}} {{Short description|Site of Special Scientific Interest in the United Kingdom}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb| Leblanc process waste cliff, Nob End Bolton, 1997 '''Nob End''' is the site of a former waste tip which is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest<ref name=en>{{cite web |url= http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003648.pdf |title= Nob End citation |series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest |publisher= Natural England |access-date= 24 July 2013 |archive-date= 24 January 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130124104424/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003648.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271003648%27|title=Map of Nob End |series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest |publisher=Natural England}}</ref> and local nature reserve<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=nob%20end&ID=825 |title=Nob End |series=Local Nature Reserves |publisher=Natural England}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=REF_CODE%3D%271083312%27 |title=Map of Nob End |series=Local Nature Reserves |publisher=Natural England}}</ref> near Little Lever and Kearsley, in Greater Manchester, England.

==History== Standing at the confluence of the River Irwell and River Croal the site was used around 1850-70 as a tip for toxic alkaline waste from the production of sodium carbonate (soda ash) by the Leblanc process.<ref name=en/> The waste, known as 'galligu', was a blue sludge (from reduced iron compounds) dominated by calcium sulphide and smelling of bad eggs.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Shaw |first=PJA |last2 =Halton |first2 =W|title=Classic sites: Nob End |journal=British Wildlife |volume=10 |year=1998 |pages=13–17}}</ref> The surface of the waste has since weathered down to calcium carbonate, and calcicolous vegetation has colonised the site. As natural limestone grassland does not occur in Greater Manchester, many of the species found are rare in the county.<ref name=en/>

The 8.8 hectare (21.7 acres) site became a SSSI in 1988, and a local nature reserve in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003648.pdf |title=File SD 70/2: Nob End |last=Anon |accessdate=18 February 2012}}</ref><ref name="Grasslands">{{cite web |url=http://www.gmbp.org.uk/site/images/stories/grasslands%20bap_09.pdf |title= Grasslands |last=Richardson |first=Derek |work=Habitat Action Plan 2009 |publisher=Greater Manchester Biodiversity Project |accessdate=18 February 2012}}</ref>

In 1936 a major breach in the now defunct Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal occurred east of the Nob End locks; it was repaired by Watson Homes as part of the Creams Mill development.<ref>[http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/mbb/mbbc30.htm Pennine Waterways]</ref>

==Habitats== There are a number of different habitats on the site, the creation of which were dependent upon: the type of waste deposited, the pattern of deposition and the nature of the underlying substrate:

* Open, species rich, calcicolous grassland. * Fescue grassland with salix scrub. * Wet areas with rushes, marsh plants and salix scrub. * Neutral grasslands. * Acid grasslands.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Gemmell |first=R.P.|author2=Crombie S.A. |title=Management of waste tips for enhancement of landscape quality|journal=Landscape Research |volume=1 |issue=1|pages=10–11 |doi=10.1080/01426397508705789|year=1975}}</ref>

==Flora== The flora found on the site includes: many types of Orchid, Broomrape, Twayblade, Blue fleabane and Carline thistle.<ref name="Grasslands"/>

== See also == * Blue billy

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Greater Manchester Category:Geography of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton Category:Local nature reserves in Greater Manchester