The Willow Tit parus montanus has declined by 70% since the 1970s, and as a result is the subject of ongoing research by the RSPB and others into the resons for this decline. One of the species' strongholds is around the post-industrial sites of West Manchester, including the Wigan Flashes. The area around the flashes comprises mostly quite young wet woodlands, established naturally and through planting on mainly post-industrial spoil and remnant arable fields.