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Bird
Sanctuaries & Nature Reserves
In
the Northwest Region
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These venues
are within a day's return trip by car from Manchester City Centre.
The Wildlife
Trust
Wherever
you live in the United Kingdom, you'll find a local Wildlife
Trust near you. Some local Trusts are now online.
The
Wildlife Trust National Office
The Green, Witham Park, Waterside South,
Lincoln LN5 7JR.
Tel (01522) 544 400 Fax (01522) 511 616.
Email - wildlifersnc@cix.compulink.co.uk
Registered Charity No. 207238
The
Trusts cover the following local areas :
- Cheshire
Tel: 01270-610 180.
Email: cheshirewt@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Cumbria
Tel: 015394-32476.
Email: cumbriawt@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Derbyshire
Tel: 01332-756 610.
Email: derbywt@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Lancashire
Email: lancswt@cix.compulink.co.uk
- North
Wales
Tel: 01248-351 541.
Email: nwwt@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Staffordshire
Tel: 01889-508 534.
Email: staffswt@cix.compulink.co.uk
- Yorkshire
Tel: 01904-659 570.
Email: yorkshirewt@cix.co.uk.
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Hillside
Ornamental Fowl
Beech
Hill, Mobberley, Cheshire. Telephone: 01565-873 282.
Flamingos,
pelicans, toucans, penguins and wallabies are found here. Parking
on site, picnic area, and refreshments available. Red Rocks
Marsh Our only coastal reserve. Situated on the north of the
Wirral coastline between West Kirby and Hoylake. Nominated as
both the 'best' reserve and the 'best birdwatching' reserve
this site on the North Wirral coast . The reserve is 4 hectares
and consists of a reedbed, a salt-marsh, and both embryo and
secondary dunes and slacks. Access is via Stanley Road, Hoylake.
Progress on foot onto the foreshore and then left onto the reserve.
Unfortunately, the site is not accessible to wheelchair users.
Holcroft
Moss
An area
of raised peat bog and scrub birch woodland lying next to the
M62 motorway just outside of Glazebury in Warrington. The last
remaining area of this type of habitat within the county.
The Quinta
The Quinta
at Swettenham comprises over 36 acres of ancient woodland, grassland,
an arboretum and water features. Part of the property is designated
a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), whilst another
part is a Site of Biological Importance (SBI). The new woodland
area is grant-aided by the Forestry Authority, and the grassland
is covered by a Countryside Commission stewardship scheme. The
reserve also forms part of Cheshire County Council's Dane Valley
Area of Special County Value for Landscape (ASCV). Because of
the mosaic of habitats on the reserve, the opportunities for
use as an educational resource are vast. It is intended that,
over the next few years, interpretation displays will be installed
on the site to add to the experience of the visit.
Wildfowl
& Wetlands Trust Martin Mere
Tel:
01704- 895 181.
Martin
Mere is in Lancashire between Ormskirk and Southport, an excellent
place for seeing huge numbers of Pinkfoot Geese, Bewick and
Whooper Swans as well as large numbers of Duck. Renowned for
its wide selection of ducks, geese, swans and flamingos Martin
Mere's facilities include: childrens adventure playground, pond-dipping
zone, exhibition/craft gallery and superb bird watching facilities.
There is an ongoing programme of special events and activities.
The site is open all year round daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm
(earlier in winter). Closed 25 December. Free parking for cars
and coaches; restaurant; gift shop; facilities for disabled
people; wheelchair access.
Leighton
Moss
Leighton
Moss, Silverdale, Carnforth, Lancashire. Tel: 01524 701 601.
One
of north-west England's largest venues for birdwatching, with
shallow meres, reed-beds and woodland. Its varied wildlife includes
such special birds as breeding bitterns, bearded tits and marsh
harriers, otters and roe and red deer. As well as a centre with
excellent information, the reserve has seven birdwatching hides,
four of which have wheelchair access, and nature trails. Facilities
include car parking, a picnic area, shop, snacks and light refreshments
facilities, cycle facilities, visitor centre and organised teaching
programmes. There are toilets with facilities for disabled visitors.
On offer is also binocular hire. There is a charge for RSPB
non-members. Opening times are from 1000 am - 5.00 pm. Public
transport: rail - Silverdale 200 yards. Members of the RSPB
and its club for children, the YOC, are admitted free to all
RSPB reserves. You may join the Society at reserves.
Mersey Estuary
The Mersey
Estuary has a similar range of species to the Dee, with especially
large numbers of Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck, Dunlin and
Redshank. The Duck have decreased in recent years but good numbers
still occur. Unfortunately the best areas for the duck, Manisty
Bay and Stanlow Marshes, have no public access but you may be
able to visit by arrangement with the Merseyside Naturalists
Association. Areas where there is public access are Seaforth
Nature Reserve (North Liverpool), Otterspool Promenade, Hale
Lighthouse and Eastham Country Park. Seaforth Nature Reserve
in particular is well worth a visit. Although not a pretty place
at the North end of Liverpool docks this reserve is a magnet
for birds, these include a good selection of waders and gulls
as well as a nesting colony of Common Terns.
Frodsham
Marshes
Frodsham
Marshes are an exceptional area for birdwatching all year round.
Species include a large range of duck species, Hen Harriers,
Marsh Harriers, various waders including a good selection of
rarities and in 1997 Spoonbills attempted to breed with up to
six present during the summer.
Woolston
Eyes
Woolston
Eyes Reserve is an area of water, marsh and reed beds situated
between the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey near
Warrington. Two hundred and twenty species have been recorded
on the Reserve, including thirteen species of raptor, more than
thirty species of wader, all five grebes, the three woodpeckers,
and five species of owl. In winter large numbers of wildfowl
can be seen and in the spring and summer several hundred warblers
breed.
Conwy Estuary
The Conwy
Estuary has similar duck and waders to the Dee, albeit in smaller
numbers, but has the added bonus of some exceptional scenery.
There is an RSPB reserve here (just off the A55) which has a
number of freshwater lakes as well as good views over the estuary.
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