Wildlife reserves · North West England
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve
Also known as: Gwarchodfa natur Cors Leighton
In or near Silverdale.
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve in England North West, United Kingdom.
Mike Pennington — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Nearest railway station
- Silverdale · 0.2 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is located in Lancaster, Lancashire, with the postcode LA5 0SW. The nearest railway station is Silverdale, which is 0.2 km away. Entry to the reserve is free.
About
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is a nature reserve in England North West, United Kingdom — protected land managed for wildlife conservation, with footpaths, hides and visitor access. UK nature reserves include national, local and trust-managed sites covering everything from coastal saltmarsh to upland moor.
Photo gallery
Official information
Leighton Moss is a nature reserve in Lancashire, known for its extensive reed beds and diverse wildlife, including otters, bitterns, and various bird species. Visitors can explore the wetlands, coastal marshes, and woodlands while enjoying the natural beauty and tranquility of the area.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Leighton Moss SSSI
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Morecambe Bay SSSI
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Arnside & Silverdale
- Ramsar wetland: Leighton Moss
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
RSPB Leighton Moss is a nature reserve in Lancashire, England, which has been in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds since 1964. It is situated near Silverdale, Carnforth, on the edge of Morecambe Bay and in the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Leighton Moss contains the largest area of reed bed in north-west England. The site provides habitats for many species of wildlife, including bearded tits, marsh harriers, bitterns, otters and red deer. As a wetland of international importance, it was designated a Ramsar site in 1985. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area, and an Important Bird Area. The RSPB also protects a large area of Morecambe Bay, where a saltmarsh provides a habitat for birds such as avocets.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
In 1822 the moss came into the possession of Richard Gillow, grandson of the Lancaster furniture manufacturer Robert Gillow. Using steam technology, Gillow drained the moss for agriculture. Although the soil is of good quality, by 1918 the land was flooded again, as drainage appeared to have become uneconomic when the price of coal was high. The area was used for duck shooting. The RSPB initially leased the moss in 1964, before purchasing it from the Leighton Hall estate in 1974. The site was first opened to visitors in 1965 on a permit-only basis, receiving 375 visitors in its first year. Despite owning the land, the shooting rights were still owned by the Leighton Hall estate until 1984,…
Visiting
The reserve and visitor centre are open daily all year round (except Christmas Day) from 9 am to dusk and the visitor centre from 9.30 am – 5 pm (4.30 pm November–January inclusive). Entrance is free for RSPB members, and half price for those who come by public transport, bicycle or on foot. Silverdale railway station is just a few minutes' walk away. The reserve is on a proposed cycle way around Morecambe Bay.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 54.1686, -2.8003
- County
- Lancashire
- District
- Lancaster
- Parish
- Silverdale
- Postcode
- LA5 0SW
- Parliamentary constituency
- Morecambe and Lunesdale
- Phone
- 01524 701601
- Nearest railway station
- Silverdale — 0.2 km
- Official site
- www.rspb.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q6519775 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Leighton Moss RSPB reserve (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Leighton Moss RSPB reserve?
- Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is in Lancashire, North-West England, United Kingdom (postcode LA5 0SW), in the parish of Silverdale.
- What is Leighton Moss RSPB reserve?
- Leighton Moss RSPB reserve in England North West, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve?
- The nearest railway station is Silverdale, about 0.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode LA5 0SW.
- Who owns Leighton Moss RSPB reserve?
- Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is owned by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
- Is Leighton Moss RSPB reserve a protected site?
- Yes — Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is part of the Leighton Moss SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Morecambe Bay SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Is Leighton Moss RSPB reserve free to visit?
- Yes, Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is free to enter.
- How do I get to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve?
- The nearest railway station is Silverdale, about 0.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode LA5 0SW.
- Are dogs allowed at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve?
- Most wildlife reserves allow dogs on lead only, with restrictions during ground-nesting bird season (March-July). Check signage at the reserve.