Wildlife reserves · North West England
Mere Sands Wood
In or near Wrightington Bar.
Mere Sands Wood is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 2 h–4 h
- Best time of year
- Autumn & winter (migration & wildfowl)
- Nearest railway station
- Rufford · 1.9 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
Mere Sands Wood is located in West Lancashire, with the nearest railway station being Rufford, approximately 1.9 km away. Entry to the reserve is free, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is L40 1TL.
About
Mere Sands Wood is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. It covers approximately 42 km². Heritage designation: Site of Special Scientific Interest. Managed by Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Coordinates: 53.6355°, -2.8371°.
Photo gallery
Summary from the official site
Mere Sands Wood is a nature reserve featuring a variety of habitats including lakes and woodlands, making it a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy birdwatching, explore walking trails, and observe diverse flora and fauna, including over 170 bird species and various mammals.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Mere Sands Wood SSSI
- Ramsar wetland: Ribble & Alt Estuaries
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Mere Sands Wood is a 105 acres (42 ha) nature reserve between the villages of Holmeswood and Rufford in west Lancashire, England, managed by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside. It lies about five miles from Ormskirk. The name derives from when the area was on the shore of Martin Mere.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Mere Sands was originally part of the Martin Mere lake, which has Authurian links. The lake had been 15 miles in circumference around that time. Between Anglo-saxon times and the late 1800s, the area included a fishery which stocked eels as well as fresh water fish. Between 1974 and 1982 the sand was quarried for use in glass-making.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 53.6355, -2.8371
- County
- Lancashire
- District
- West Lancashire
- Parish
- Rufford
- Postcode
- L40 1TL
- Parliamentary constituency
- Southport
- Nearest railway station
- Rufford — 1.9 km
- Opening
- Wednesday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm; closed Mondays and Tuesdays
- Official site
- www.lancswt.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q6818882 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Mere Sands Wood (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Mere Sands Wood - the main lake.JPG (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Rufford New Hall
Historic houses · 1.0 km
Rufford, Lancashire
Museums · 1.2 km
Rufford
Villages · 1.4 km
Rufford Old Hall
Historic houses · 1.6 km
Windmill Animal Farm
Zoos & aquariums · 2.2 km
Martin Mere Education Centre
Natural landmarks · 2.3 km
Martin Mere Visitor Centre
Natural landmarks · 2.3 km
Prescott Bridge
Historic bridges · 2.4 km
WWT Martin Mere
Wildlife reserves · 2.5 km
Martin Mere
Natural landmarks · 2.5 km
Martin Mere Wetland Centre
Forests & woodlands · 2.6 km
Baldwin's Lock And Bridge (That Part In Burscough) Leeds And Liverpool Canal Baldwin's Lock And Bridge (That Part In Lathom)
Historic bridges · 2.6 km
Nearby
📷 4Historic houses · North West England
Rufford New Hall
Rufford New Hall — a Grade II-listed historic house in england-north-west, United Kingdom.
📷 5Museums · North West England
Rufford, Lancashire
Rufford, Lancashire — a museum in england-north-west, United Kingdom.
📷 5📷 3Historic houses · North West England
Rufford Old Hall
Rufford Old Hall — a other in england-north-west, United Kingdom.
📷 3Zoos & aquariums · North West England
Windmill Animal Farm
Windmill Animal Farm — a zoo aquarium in england-north-west, United Kingdom.
📷 3Natural landmarks · North West England
Martin Mere Education Centre
Martin Mere Education Centre — a other in england-north-west, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Mere Sands Wood
Places to stay
📷 5Caravan parks · North West England
Woodlands Caravan Park Southport
Woodlands Caravan Park Southport — a caravan park in england north west.
📷 5Campsites · North West England
Merseyside Scouts County HQ
Merseyside Scouts County HQ — a campsite in england north west.
📷 5Caravan parks · North West England
Abbey Farm Holiday Park
Abbey Farm Holiday Park — a caravan park in england north west.
📷 5Campsites · North West England
Longfold Farm Campsite
Longfold Farm Campsite — a campsite in england north west.
📷 5Campsites · North West England
Tawd Vale Scout Camp
Tawd Vale Scout Camp — a campsite in england north west.
📷 5Places to eat & drink
📷 7Historic pubs · North West England
Buck I' Th' Vine Inn
Buck I' Th' Vine Inn in England North West, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · North West England
The Windmill Public House
The Windmill Public House in England North West, United Kingdom.
📷 7Cafés · North West England
Claude's of Churchtown
Claude's of Churchtown — a café in england north west.
📷 5Historic pubs · North West England
The Old Toby Public House
The Old Toby Public House in England North West, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · North West England
Eagle And Child Inn
Eagle And Child Inn in England North West, United Kingdom.
📷 7More places run by Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside
📷 3Wildlife reserves · North West England
Cadishead and Little Woolden Moss
Cadishead and Little Woolden Moss — nature reserve in Greater Manchester, England.
📷 3Wildlife reserves · North West England
Highfield Moss
Highfield Moss — nature reserve in Greater Manchester, England.
📷 5Wildlife reserves · North West England
Brockholes
Brockholes — nature reserve near Preston, Lancashire.
📷 3Wildlife reserves · North West England
Salthill Quarry
Salthill Quarry — nature reserve in Lancashire, England.
More places in this region
📷 3Wildlife reserves · North West England
Birch Moss Covert Nature Reserve
Birch Moss Covert Nature Reserve is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom.
📷 3Wildlife reserves · North West England
Black Firs Wood Nature Reserve
Black Firs Wood Nature Reserve is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom.
📷 3Wildlife reserves · North West England
Black Moss Covert Nature Reserve
Black Moss Covert Nature Reserve — nature reserve in Greater Manchester, England.
📷 3Wildlife reserves · North West England
Brookheys Covert Nature Reserve
Brookheys Covert Nature Reserve is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Mere Sands Wood?
- Mere Sands Wood is in Lancashire, North-West England, United Kingdom (postcode L40 1TL), in the parish of Rufford.
- What is Mere Sands Wood?
- Mere Sands Wood is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Mere Sands Wood?
- The nearest railway station is Rufford, about 1.9 km away. Drivers can use postcode L40 1TL.
- Who runs Mere Sands Wood?
- Mere Sands Wood is operated by Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.
- Is Mere Sands Wood a listed building?
- Mere Sands Wood is officially recognised as Site of Special Scientific Interest listed.
- Is Mere Sands Wood a protected site?
- Yes — Mere Sands Wood is part of the Mere Sands Wood SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Ribble & Alt Estuaries Ramsar wetland.
- Is Mere Sands Wood free to visit?
- Yes, Mere Sands Wood is free to enter.
- How do I get to Mere Sands Wood?
- The nearest railway station is Rufford, about 1.9 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode L40 1TL.