Wildlife reserves · North West England
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve — nature reserve in Lancashire, England.
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
- Silverdale · 0.7 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
About
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is a wildlife reserve in the United Kingdom. It covers approximately 2,000 km². Owned by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Managed by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Wikidata describes it as: "nature reserve in Lancashire, England". Coordinates: 54.1630°, -2.8010°.
Photo gallery
About this reserve
Hear the reeds rustling in the breeze as you walk around the largest reedbed in north-west England. Will you spot an Otter, marvel at a Marsh Harrier or revel at a Red Deer? Recharge with coffee and cake in the cafe, and some retail therapy in the shop. ? ? Please check our Facebook page or check the details on our Google page for the latest info the reserve. Leighton Moss is home to the largest reed bed in north-west England. This sweeping expanse provides shelter to a spectacular range of wildlife including Otters, Bearded Tits, Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, egrets and Red Deer. Why not come and see for yourself? Set against the shores of the nearby Morecambe Bay, this Lancashire nature reserve is a wetland paradise where wild creatures roam reedbeds, mudflats, coastal marsh and saltwater lagoons. Explore a bit further and you will also find pockets of woodland and limestone grasslands. The team at Leighton Moss works to make sure the different habitats are places where nature can thrive. The reedbeds need to be extensively cut back in summer and winter to create ideal conditions for Bearded Tits, Otters, Bitterns and wintering wildfowl. We also monitor and manage the water levels all year round. We have increased the size of the reedbeds in recent years, adding a further 200 hectares. Our inner marshes are grazed by cattle to create suitable conditions for these birds throughout the year. The limestone grassland and woodland is managed by putting cattle out to graze and rotating when we cut back trees, to provide a mix of established trees and new growth. Please note, there…
From the RSPB, reproduced under fair-use summary for visitor information.
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
- 54.1630, -2.8010
- County
- Lancashire
- District
- Lancaster
- Parish
- Silverdale
- Postcode
- LA5 0UW
- Parliamentary constituency
- Morecambe and Lunesdale
- Nearest railway station
- Silverdale — 0.7 km
Sources
- wikidata: Q6519775 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Leighton Moss RSPB reserve (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Leighton Moss.jpg (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 0UW), in the parish of Silverdale.
- Who runs Leighton Moss RSPB reserve?
- Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is operated 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 0.7 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode LA5 0UW.
- 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.