Overview

Mere Sands Wood is a 105 acre Lancashire Wildlife Trust reserve not far from Martin Mere. It consists of lakes, reedbed, broadleaf and conifer woodland, meadows and heath. There is a visitor centre open 9am to 4.30pm Saturday to Thursday ( closed on Fridays). The reserve itself is open 7 days a week. Access is free but there is a voluntary donation of £2.00 to use the carpark. This carpark remains open to 8pm in the summer. There are three circular nature trails giving access to seven hides a viewing platform and feeding tables.

Access

The reserve is situated between Holmswood and Rufford on the B5246. Follow this road and keep a look out for sign posts to the reserve and the adjacent Meresands kennels. There is a short access road at the end of which is located the carpark and visitor centre

Birds

Mere Sands Wood has recorded over 170 species of which 60 are known to have bred. It is arguably best known for overwintering wildfowl with Gadwall, Teal , Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck , Goldeneye, Goosander and even Mandarin Duck. Little and Great Crested Grebes breed on site and Kingfishers can be seen fairly frequently from all of the hides with up close sightings being most likely from Marshalls Hide and Rufford Hide. The reeds can hold Reed Warbler which also breed. The woodlands contain Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Tawny Owl , Nuthatch ( these visit the Holmswood corner feeding station), Treecreeper and Tree Sparrow ( near the visitor centre). The surrounding fields can be reveal Grey and Red-legged Partridge and Barn Owl can be seen towards dusk. Annual sightings can include Redpoll, Brambling, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and Willow Tit. Crossbill have been found in the Pine Tree canopy and Turtle Dove and Quail have been recorded.