Mere Sands Wood is host to a variety of wild native species – some common and some more rare. Because these species are wild, we cannot guarantee what you may see, or when! If you are trying to spot one of our rarer visitors, we suggest that follow our top tips: 

1. Give yourself plenty of time – absorb the peace and tranquillity of the reserve whilst waiting to spot the wildlife 

2. Visit at different times of the year – the wildlife and the reserve will change a lot throughout the year 

3. Try different times of the day – some wildlife is best spotted around dawn or dusk 

4. Use one of our hides – some of our more timid species will be scared by the noise and movement of people and their children or pets. Spending some quiet time in a hide encourages the wildlife to behave more naturally 

5. Bring a pair of binoculars with you – some of the wildlife will avoid busy areas but binoculars will help you spot them hiding in places you can’t physically access 

6. Please stick to the footpaths – whilst it might be tempting to roam free, this type of exploring damages important habitats  

We have a number of hides and viewing platforms that are available to use. Whilst we aim to keep all areas of the reserve open and accessible at all times, we may need to temporarily close areas due to safety, maintenance or habitat management work. In these instances we will update our website below and post on our social media feeds. If you are unsure on the day of visit you can ask a member of staff in the visitor centre. 

Marshall Hide: OPEN – Wheelchair Accessible 

Ainscough Hide: OPEN – Wheelchair Accessible

Fletcher Hide: OPEN – Wheelchair Accessible 

Redwing Hide: OPEN - Wheelchair Accessible 

Rufford Hide: OPEN - Wheelchair Accessible 

Mere End Platform: OPEN - Wheelchair Accessible 

The diverse habitats that are present at Mere Sands Wood mean that a variety of wild native bird species choose to forage, nest and breed on site. Our staff and volunteers work hard to manage the health and structure of these habitats which contain a plethora of feeding options for birds. Because natural opportunities are plentiful, we do not need to use bird feeders and we ask visitors not to bring and spread bird food on the reserve. 

Allowing birds to forage from the abundance of food available has other benefits too. As well as saving valuable money, this also benefits birds by reducing the risk of avian flu, squirrel pox and rats.  

Bird flu – Using bird feeders increases the risk of spreading avian flu through contact with visitors and their clothing. 

Squirrel pox - Bird feeding areas attract squirrels and may become a point of contact between grey and red squirrels. Sadly, the Invasive American Grey squirrel carries squirrel pox to the protected Native UK Red squirrel. This contagious disease does not affect grey squirrels but can be deadly to red squirrels. Mere Sands Wood is lucky enough to have populations of Reds visiting the site so removing bird feeding areas is a small way to help protect them. 

Rats – Rats are also attracted to food left for birds. In addition to being a health concern to our visitors and staff, rats predate on ground-nesting bird species and raid their nests. We control rats around the visitor centre but are unable to on the wider reserve without the risk of harming other small mammals. 

Dogs are welcome on the reserve but please do keep them under close control and always on a leash. Whilst we love dogs, their presence can cause damage and disturbance to nesting birds, mammals and the habitats they live in. If you are walking with a dog, please make sure you keep to the footpaths and always pick up their waste – we have a dog-waste bin in the car park. Leaving dog waste, either bagged or un-bagged, directly damages the reserve ecology and may result in a fixed penalty fine of up to £100. 

Dogs are also allowed in the Visitor Centre, as long as they are kept on the leash and off the furniture.  

The government gives some guidance on responsible dog behaviour here: Controlling your dog in public: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 

Check out our What's On page for a full list of our upcoming events.

Mere Sands Wood has number of spaces available to be booked for business or social use. Please email info@lancswt.org.uk with some details and we will get back to you. 

The reserve has several seating areas and benches which offer a welcome respite and a chance to sit and enjoy the scenery. We regularly check our seating to ensure it is safe and may have to remove seating that has become degraded, or which is too close to an unsafe tree. 

The trees at Mere Sands Wood are of great importance to wildlife for habitat and food, as well as providing an opportunity for visitors to enjoy nature and the environment. In fact, the Lowland mixed deciduous woodland at Mere Sands Wood is so special that it qualifies as a Biodiversity Action Plan habitat: Lowland mixed deciduous woodland (UK BAP Priority Habitat description) (jncc.gov.uk). 

One of the defining features of the woodland at Mere Sands Wood is the high percentage of fast growing, colonising tree species such as Silver Birch (Betula spp.), Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and various Willows (Sallix spp.). Over the decades, a number of areas of open ground have developed into Secondary woodland through the natural processes of ecological succession (Ecological succession - Wikipedia). However, without the intervention of wild animals such as deer, cows and beavers, the woodland has developed in a different – and unsustainable way. Although it appears healthy, the current woodland is mostly of a similar age, species mix and density which, if left undisturbed, drastically reduces habitat diversity. 

One of the main ways the LWT is able to influence and improve the structure of our woodlands is through the selective thinning of certain trees. This makes room for new growth to fill gaps in the understory and can also be used to benefit mature trees, such as our older Oaks (Quercus robur) by giving them space to grow without pressure from faster species.  There are also occasions where we will clear small blocks of woodland to make glades and then allow the area to regenerate naturally which given time will become canopy woodland once more. This reintroduction of a stratified woodland structure is key to improving the health and diversity of our woodlands and is common practice for good conservation woodland management. 

In addition to the natural woodland communities present on site there are a few ‘working woodland’ habitats. These being the coppice woodland and pine plantation. 

Coppice woodland 

Coppicing is a traditional management practice that dates back to prehistoric times and continues to this day around the world. Coppicing is where resilient, fast growing, shade tolerant tree species are planted, grown, harvested and allowed to regrow. At Mere Sands Wood we coppice Hazel, Sycamore and Silver birch as this promotes woodland health and increases the variety of food and habitat for a wide range of insects and animals. The resulting wood is used for our conservation work and sometimes sold in our shop. 

Pine plantation 

The centre of the reserve is noticeably different from the rest of the woodland due to it being dominated by tall mature pine trees, mostly Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). These trees were planted by previous landowners to produce timber with the aim of them being managed and felled to produce income and materials. Currently the pines create a close, shaded canopy which limits the growth of other trees in the lower levels of the woodland. Selectively thinning the pine over a number of years creates gaps to allow mixed native broadleaved tree species to return, diversifying the age, species and structure of the area. This holds numerous benefits for wildlife and, as it is managed over several decades, will not impact the overall cover of woodland in the area. 

This allows us to produce sustainably sourced timber for our conservation projects. For example, our timber has been used for fencing and cladding across our reserves, reducing the expense and carbon footprint of purchasing new materials. 

Tree Safety Management 

Falling trees and branches can offer a significant risk to the safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors and cause damage to buildings, property and vehicles. The Trust has a legal duty of care to manage these safety risks, as set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Occupier’s Liability Act. For this reason, trees that may pose a risk are assessed and action taken where appropriate. We aim to retain trees where possible and we may prefer to temporarily limit access to an area of risk or move seating away from highlighted risk areas. 

Forestry Commission 

All the woodland work we do is part of our 10-year woodland management plan, which is reviewed and adjusted regularly to make sure it benefits nature and our visitors. This plan has been approved by the Forestry Commission who, in the UK, regulate the management of woodlands on behalf of the government.