Despite all this wetlands are in danger of disappearing. Nearly 90% have been lost over the last 300 years and we are losing them at a rate 3 times quicker than forests. Locally here in North Merseyside and Lancashire huge areas were drained for farmland. Many of the wetlands left are not at their best, as such bountiful wonders they are open to misuse.   

Our Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve bucks this trend, over the last decade we have been working hard to convert farm fields back into a mosaic of reedbeds, pools and wet grassland. The reserve also acts as a flood storage reservoir. And it has certainly been put to work, having had a few flooding events just in the last year!

This new year started with exciting sightings of a striking smew! These very sleek birds are scarce winter visitors from Scandinavia and Russia (climate change means warmer climes are closer) and they usually prefer the sunnier south east. Males are even rarer to see as they’re a bit lazy and like to stay close to home! We have also been playing where’s wally amongst the Canada geese and teals to spot a green winged teal and cackling goose from North America. It’s likely that increased storms are throwing birds off course. We also have our regular winter visitors including funky shovelers, posh pintails and Vs of pink foots streaming high above. Wetlands are an important stop off for migrating birds.

Lunt Meadows is also home to magnificent birds of prey with marsh harriers circling and kestrels hovering overhead. In the early evening barn owls silently glide over the grasslands. In spring and summer vibrant wildflowers bloom with buzzing bees and sounds such as peewits, peeps and warbles fill the air. You may hear the plop of a water vole into the ditch! Our reserve provides an important home for this endangered species.