Please replace carefully – then take some time out to enjoy this peaceful spot. At certain times of year you may well see a small flock of sheep, whose job it is to graze the grassland to help manage the habitat for the benefit of a rich assortment of wildflowers, including orchids, and the wildlife they sustain.
Mere Sands Wood is a wonderful wildlife haven. You can stroll along its quiet footpaths through broad-leaved and conifer woodland - maybe catching a glimpse of the red squirrels, roe deer or sparrowhawk - or use its half a dozen bird hides to watch the kingfisher or the dragonflies and wildfowl for which the reserve is nationally important. It is designated a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) for its geology, with alternating layers of peat and sand deposited in the last Ice Age. In 1982 the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside acquired the site after sand extraction for the glass industry ceased.
Mere Sands Wood's visitor centre is open 9.30am to 4.30pm Tuesday - Sunday, closed Mondays (open Bank Holidays). It has toilets, drinks & snacks, and gifts, some made by local craftspeople. Car park is open 9am-8pm in summer and 9am - 5pm in winter: parking is £2 a day; an annual pass is £30. Motorised wheelchairs are available for loan: no charge, but a donation is appreciated. The Wildlife Trust is a charity and relies on donations and memberships. Many thanks to Lindsay for permission to place a cache here.