West End Pond Traditional Cache
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West End Pond......Natural England
Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve is one of the most important wildlife sites in England. The site was established in 1965 to protect the finest example of lime-rich sand dunes on the North West coast. The reserve allows many rare species to flourish whilst providing a place for visitors to get close to nature and enjoy the magnificent scenery of dunes, pinewoods and golden sands. It occupies the central part of the Sefton Coast Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Ainsdale Reserve has had a colourful history, during the 1600s landowners employed ‘Hawslookers’ to watch over the dunes and fine anyone caught cutting marram grass for thatch. Marram grass was so important to maintaining the dunes that by the mid-1700’s many property leases imposed on tenants the duty to plant marram grass, also known as ‘Starr Grass’ with ‘Starr setters’ employed to oversee the planting. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries large area’s of the dunes were maintained as rabbit warrens and later efforts were made to convert the poor nutrient sands into farmland, notably for asparagus farming. At the beginning of the 20th Century, in an attempt to stabilise the dunes the Formby estate landowners created pine plantations, which are now a distinctive part of the local landscape. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s the Habitat for the Natterjack Toads started to dry due to the low rainfall. Concerns focused on providing breeding ponds, hollows between the dunes were deepened and new water bodies created. West End Pond was excavated in 1971 and artificial lined pools were created near to the office. Recently an all-abilities boardwalk was opened around West End Pond and is 500metres long loop. This area is a wonderful hidden gem and can now be accessed by all. Sometimes there is a heron perched a branch over hang on the right-hand loop and at the moment lots of Natterjacks can be seen. Please take care when accessing the cache and replace as found. Much stealth is needed as this is a very busy location. There is no public parking on the reserve, but there are a few disabled parking places available. Parking is available on Pinfold lane. The nearest Public car park is Ainsdale-on-Sea beach car park. The cache has been placed with the permission of Natural England enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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