Marton Mere
www.blackpool.gov.uk/Services/M-R/MartonMereLocalNatureRe...
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve is a tranquil refuge on Blackpool’s urban fringe, important for nature conservation, quiet recreation and environmental education.
The reserve is nationally recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its bird populations, but it also supports a number of other nationally important species such as dragonflies, butterflies, bats and orchids. Marton Mere is Blackpool’s biodiversity hot spot, despite it once being part of Blackpool Corporation’s rubbish tip.
The site contains a diversity of habitats including open water, reed beds, grassland as well as pockets of woodland and scrub. Visitors can enjoy the area through following the designated footpaths around the site and visiting the numerous bird watching hides.
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve is owned, managed and funded by Blackpool Council’s Ranger Service in partnership with Marton Mere Holiday Village. The Rangers undertake large conservation projects with the Volunteer Rangers, protect the interests of people and wildlife as well as undertake a varied programme and events and tours around the reserve.
The Parks Events Programme is availible between April and October, please pick up your copy in the Stanley Park Visitors Centre or on the publications page. In additon to the events programme the Ranger Service will be carrying out several walks this winter (Nov-Feb) to learn all about Long Eared Owls - you might even spot one of these elusive birds! See the publications section on the right for further details.
Visit Blackpool's Parks and Open Spaces on Facebook for detailed updates on park projects, developments and events - www.facebook.com
For information on walking in Lancashire contact: www.walkinginlancs.co.uk
Where can I see Long Eared Owls?
Long Eared Owls winter at Marton Mere Nature Reserve before returning to their breeding areas in the spring. During winter (Nov-Feb) Blackpool Council's Ranger Service organise walks which show you where these elusive birds are located and leave you to enjoy this beautiful site. Remember your binoculars - you may also spot a Bittern if you're lucky! For further details please go to the Publications section on the Ranger Service website
How can I join the Junior Rangers Club?
Are you interested in exploring? Do you like art, science, history or nature? Would you like to learn more about local parks and nature reserves that belong to you? Did you know you can help protect these special places? Well, guess what? Now you can, and all you need to do to be a part of all the fun is join the Junior Rangers Club, and better still, it's all free! As a junior Ranger you'll get to explore the local wildlife, go on trips, use hand tools to make things, take part in arts and crafts, go orienteering, play games and loads more. The Junior Rangers Club is run by Blackpool's Ranger Service on Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve and is a fun packed wildlife club for children aged 8 to 13 years old. The club will meet on a Sunday afternoon, once a month from 1.00 p.m to 3.00 p.m. If you want to find out more please contact the Ranger Service on (01253) 478012 or email parks@blackpool.gov.uk.
What wildlife can be seen on the reserve?
Marton Mere has a superb diversity of habitats, making it attractive to a number of flora and fauna. You will find a variety of wildflowers such as bee orchids, yellow rattle, marsh woundwort and birdsfoot trefoil. The site supports a number of invertebrates such as bees, dragonflies and moths. Butterflies such as the common blue, red admiral, meadow brown and gatekeeper are particularly numerous.
The reserve attracts good numbers of scarcer birds such as water rails, bitterns, whimbrels, marsh harriers and ospreys. The extensive reed bed habitat supports breeding sedge warblers, reed warbler and reed bunting. Long eared owls, sparrowhawks, peregrines and the occasional merlin are also present.
How can I become a Volunteer Ranger?
We welcome applicants to our Volunteer Ranger Service who work around the borough supporting the work of the Rangers on ecological sites. Volunteer Rangers undertake foot patrols, litter picking, practical conservation work and maintenance – as well as assist in guided walks, events and running the Ranger Station.
If you are interested, please contact: (01253) 478478 or download a pack which can be found under Publications to the right of this page..
What is the history of Marton Mere?
The Mere is one of only two nature lakes in Lancashire. The site was formed at the end of the last Ice Age over 10,000 years ago, covering a much larger site than you see today.
Surrounded by forest and marsh attracting animals such as beaver, elk, wild boar, wolves and bears, local people would have caught fish and hunted wildfowl as well as collected reeds and rushes for thatching their homes.
In the early 18th century the original Mere was drained for agriculture significantly reducing the open water habitat. In more recent times, much of the site and surrounding area was used as a refuse tip until 1972. After the site was reclaimed the Nature Conservancy Council designated the area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1974 and Blackpool Council declared the site as a Local Nature Reserve for wildlife in 1991.
Marton Mere
www.blackpool.gov.uk/Services/M-R/MartonMereLocalNatureRe...
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve is a tranquil refuge on Blackpool’s urban fringe, important for nature conservation, quiet recreation and environmental education.
The reserve is nationally recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its bird populations, but it also supports a number of other nationally important species such as dragonflies, butterflies, bats and orchids. Marton Mere is Blackpool’s biodiversity hot spot, despite it once being part of Blackpool Corporation’s rubbish tip.
The site contains a diversity of habitats including open water, reed beds, grassland as well as pockets of woodland and scrub. Visitors can enjoy the area through following the designated footpaths around the site and visiting the numerous bird watching hides.
Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve is owned, managed and funded by Blackpool Council’s Ranger Service in partnership with Marton Mere Holiday Village. The Rangers undertake large conservation projects with the Volunteer Rangers, protect the interests of people and wildlife as well as undertake a varied programme and events and tours around the reserve.
The Parks Events Programme is availible between April and October, please pick up your copy in the Stanley Park Visitors Centre or on the publications page. In additon to the events programme the Ranger Service will be carrying out several walks this winter (Nov-Feb) to learn all about Long Eared Owls - you might even spot one of these elusive birds! See the publications section on the right for further details.
Visit Blackpool's Parks and Open Spaces on Facebook for detailed updates on park projects, developments and events - www.facebook.com
For information on walking in Lancashire contact: www.walkinginlancs.co.uk
Where can I see Long Eared Owls?
Long Eared Owls winter at Marton Mere Nature Reserve before returning to their breeding areas in the spring. During winter (Nov-Feb) Blackpool Council's Ranger Service organise walks which show you where these elusive birds are located and leave you to enjoy this beautiful site. Remember your binoculars - you may also spot a Bittern if you're lucky! For further details please go to the Publications section on the Ranger Service website
How can I join the Junior Rangers Club?
Are you interested in exploring? Do you like art, science, history or nature? Would you like to learn more about local parks and nature reserves that belong to you? Did you know you can help protect these special places? Well, guess what? Now you can, and all you need to do to be a part of all the fun is join the Junior Rangers Club, and better still, it's all free! As a junior Ranger you'll get to explore the local wildlife, go on trips, use hand tools to make things, take part in arts and crafts, go orienteering, play games and loads more. The Junior Rangers Club is run by Blackpool's Ranger Service on Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve and is a fun packed wildlife club for children aged 8 to 13 years old. The club will meet on a Sunday afternoon, once a month from 1.00 p.m to 3.00 p.m. If you want to find out more please contact the Ranger Service on (01253) 478012 or email parks@blackpool.gov.uk.
What wildlife can be seen on the reserve?
Marton Mere has a superb diversity of habitats, making it attractive to a number of flora and fauna. You will find a variety of wildflowers such as bee orchids, yellow rattle, marsh woundwort and birdsfoot trefoil. The site supports a number of invertebrates such as bees, dragonflies and moths. Butterflies such as the common blue, red admiral, meadow brown and gatekeeper are particularly numerous.
The reserve attracts good numbers of scarcer birds such as water rails, bitterns, whimbrels, marsh harriers and ospreys. The extensive reed bed habitat supports breeding sedge warblers, reed warbler and reed bunting. Long eared owls, sparrowhawks, peregrines and the occasional merlin are also present.
How can I become a Volunteer Ranger?
We welcome applicants to our Volunteer Ranger Service who work around the borough supporting the work of the Rangers on ecological sites. Volunteer Rangers undertake foot patrols, litter picking, practical conservation work and maintenance – as well as assist in guided walks, events and running the Ranger Station.
If you are interested, please contact: (01253) 478478 or download a pack which can be found under Publications to the right of this page..
What is the history of Marton Mere?
The Mere is one of only two nature lakes in Lancashire. The site was formed at the end of the last Ice Age over 10,000 years ago, covering a much larger site than you see today.
Surrounded by forest and marsh attracting animals such as beaver, elk, wild boar, wolves and bears, local people would have caught fish and hunted wildfowl as well as collected reeds and rushes for thatching their homes.
In the early 18th century the original Mere was drained for agriculture significantly reducing the open water habitat. In more recent times, much of the site and surrounding area was used as a refuse tip until 1972. After the site was reclaimed the Nature Conservancy Council designated the area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1974 and Blackpool Council declared the site as a Local Nature Reserve for wildlife in 1991.