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Location The site lies in an old railway cutting adjacent to the former Fleetwood Dock complex. It is close to the junction of the A585(T) and B5268. The site itself is accessible from the road to the waste recycling centre. There is a bus service along the B5268. Cars are parked at the owners' risk as there is no area set aside for car parking. |
Access No permit is required. The site can best be seen from the bridge so don't forget your binoculars. Status This 0.5 ha County Wildlife Site is owned by the British Rail Property Board and managed under licence by the Trust. |
Fleetwood Marsh
Nearest town: Fleetwood
Grid reference: SD 329 456, Landranger 102, Explorer 296
Buzzing with wildlife, Fleetwood Marsh is one of the Trust's smallest reserves. The length of disused railway track has been vegetated by a good stand of Common Reed. Further on there is a section of reedmace merging into drier land with developing scrub and wildflower habitats. If you go onto the reserve you can get a closer look at the common reed demonstrating how tall this plant can grow. Closer examination of the reserve might reveal small patches of False Fox-sedge and fairly extensive patches of Sea Club-rush.
The primary interest of Fleetwood Marsh is its large numbers of migrating small birds roosting in the reedbed. 1-2 breeding pairs of Reed Warblers are regularly recorded here, very close to the northern limit of their range. Water Rail and Snipe are frequent winter visitors.
A summer visit reveals a flourish of insect life. The vivid colour of the Common Blue butterfly can be seen along with the Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and abundant Wall Brown. Black and white marked moths such as the Latticed Heath and the Clouded Border have been recorded along with the distinctive Yellow-shell.
