Lightshaw Meadows

A tunnel of trees leading through the Lightshaw Meadows nature reserve

Alan Wright

A gadwall standing on ice during winter

Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

A redshank standing on a post next to a field and calling

Fergus Gill/2020VISION

Rare birds are flourishing and vital habitats being restored at this peaceful wetland nature reserve.

Location

Alongside the Leeds-Liverpool Canal,
Abram
Greater Manchester
WA3 3UH

OS Map Reference

SJ61529997
A static map of Lightshaw Meadows

Know before you go

Size
13 hectares
P

Parking information

Park in Abram and walk south along the canal until you find the reserve signs.

Grazing animals

Cattle

Walking trails

There are a number of trails around the outside of the reserve and two hide screens for wildlife viewing.

Access

Please keep to the footpaths around the edges of the site.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times.

Best time to visit

Year-round

About the reserve

Thanks to the hard work and determination of our staff and volunteers, Lightshaw Meadows has been transformed into a biodiverse meadow grassland that has earned SSSI status.

Improving the natural hydrology of the nature reserve and using cattle for conservation grazing has restored the site’s vegetation and stunning range of flowering plants; encouraging a number of rare and declining grassland birds to take up residence.

Stand still and scan the edges of the peaceful pools to spot waders like redshanks, lapwings and oystercatchers foraging in the mud. You may even catch a glimpse of farmland favourites like snipe, little ringed plovers and black-tailed godwits – the latter sporting beautiful orange chests during summer.

Winter coats Lightshaw Meadows in a magical frost and is a great time to watch gadwall dabbling in the pools. Lucky visitors may spot a skulking bittern picking its way along the edge of the reeds.

We’re incredibly proud of the wildlife that is already thriving thanks to our restoration work, and as we continue maintaining the water ditches, grazing the meadows and managing Lightshaw Meadows as wet grassland, we’ll see even more vulnerable birds returning to this special nature reserve.

Contact us

Mark Champion
Contact number: 01942 233976

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)