Leighton Moss RSPB reserve Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Leighton Moss
Greylag geese at Leighton Moss
Leighton Moss Location in the City of Lancaster district Leighton Moss Location in Lancashire Show map of Lancashire
Location	City of Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Operator	Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is a nature reserve in Lancashire, England, which has been in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds since 1964. It is situated at Silverdale near Carnforth, on the edge of Morecambe Bay and in the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Leighton Moss contains the largest area of reed beds in north-west England. The site provides habitats for many species of wildlife, including bitterns and red deer. As a wetland of international importance, it was designated a Ramsar site in 1985. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area, and an Important Bird Area.

The RSPB reserve also protects an area of Morecambe Bay, where a saltmarsh provides a habitat for birds such as avocets.

History
Facilities
Management
Media interest
Opening times
Images for kids
See also

History

In 1822 the moss came into the possession of Richard Gillow, grandson of the Lancaster furniture manufacturer Robert Gillow. Using steam technology, Gillow drained the moss for agriculture. Although the soil is of good quality, by 1918 the land was flooded again, as drainage appeared to have become uneconomic when the price of coal was high. The area was used for duck shooting.

The RSPB initially leased the moss and then purchased it from the Leighton Hall estate.

Facilities

The reserve is entered through the visitor centre (a converted farmhouse) containing a shop and a tea-room. The centre also contains an education room.

There are seven observation hides, which were renewed in 2012 with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. One is named after comedian Eric Morecambe. A nine-metre high Skytower provides spectacular views over the nature reserve. There are also nature trails.

Management

The extensive reed beds are managed to prevent them drying out and also to prevent saline intrusion from the coast. Despite such control of ecological succession, the breeding bittern population (measured by "booming" males) suffered declines in the 1990s and 2000s. Following extensive dymanic habitat management in recent years the number of bitterns is steadily increasing.

In 2015 there was controversy about a plan to cull small numbers of red deer, which create significant damage to the reedbeds.

Media interest

In 2013 Leighton Moss hosted the BBC's Autumnwatch programme. The programme returned in 2014.

Opening times

The reserve and visitor centre are open daily all year round (except Christmas Day) from 9 am to dusk and the visitor centre from 9.30 am – 5 pm (4.30 pm November–January inclusive). Entrance is free for RSPB members, and half price for those who come by public transport, bicycle or on foot. Silverdale railway station is just a few minutes' walk away. The reserve is on a proposed cycle way around Morecambe Bay.