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 special nature reserve in Lancashire, England. It has been looked after by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) since 1964. You can find it near Carnforth, close to Morecambe Bay. This area is known for its amazing natural beauty.

Leighton Moss has the biggest reed beds in north-west England. These reed beds are like tall grass growing in water. They create homes for many different species of wildlife. You might spot rare birds like bitterns or even red deer here. Because it's such an important wetland area, it was named a Ramsar site in 1985. This means it's recognized as important all over the world! It's also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.

The RSPB also protects a part of Morecambe Bay. This area has a saltmarsh, which is a grassy area flooded by salty water. Birds like avocets love to live there.

History of Leighton Moss
What You Can Do at Leighton Moss
- Bird Hides and Skytower
How the Reserve is Cared For
Leighton Moss on TV
Visiting Information
Images for kids
See also

History of Leighton Moss

Leighton Moss has an interesting past. In 1822, a man named Richard Gillow owned the land. He was the grandson of a famous furniture maker. Richard tried to drain the moss using steam power so farmers could grow crops there.

However, by 1918, the land was flooded again. It became too expensive to keep it drained. For a while, people used the area for duck hunting. Later, the RSPB first rented the land. Then, they bought it from the Leighton Hall estate to protect it as a nature reserve.

What You Can Do at Leighton Moss

Leighton Moss is a great place to visit! When you arrive, you'll enter through the visitor centre. It used to be a farmhouse. Inside, there's a shop and a tea-room where you can get snacks. There's also a special room for school groups to learn about nature.

Bird Hides and Skytower

The reserve has seven special buildings called observation hides. These are like secret viewing spots where you can watch birds without disturbing them. They were updated in 2012. One hide is even named after the famous comedian Eric Morecambe.

For an amazing view, you can go up the nine-metre high Skytower. From the top, you can see across the whole nature reserve. There are also nature trails for you to explore on foot.

How the Reserve is Cared For

The people who manage Leighton Moss work hard to keep it healthy. They make sure the large reed beds don't dry out. They also stop too much salty water from the coast getting in. This helps the plants and animals that live there.

In the past, the number of bitterns (a type of bird) went down. But thanks to careful management, their numbers are now growing again.

Sometimes, managing a nature reserve can be tricky. In 2015, there was a discussion about managing the number of red deer. This was because the deer were causing damage to the reed beds.

Leighton Moss on TV

Leighton Moss is so special that it has even been on TV! In 2013 and 2014, the BBC's Autumnwatch programme was filmed there. This show helps people learn about wildlife in autumn.

Visiting Information

Leighton Moss is open almost every day of the year, except Christmas Day. The reserve is open from 9 am until dusk. The visitor centre is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm (or 4:30 pm in winter).

If you are a member of the RSPB, entrance is free. If you come by public transport, bike, or on foot, you get half-price entry. Silverdale railway station is only a short walk away. The reserve is also part of a planned cycle path around Morecambe Bay.