Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve

05/09/2026

Our Pete working from home, re-using off cuts of wood. The result - a great little bench for our recently cleared space by the Water Rail viewing point 😀 💚

01/09/2026

Finished off todaywith a steady harvesting of Hazel to start the mini willow hurdle at Dragonfly Hide. The little pond we installed last month already has a few things swimming around.

A small collection of willow to get it started, the hurdle will provide a small barrier.

A little clear up of rubbish around the front of the hide and pulling of small patches of poplar in between.

01/09/2026

Spillway staining of fence & its repairs completed, thanks Jan2, Woody & Robyn for finishing that off.

Jan1, Heidi and Helen cleared the area by the Water Rail Viewing Point. You wouldn’t believe this was a major project this time last year and was 100% clear!

Just before lunch, the gang came together to collect & spread 3 loads of Bark Chipping along the hedge. Hopefully we will re-install a small viewing point for the Winter setting in. Thanks Heidi for arranging delivery of chipping, comes in handy as does the tipper on the Gator 😀

01/09/2026

Some new signs make their way to access points from Heron Reach and Toad Triangle / Staining gate.

New dog on lead signs will be attached to these, they will hopefully be large enough for all to see.

Thanks Steve, Mick, Pete & Geoff (welcome back!! 😀) for cracking on with these this morning 😀🤞

25/08/2026

As well as being the taxi driver for the ladies equipment at Woodland Watch, the gents made good the cage installation for the bird seed from last weeks phase. All secured ready to fill for next month. They then moved back o to the spillway to prepare the old decking for the tip (completely rotten), cleared the soak away grids from last nights fire and made good again, then finished off installing more wire mesh onto the fencing at the spillway. Just needs touching up with some dark oak and job complete.

Heidi our ranger is always trying to come up with funding bids. Having Kody & James volunteering us at such a young age, we hope to secure a bit of funding for more projects to benefit this great space 😀🤞

25/08/2026

A busy day today for the ladies, mainly preparing Woodland Watch for their bird feeders next month. Autumn is certainly amongst us.

We also prepared pathway to the bird boxes, enabling easier access to clean them in November after nesting formally ends.

We then titivated the willow arch, thanks to Heidi our ranger for providing taller ladders for the job ☑️

We’d like to also welcome Robyn today, who joined us for a taster session. Hope you come back next week! 🤞

Thanks to Mick & Steve for ferrying around our kit today whilst working on the other end of the reserve 😀

24/08/2026

Unfortunately there’s been another fire at the Reserve. It’s believed 2 youths were spotted running from the area just over an hour ago. We (Blackpool Council Parks Team) have requested CCTV footage from Haven.

The speedy response from a member of the public to call the Fire Brigade and its quick arrival has helped contain it.

If you have any footage, descriptions, etc, please dial 101 and report it. We can also receive any footage you may have at the below email:

[email protected]

The affected area is along the eastern pathway of the Mere along the bank that drops down to the network of ponds, hosting a range of wildlife. The damage to wildlife here is not yet known.

20/08/2026

Great to see. Look out for next years Summer Camp…!

Our Conservation Summer Camp 2026 student cohort have officially graduated - and we couldn't be prouder!

From using the latest science and technology to track small mammals, to becoming skilled conservation educators who inspire the next generation, our students are now ready for an incredible future in protecting wildlife.

We'd like to say a massive thank you to Fylde Sand Dunes, Marton Mere Local Nature Reserve and Fylde Rural Task Force (Fylde Police) for delivering some thrilling and wildlife-filled workshops for this year's students.

Applications for A Future That's Wild: Conservation Summer Camp 2027 will open in Spring 2027. Know somebody aged 15-17 who would like to take part? Keep an eye out on our socials for more information.

18/08/2026

Two teams today.

The gents headed to Maurice Jones Hide and installed the bird seed cage ready for Autumn / Winter storage. This’ll alleviate a lot of space taken up in the Visitor Centre as it’s been stored since the containers were set alight a couple of years ago. As you can see from our caged volunteers, it can certainly store a lot of seed…it’ll also provide a safe storage space for the many bird and bay boxes our volunteers produce and maintain over time). A big thanks to the Fylde Bird Club for purchasing this cage for us.

Nice to have Jan1 back where the lasses headed to Woodland Watch. The Willow Arch was due a makeover. Strimmed a path to it and around it. We then finished off the last hour or so using the left over willow and built some mini willow hurdles. These make great barriers to aid the protection of the Reserve.

If you’re going to do this, use stakes other than willow, as they can re grow very quickly..!

Saw 3 frogs on route by the new pond installed at Dragonfly Hide, popped some more large boulders in to help get them back out. The rain has certainly brought out a few today. Nice to see Karen who continues the good work at the Hide Mural.

11/08/2026

Woody, Jan2 and Helen finish off the newly refurbished meadow area by Dragonfly Hide and stained the benches in the area. We managed to fill the new compost bins…followed by a 360 litter sweep and review of the recent fire. Possibly an accident, but still yet to be determined from the Fire Brigade. A smoking cigarette butt in this dry weather can literally spark a fire…please be mindful as you go. Lots of butts picked up today from the very dry grass areas…

Steve, Pete, Mick & Kody headed to the spillway to finish off a few jobs there and then headed to the northern pathway to meet with Blackpool Zoo. They brought around 18 students from the area, to learn more about conservation, why we manage certain areas and when these are managed.

They helped clear some trailing bramble networks making its way over pathways and helped to clear a good 12x12 metres of bramble in front of Heron Hide.

Some great work.