Ainsdale and Birkdale Sandhills Local Nature Reserve is one of the largest areas of wild dune land left in Britain. It is managed by Sefton Council's Coast and Countryside Service.
The reserve was established in 1980 and now covers 988 hectares of open dunes and beach. It is typical of most sand dune systems with high dune ridges and dune valleys containing slacks. Slacks are low hollows formed by wind-blow, often flooded during the winter which contain many unusual plants and animals. Some slacks provide ideal breeding pools for Natterjacks.
The reserve is rich in plant life. During the summer months damp slacks are carpeted with flowers including Early-marsh Orchid, Marsh Helleborine and Grass of Parnassus. In drier slacks the Round-leaved Wintergreen and nationally rare Dune Helleborine can be found.
Ainsdale Discovery Centre
This is proving a popular place for visitors to the coast to pop into on their way to the beach.
The Velvet Trail
The trail is now officially open and clearly marked with way markers. It is a circular route following the 'Green Beach' from Weld Road southwards, then winding through the dunes back to Weld Road. The Trail takes its name from the carpets of lush vegetation seen there in the early summer months. It was well known at the turn of the century, when it proved to be one of the coasts main attractions. Who knows with the development of a leaflet and educational resources, it may well become just as popular!
Much management work carried out on the reserve is aimed directly at the conservation of wildlife. Since 1977 several artificial ponds have been excavated to provide suitable breeding sites for Natterjacks.
In 1993 a Beach Management Plan was put into action by Sefton Council. For Ainsdale foreshore this now means zoning to provide areas for car parking and car free zones. One positive effect of this management is the increase in the number of shore birds found in the vehicle free zones.
Currently there are projects that are supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to remove scrub and enhance the wetland features of the Birkdale dunes.
Facilities:
•The Local Nature Reserve can be entered from the beach or from the car park at Ainsdale Discovery Centre Complex.
•The toilets at Shore Road are open during the summer.
•Way-marked footpaths link the reserve with the Ainsdale Sand Dunes National Nature Reserve. The dune trail is a circular walk through the reserve and passes through examples of the diverse habitats on site.
•The beach and car free zone provide safe areas for people to investigate the strand-line.
The Leisure Services Department Coast and Countryside Service manage all of Sefton's beaches.
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Every effort is made to make sure that all the information is correct but we strongly recommend that you call Ainsdale and Birkdale Sandhills Local Nature Reserve before you set off on your day out to confirm opening times and admission prices.
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Ainsdale and Birkdale Sandhills Local Nature Reserve