WARRINGTON’S Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve has been nominated for the title “Nature Reserve of the Year” in the annual BBC Countryfile Magazine awards.
Now members of the public are being asked to vote for the reserve, which extends to more than 500 acres, was first established in 1979 and is managed solely by volunteers.
It is now recognised as a reserve of national importance where more than 240 species of bird have been recorder, including 15 species of raptor, more than 30 species of wader, all five grebes, the three woodpeckers and five special of owl.
The reserve is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Brian Ankers, chairman of the Woolston Eyes Conservation Group said: “Woolston is a very special nature reserve. It is an oasis in an otherwise urban area and a prime 
example of conservation and commerce working together for the benefit of wildlife.”
Volunteers from the group manage the reserve with the agreement of Peel Holdings who own the land and still use parts of it to deposit dredgings from the Manchester Ship Canal.
Many rare birds have been spotted at Woolston, including Storm and Leach’s Petrels, Spoonbill, Bittern, Little Egret, Night and Purple Herons, Ring-necked and Ferruginous Ducks, Q uail, Red Kite, Great Grey Shrike and many more.
A small team of volunteers carry out ringing of birds, up to 7,000 annually and up to 100,000 birds have been ringed since 1980.
In addition to birds, many other animals have been recorded at Woolston including fox, stoat, weasel, mink and Roe Deer, as well as small mammals, four species of bat, reptiles and amphibians including the rare Great Crested Newt. Butterflies, moths and other insects, many of them rare, are also present.
Permit holders can visit the Eyes and a public footpath from the end of Weir Lane, Woolston runs through part of the site. But access to other parts is restricted to permit holders during daylight hours. Some areas are behind locked gates.
Anyone who wants to vote for Woolston Eyes can do so by visiting the website www.countryfile.com or emailing [email protected]. Postal votes can be sent to BBC Countryfile Magazine, Tower House, Bristol, BS1 3BN. Voting closes on January 31.
Pictures: Woolston Eyes nature reserve and one of its “hides”.
Nature reserve nominated for national award
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
