Ainsdale Nature Reserve 8th August 2009.

Didn’t they have a wonderful time the day they went to Ainsdale?

 A short comfortable coach journey from Rochdale on a sunny Saturday morning transported forty-two members to another world. With maps and details distributed on the coach a choice of routes led through the sand dunes from the Discovery Centre at Ainsdale.

 The reserve is a sand dune system comprising high dune ridges, dune valleys and slacks.  Slacks are hollows formed by windblow, which fill with fresh water, the whole area being particularly rich in plant life.  Specialities include Marsh Helleborine, Round- leaved Wintergreen and an uncommon variety of Grass of Parnassus, all seen on the day, along with  many other plant species. 

 Plants attract butterflies and they were present in abundance, sixteen species in all including,  peacock, common blue and grayling; Birds, less common locally, such as the stonechat, sedge warbler and linnet were amongst many others recorded.  Also seen were leeches, a shrew, lizard, grasshoppers, dragonflies, moths, caterpillars and the rare Dune Tiger Beetle observed by a lucky few.

 Visitors are always welcome on outings.  Be assured of a friendly welcome and someone nearby to name any unusual and unexpected specimen discovered during a pleasant walk.

Sightings.

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Small Copper	Painted Lady	Common Darter	Common Blue
Grayling	Dune Tiger Beetle	Grass of Parnassus	Burnet moth

Images by Peter Francis