Wood Lane Nature Reserve
Wood Lane is a 81 hectare site, which combines North Shropshire's largest quarry with active nature conservation.
Wood Lane is geographically well placed at the hub of four meres: Blakemere, Newton Mere, Colemere and White Mere. Opportunities for colonization by local species will enhance the biodiversity of Wood Lane. As part of the ongoing restoration programme, 6 hectares are now specifically managed to provide a range of wetland habitats.
Wood Lane is near to designated sites of special scientific interest and proposed RAMSAR sites. The Ellesmere area has many expanses of water in the locality but is not generally suitable for wading birds. Worked out parts of the quarry site provide the ideal opportunity to create lagoons and wetlands suitable for wading birds. In just 5 years many species have been attracted to Wood Lane. Aquatic and waterside plants have been introduced and, as the site is 
relatively new, there is a unique opportunity to study the invading flora, including varieties of orchids. So far 6 hectares have been restored to provide the wetland habitats and these have become a favorite breeding place for lapwings and little ring plovers.
Tudor Griffiths has also made available an area of land which is now being actively managed by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust to further develop a traditional hay meadow.
Two hides were introduced during 1999 with access by permit on application.
| Location and Access All ability access from the car park takes you around the reserve and to the first hide. Wood Lane Nature Reserve is part of The Tudor Griffiths Group sand and gravel extraction site near Ellesmere. The Wood Lane Nature Reserve lies about 1.5 miles south eat of Ellesmere. From Ellesmere take the A495 east and the branch off onto the A528. Take the Colemere road off the A528 south of Ellesmere at the Spunhill crossroads, the car park is ¾ mile down on the right. Grid Reference: SJ425330. To gain access to the hides at Wood Lane a permit is required. The permit is issued free of charge, click here for details. | Wildlife Birds Between 9th June 1999 and 31st December 2007 173 different bird species have been recorded at the Wood Lane Nature Reserve. Some of the more common, yet unusual sights you may get here include lapwing, fieldfare, sand martin, reed bunting, reed warbler, dunlin, redshank, ringed plover, skylark, shelduck, tufetd dusk and whimbrel. Butterflies  A dozen or so species have been recorded, including Speckled wood, Peacock, Meadow brown, Small white, Small tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Common blue and Orange Tip.Mammals Badgers, foxes, stoats, mink, squirrels, and a variety of smaller mammals have all been recorded. |
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment