RSPB Leighton Moss
| Leighton Moss | |
| Nature reserve | |
Greylag geese at Leighton Moss
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|
| Country | England |
|---|---|
| County | Lancashire |
| District | City of Lancaster |
| Coordinates | 54°09′47″N 2°48′04″W / 54.163°N 2.801°WCoordinates: 54°09′47″N 2°48′04″W / 54.163°N 2.801°W |
| Biomes | Reed bed, Coastal lagoons |
| Animal | Bearded reedling, Eurasian bittern, Pied avocet, Western marsh harrier |
| For public | Open year round except Christmas Day |
| Protection status | SSSI, SPA, Ramsar Site and AONB |
Leighton Moss RSPB reserve is a nature reserve in Lancashire, England, which has been in the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds since 1964. It is situated at Silverdale near Carnforth, on the edge of Morecambe Bay and in the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Leighton Moss contains the largest area of reed beds in north-west England. The site provides habitats for many species of wildlife, including bitterns and red deer. As a wetland of international importance, it was designated a Ramsar site in 1985. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area, and an Important Bird Area.
The RSPB reserve also protects an area of Morecambe Bay, where a saltmarsh provides a habitat for birds such as avocets.
In 1822 the moss came into the possession of Richard Gillow, grandson of the Lancaster furniture manufacturer Robert Gillow. Using steam technology, Gillow drained the moss for agriculture. Although the soil is of good quality, by 1918 the land was flooded again, as drainage appeared to have become uneconomic. The area was used for duck shooting.
The RSPB initially leased the moss and then purchased it from the Leighton Hall estate.
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Wikipedia