Ainsdale & Birkdale Sandhills Nature Reserve

0ne of the largest areas of wild duneland left in Britain. The reserve was set up in 1980 and now covers some 6570 acres of open dunes. A waymarked dune trail provides an interesting circular walk within the reserve. There are many unusual plants including the locally common Ploughmans's Spikenard, Early Marsh Orchid, Marsh Helleborine and Grass of Parnassus. One of Britain's rarest amphibian the Natterjack Toad, which is distinguished from the Common Toad by the yellow stripe running down its back can also be found here and the nocturnal chorus of croaking males is known locally as the "Southport Nightingales". There are also many species of butterfly to be found here including Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Grayling and Burnet moths.