Hightown Dunes and Alt Estuary - Merseyside

The Hightown Dunes and Meadows stretch from Hall Road Coastguard Station to the mouth of the River Alt. The 150 acre reserve consisting of a small saltmarsh, sand dunes, freshwater ponds, willow and poplar scrub with wildflower meadows and is rich in wildlife. 165 species of birds have been studied in this are and include Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings and Skylarks, Knot, Bartailed-Godwit, and Sanderlings. A lovely winter visitor is the Pink-footed Goose. There is an abundance of wildflowers growing including Burnet Rose, Vipers Bugloss, Wild Thyme and Yellow Horned Poppy. Bee Orchids, Meadow sweet, Ragged Robin, Autumn Gentian, Northern Marsh Orchid and Grass of Parnassus. Many butterflies and moths may also be seen including the Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Grayling and Burnet moths. The Natterjack Toad, for which the Sefton Coast is one of the best sites in Britain, is very scarce south of the Alt.