Reserves and speciesPickering's Scrape

Pickering's Scrape

Posted by cheshire
2011-05-03 14:15

Pickering’s Scrape is a small brackish pool with 3 small islands.  It is part of the Pickering’s Pasture Local Nature Reserve and lies on the salt marsh and bank of the River Mersey.  At high tide the scrape is a favoured feeding and roosting site for small numbers of waders and wildfowl, as they retreat from the inundated River Mersey.  Visiting species include lapwing, little ringed plover, redshank, greenshank, snipe, shelduck and teal.  Peregrine and merlin can often be seen hunting overhead.  To the west of the pool lies a small reedbed, and to the north is a wooded area which conceals a bird hide.  Hale Marsh is private land with no public access, but the scrape and its surrounding salt marsh can be viewed from the hide.  The grassland surrounding Pickering’s Scrape is close-cropped as a result of the constant grazing by geese.

Reserve details
Trust: 
Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Trust Website: 
http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Size: 
0.10
Short Description: 
A small brackish pond with a small number of waders and wildfowl
Smartphone Description: 
A small brackish pond within Pickering's Pasture Local Nature Reserve. Small numbers of waders & wildfowl use the pond as a roosting area at high tide.
Location
Address: 
1 mile east of Hale, on the banks of the River Mersey
County: 
Cheshire
Postcode: 
WA8 8LL
Grid ref: 
SJ 486 829
Facilities
Visitor centre: 
No
Shop: 
No shop
Picnic Area: 
No
Opening hours: 
Open at all times
Toilets: 
No toilets
Disabled toilet: 
No disabled toilet
Baby changing facilities: 
No baby changing facilities
Dogs: 
Yes
Access: 
Yes
Parking: 
Yes
Parking info: 
Car park at Pickerings Pasture - information hut near car park
Contact details
Reserve manager: 
Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Reserve phone number: 
01948 820728
Photos
Photo: 
Admission
Admission fee?: 
No
Admission amount: 
no
Location type: 
Wildlife or nature reserve