This trip, led by Clare and Charlie Farrell, will take us to two SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) sites in North Wales. Big Pool Wood is a small North Wales Wildlife Trust reserve consisting of a number of small pools and reedbeds surrounded by a boardwalk and mature woodland. There are a mixture of woodland and waterbirds present along with a variety of woodland flowers including the rare giant bellflower.
Gronant Reserve is also an SSSI and the only surviving largely unmodified dunes along the North Wales Coast. The Dunes are filled with Sea Holly, Marram grass, Sea Lavender, Sea Purslane and Sea-spurrey. You can also find the rare Dune Fescue and 5 species of orchid along with birds such as Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Skylark. There are usually plenty of butterflies around in the dunes including a colony of Dark
Green Fritillary. The reedbeds and pools support a population of amphibians including Natterjack
Toads. As we make our way to the observation point to view the Little Tern colony and other
seabirds along the beach, we will hopefully encounter some of the lizards which populate the
dunes.
Though a short part of the route involves crossing the sand dunes, the vast majority is flat and
over paths and boardwalks that are well maintained. Toilets are available en-route.
The trip is open to members, as well as their friends and family. The coach will leave Manchester
Road Cul-de-Sac, Rochdale OL11 4HY at 9am prompt and will set off on its return journey at 5
pm. The cost is still only £20.
We will need at least 30 members to sign up for this to make it viable. If you are intending to join
this trip please book before Sat 3rd June by emailing rfnspublicity@gmail.com. Please pay your £20 beforehand by bank transfer: Sort Code 05-07-67, Account Number 60931963 and use your name as a reference.