University of Manchester Botanical Experimental Grounds
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome
Getting here
53.23246, -2.30420
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦77+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Canada Goose
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦77+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Canada Goose
- 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
- 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required
Best for
8 activities🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Mallard, Canada Goose, Coot +74 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Birds — Mallard, Canada Goose, Coot +74 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Harlequin Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird, Common Red Soldier Beetle +24 more · last seen 2025
Dogs allowed with public access
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
🛝Family friendly
Good match
Urban park — family destination
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Messuage Lane Nature WalkWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Dane Valley WayWalking route66 km▾
Buxton to Northwich
Named routeLength 66 kmRegional walking route
South Cheshire Market Towns TrailWalking route67 km▾
Named routeLength 67 kmRegional walking route
29 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cheshire Cheese LoopCycling route▾
Named routeRef Cheshire Cheese LoopLocal cycle route
Cheshire CyclewayCycling route▾
Named routeRef 70Regional cycle route
Route 573Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 573National Cycle Network
Route 71Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 71Regional cycle route
Route 55Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 55National Cycle Network
N/ACycling route496 m▾
Named routeRef 71Length 496 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface unsealedfirm
Photos
15 photos from nearby open sources
A535 Holmes Chapel Road at the B5392 junction, Lower Withington
Photos
A535 Holmes Chapel Road at the B5392 junction, Lower Withington
✓ Public accessFree entry🐶 Dogs
Good to know
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
2025
2025
BadgerMeles meles2025BadgerMeles meles20252023
2023
Southern HawkerAeshna cyaneaSouthern HawkerAeshna cyaneaCommon Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerumCommon Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerumBrown HawkerAeshna grandisBrown HawkerAeshna grandisBroad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2024Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2024Orchestes quercusOrchestes quercus2024Orchestes quercusOrchestes quercus2024Rhabdomiris striatellusRhabdomiris striatellus2024Rhabdomiris striatellusRhabdomiris striatellus2024Leucozona lucorumLeucozona lucorum2024Leucozona lucorumLeucozona lucorum2024Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2024Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2024Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha2024Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha2024Dryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatusDryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatus2024Dryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatusDryophilocoris (Dryophilocoris) flavoquadrimaculatus2024Cercopis vulnerataCercopis vulnerata2024Cercopis vulnerataCercopis vulnerata2024Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula2024Large Red DamselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula202410-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata202410-spot LadybirdAdalia decempunctata2024Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis2024Gorse WeevilExapion ulicis2024Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2024Common EarwigForficula auricularia/dentata agg.2024Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus2024Gorse ShieldbugPiezodorus lituratus2024Dock BugCoreus marginatus2023Dock BugCoreus marginatus2023Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus2023Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2023Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2023Common Green GrasshopperOmocestus viridulus2023Common Green GrasshopperOmocestus viridulus202314-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata202314-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2023Bronze ShieldbugTroilus luridus2023Bronze ShieldbugTroilus luridus2023Events & activities nearby
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