AINSDALE AND BIRKDALE HILLS 296 ha
Plan your visit
🦅 Birds🦉 Wildlife🐶 Dogs
Public access Free entry Dogs welcome 296 ha
Getting here
53.61154, -3.05404
Open directionsv Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
▾ ☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🐕 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
☀️ June — long evenings and clear skies; one of the most rewarding months for a late visit 🐕 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 £ Free to visit — no entry charge🐕 Dogs welcome🦅 Bird watching
Strong match
Nature reserve
Free
Dogs allowed — nature reserve
Free
🍂 Seasonal nature
Good match
Nature reserve — seasonal wildlife and habitats
Free
🧺 Picnic day out
Moderate match
Nature reserve — public outdoor space
Free
Trails nearby Within roughly 5 km 3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Trans-Pennine Trail (Southport to Liverpool) Walking route ▾
Named route Regional walking route
Show on map Sefton Coastal Path Walking route ▾
These popular, well-used, cycle-friendly paths pass through the National Trust site of Formby, connecting the 1.5 miles between Lifeboat Road and Victoria Road car parks.
Named route Point-to-point Regional walking route
Show on map King Charles III England Coast Path: Cleveleys to Liverpool Walking route ▾
Named route Ref ECP National walking route
Show on map 69 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Pier to Pier cycle route Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 562 National Cycle Network
Show on map Route 810 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 810 National Cycle Network
Show on map Trans Pennine Trail Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 62 National Cycle Network
Show on map Route 62 Cycling route ▾
Named route Ref 62 National Cycle Network
Show on map Shrimp Cycling route ▾
Named route Local cycle route
Show on map Main Route Cycling route 440 m ▾
Named route Ref 62 Length 440 m National Cycle Network Traffic-free Surface unsealedfirm
Show on map
Weather for this location Next 14 days Nearby places Useful places within 5 km
UK green spaces mapped from open public data — so anyone can find the woodland, trail, or nature reserve closest to them.
© 2026 Glade · Made with care for UK green spaces
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Wildlife to spot
43,425 records · National Biodiversity Network
▾
Wildlife to spot 43,425 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 46 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Black-headed Gull · Herring Gull · Woodpigeon · Rock Dove · Jackdaw +41
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Coot Fulica atra Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis Teal Anas crecca Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Sanderling Calidris alba2025 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola2025 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus2025 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Grey Partridge Perdix perdix2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 🦌 Mammals 2 species
autumn winter
2025 ▾
Wood Mouse · Red Squirrel
Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring
2026 ▾
Common Toad · Common Frog
Common Toad Bufo bufo Common Frog Rana temporaria Eristalis pertinax · Criorhina ranunculi · Parasyrphus punctulatus · Marmalade Hoverfly
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Criorhina ranunculi Criorhina ranunculi Parasyrphus punctulatus Parasyrphus punctulatus Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2025 🌿 Plants 23 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Sea-buckthorn · Bulrush · Common Reed · Scots Pine · Common Field-speedwell +18
Sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides Bulrush Typha latifolia Common Reed Phragmites australis Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot 43,425 records · National Biodiversity Network 🐦 Birds 46 species
autumn winter
2026 ▾
Black-headed Gull · Herring Gull · Woodpigeon · Rock Dove · Jackdaw +41
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Herring Gull Larus argentatus2025 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus Rock Dove Columba livia2025 Jackdaw Coloeus monedula2025 Carrion Crow Corvus corone2025 Magpie Pica pica2025 Mute Swan Cygnus olor Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis Coot Fulica atra Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Moorhen Gallinula chloropus2025 Gadwall Mareca strepera2025 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula2025 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Stonechat Saxicola rubicola2025 Common Gull Larus canus2025 Blackbird Turdus merula2025 Water Rail Rallus aquaticus2025 Robin Erithacus rubecula2025 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes2025 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus2025 Starling Sturnus vulgaris2025 Greenfinch Chloris chloris2025 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto2025 Dunnock Prunella modularis2025 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea2025 Canada Goose Branta canadensis Teal Anas crecca Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Sanderling Calidris alba2025 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola2025 Common Scoter Melanitta nigra2025 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus2025 Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus2025 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus2025 Great Tit Parus major2025 Grey Partridge Perdix perdix2025 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita2025 Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla2025 Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti2025 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus2025 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs2025 Fieldfare Turdus pilaris2025 Rook Corvus frugilegus2025 Goldcrest Regulus regulus2025 🦌 Mammals 2 species
autumn winter
2025 ▾
Wood Mouse · Red Squirrel
Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris 🐸 Amphibians 2 species
spring
2026 ▾
Common Toad · Common Frog
Common Toad Bufo bufo Common Frog Rana temporaria Eristalis pertinax · Criorhina ranunculi · Parasyrphus punctulatus · Marmalade Hoverfly
Eristalis pertinax Eristalis pertinax Criorhina ranunculi Criorhina ranunculi Parasyrphus punctulatus Parasyrphus punctulatus Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus2025 🌿 Plants 23 species
winter spring
2026 ▾
Sea-buckthorn · Bulrush · Common Reed · Scots Pine · Common Field-speedwell +18
Sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides Bulrush Typha latifolia Common Reed Phragmites australis Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Common Field-speedwell Veronica persica Hairy Bitter-cress Cardamine hirsuta Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Green Alkanet
Green Alkanet
Pentaglottis sempervirens
Pentaglottis sempervirens
Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria
Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria
Cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata
Cat's-ear Hypochaeris radicata
Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Red Fescue Festuca rubra
Cleavers Galium aparine
Cleavers Galium aparine
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Common Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense
Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense
Italian Lords-and-Ladies Arum italicum
Italian Lords-and-Ladies Arum italicum
Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima
Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima
Shining Crane's-bill Geranium lucidum
Shining Crane's-bill Geranium lucidum
Sweet Alison Lobularia maritima
Sweet Alison Lobularia maritima
Lesser Swine-cress Lepidium didymum
Lesser Swine-cress Lepidium didymum
Annual Mercury Mercurialis annua
Annual Mercury Mercurialis annua
Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaica
Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaica
Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
Maidenhair Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
Taxus baccata f. baccata Taxus baccata f. baccata
Taxus baccata f. baccata Taxus baccata f. baccata
Ivy Hedera helix
Ivy Hedera helix 