← Back✦ Historic site

Beard's Battery

📷 John Boothby · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

BirdsWildlifeInsects

Dogs welcome

Getting here

53.45860, -2.56551

Open directionsv

Google Maps↗Driving directions Apple Maps↗Driving directions Waze↗Live driving navigation Google Transit↗Bus, rail or tram Apple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦65+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦65+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie +62 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie +62 more · last seen 2025

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Empis livida, Black Darter, Marmalade Hoverfly +49 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Empis livida, Black Darter, Marmalade Hoverfly +49 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Bog Moss, Hyacinth, Cuckooflower +46 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Bog Moss, Hyacinth, Cuckooflower +46 more · last seen 2026

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Foraging

Good match

Plants — Hogweed, Red Dead-nettle, Garlic Mustard +3 more foraging species

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

GM Ringway Stage 16Walking route16.3 km

GM Ringway Stage 16 - Wigan to Leigh

Named routeLength 16.3 kmRegional walking route

GM Ringway Stage 17Walking route16.6 km

GM Ringway Stage 17 - Leigh to Irlam

Named routeLength 16.6 kmRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

3 Woolston to BirchwoodCycling route

Named routeRef 3Local cycle route

Birchwood to Sankey WayCycling route

Named routeRef B2SLocal cycle route

Bridgewater WayCycling route

Named routeRef 82Regional cycle route

Sankey Canal TrailCycling route

Named routeRef SCTLocal cycle route

Wildlife to spot

6,424 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

6,424 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds67 species

springsummer

2025

Woodpigeon · Carrion Crow · Magpie · Blackbird · Jackdaw +62

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
MagpiePica pica
BlackbirdTurdus merula
JackdawColoeus monedula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
BuzzardButeo buteo
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
SwiftApus apus2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock DoveColumba livia
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
RobinErithacus rubecula
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Stock DoveColumba oenas
LapwingVanellus vanellus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
DunnockPrunella modularis
RookCorvus frugilegus
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
LinnetLinaria cannabina
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
JayGarrulus glandarius
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Willow TitPoecile montanus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
NuthatchSitta europaea
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2024
RedwingTurdus iliacus
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2024
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
RavenCorvus corax
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
Little OwlAthene noctua2024
CurlewNumenius arquata2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2024
Common GullLarus canus2024
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2023
GadwallMareca strepera2023
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2021

🦌

Mammals10 species

summer

2025

Common Pipistrelle · Nyctalus/Eptesicus agg. · Noctule · Hedgehog · Pipistrelle Bat species +5

Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2024
Nyctalus/Eptesicus agg.Nyctalus/Eptesicus agg.2024
NoctuleNyctalus noctula2024
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus2024
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2024
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2024
MoleTalpa europaea2023
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2023
Red FoxVulpes vulpes

🐝

Insects52 species

springsummer

2025

Empis livida · Black Darter · Marmalade Hoverfly · Platycheirus manicatus · Eupeodes corollae +47

Empis lividaEmpis livida2022
Black DarterSympetrum danae2024
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2022
Platycheirus manicatusPlatycheirus manicatus2022
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2022
PlatycheirusPlatycheirus2022
Ashy Mining BeeAndrena cineraria2023
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2023
Flavous Nomad BeeNomada flava2023
Formica lemaniFormica lemani2023
Epistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligans2023
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2023
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2022
Notch-horned ClegHaematopota pluvialis2022
Hybos culiciformisHybos culiciformis2022
Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2022
Phaonia erransPhaonia errans2022
Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2022
Melanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinum2022
Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2022
Tipula oleraceaTipula oleracea2022
Marsh SnipeflyRhagio tringarius2022
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2022
Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2022
Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus2022
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2022
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2021
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii
Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2024
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2023
Dark-winged Blood BeeSphecodes gibbus2023
Bare-saddled Blood BeeSphecodes ephippius2023
Fabricius' Nomad BeeNomada fabriciana2023
Gooden's Nomad BeeNomada goodeniana2023
Cheilosia paganaCheilosia pagana2023
Smooth-faced Furrow BeeLasioglossum fratellum2023
Little Nomad BeeNomada flavoguttata2023
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2023
Vestal Cuckoo BeeBombus vestalis2023
Sphaerophoria scriptaSphaerophoria scripta2023
Bloomed Furrow BeeLasioglossum albipes2023
Lathbury's Nomad BeeNomada lathburiana2023
Rhingia campestrisRhingia campestris2023
St Marks FlyBibio marci2023
Yellow Meadow AntLasius flavus2023
Yellow-legged Mining BeeAndrena flavipes2023
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2023
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023
Lydella stabulansLydella stabulans2022
Tricholauxania praeustaTricholauxania praeusta2022
Nephrotoma dorsalisNephrotoma dorsalis2022
Cercopis vulnerataCercopis vulnerata2022

🌿

Plants49 species

springsummer

2026

Bog Moss · Hyacinth · Cuckooflower · Purple Moor-grass · Trifolium incarnatum +44

Bog MossSphagnum2024
HyacinthHyacinthus orientalis
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis2025
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea2024
Trifolium incarnatumTrifolium incarnatum2024
Cross-leaved HeathErica tetralix2024
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025
Red CampionSilene dioica2025
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2024
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2024
White CloverTrifolium repens2025
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum2025
NipplewortLapsana communis2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2025
BorageBorago officinalis2025
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii2025
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna2025
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens2025
Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2024
Water MintMentha aquatica2024
SunflowerHelianthus annuus2023
Perennial CornflowerCentaurea montana2023
Greater CelandineChelidonium majus2023
LousewortPedicularis sylvatica2023
Petty WhinGenista anglica2023
HonestyLunaria annua2023
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2022
Odontites vernus subsp. serotinusOdontites vernus subsp. serotinus2022
Wood SageTeucrium scorodonia2022
Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella2022
Bifid Hemp-nettleGaleopsis bifida2022
HeatherCalluna vulgaris2022
Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium2022
Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis2022
GoldenrodSolidago virgaurea2022
FlaxLinum usitatissimum2022
TormentilPotentilla erecta2022
Tufted VetchVicia cracca2022
Large BindweedCalystegia silvatica2022
RedshankPersicaria maculosa2022
Bread WheatTriticum aestivum2022
MugwortArtemisia vulgaris2022
Hare's-tail CottongrassEriophorum vaginatum2022
GorseUlex europaeus2022
AlderAlnus glutinosa2021
Hordeum distichonHordeum distichon2021
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2021

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

6,424 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds67 species

springsummer

2025

Woodpigeon · Carrion Crow · Magpie · Blackbird · Jackdaw +62

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
MagpiePica pica
BlackbirdTurdus merula
JackdawColoeus monedula
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
BuzzardButeo buteo
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
SwiftApus apus2024
House SparrowPasser domesticus
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Rock DoveColumba livia
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
Great TitParus major
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
RobinErithacus rubecula
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
Stock DoveColumba oenas
LapwingVanellus vanellus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
DunnockPrunella modularis
RookCorvus frugilegus
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2024
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
LinnetLinaria cannabina
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
House MartinDelichon urbicum2024
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
JayGarrulus glandarius
MoorhenGallinula chloropus
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
Herring GullLarus argentatus
Willow TitPoecile montanus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2024
WhitethroatCurruca communis2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2024
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella2024
NuthatchSitta europaea
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
GoldcrestRegulus regulus
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus2024
RedwingTurdus iliacus
Barn OwlTyto alba2024
WheatearOenanthe oenanthe2024
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa2024
Tree SparrowPasser montanus2024
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
RavenCorvus corax
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2024
Little OwlAthene noctua2024
CurlewNumenius arquata2024
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2024
Common GullLarus canus2024
Grey PartridgePerdix perdix2023
GadwallMareca strepera2023
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2021

🦌

Mammals10 species

summer

2025

Common Pipistrelle · Nyctalus/Eptesicus agg. · Noctule · Hedgehog · Pipistrelle Bat species +5

Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus2024
Nyctalus/Eptesicus agg.Nyctalus/Eptesicus agg.2024
NoctuleNyctalus noctula2024
HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus2024
Soprano PipistrellePipistrellus pygmaeus2024
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus2024
MoleTalpa europaea2023
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2023
Red FoxVulpes vulpes

🐝

Insects52 species

springsummer

2025

Empis livida · Black Darter · Marmalade Hoverfly · Platycheirus manicatus · Eupeodes corollae +47

Empis lividaEmpis livida2022
Black DarterSympetrum danae2024
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus2022
Platycheirus manicatusPlatycheirus manicatus2022
Eupeodes corollaeEupeodes corollae2022
PlatycheirusPlatycheirus2022
Ashy Mining BeeAndrena cineraria2023
Eristalis tenaxEristalis tenax2023
Flavous Nomad BeeNomada flava2023
Formica lemaniFormica lemani2023
Epistrophe eligansEpistrophe eligans2023
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina2023
Common DarterSympetrum striolatum2022
Notch-horned ClegHaematopota pluvialis2022
Hybos culiciformisHybos culiciformis2022
Platycheirus albimanusPlatycheirus albimanus2022
Phaonia erransPhaonia errans2022
Emerald DamselflyLestes sponsa2022
Melanostoma mellinumMelanostoma mellinum2022
Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculata2022
Tipula oleraceaTipula oleracea2022
Marsh SnipeflyRhagio tringarius2022
Western Honey BeeApis mellifera2022
Emperor DragonflyAnax imperator2022
Platycheirus clypeatusPlatycheirus clypeatus2022
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2022
Hornet HoverflyVolucella zonaria2021
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii
Brown HawkerAeshna grandis2024
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2023
Dark-winged Blood BeeSphecodes gibbus2023
Bare-saddled Blood BeeSphecodes ephippius2023
Fabricius' Nomad BeeNomada fabriciana2023
Gooden's Nomad BeeNomada goodeniana2023
Cheilosia paganaCheilosia pagana2023
Smooth-faced Furrow BeeLasioglossum fratellum2023
Little Nomad BeeNomada flavoguttata2023
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2023
Vestal Cuckoo BeeBombus vestalis2023
Sphaerophoria scriptaSphaerophoria scripta2023
Bloomed Furrow BeeLasioglossum albipes2023
Lathbury's Nomad BeeNomada lathburiana2023
Rhingia campestrisRhingia campestris2023
St Marks FlyBibio marci2023
Yellow Meadow AntLasius flavus2023
Yellow-legged Mining BeeAndrena flavipes2023
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata2023
Dark-edged Bee-flyBombylius major2023
Lydella stabulansLydella stabulans2022
Tricholauxania praeustaTricholauxania praeusta2022
Nephrotoma dorsalisNephrotoma dorsalis2022
Cercopis vulnerataCercopis vulnerata2022

🌿

Plants49 species

springsummer

2026

Bog Moss · Hyacinth · Cuckooflower · Purple Moor-grass · Trifolium incarnatum +44

Bog MossSphagnum2024
HyacinthHyacinthus orientalis
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis2025
Purple Moor-grassMolinia caerulea2024
Trifolium incarnatumTrifolium incarnatum2024
Cross-leaved HeathErica tetralix2024
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium2025
Red CampionSilene dioica2025
Great WillowherbEpilobium hirsutum2024
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2024
White CloverTrifolium repens2025
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum2025
NipplewortLapsana communis2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2025
BorageBorago officinalis2025
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii2025
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna2025
Green AlkanetPentaglottis sempervirens2025
Giant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum2024
Water MintMentha aquatica2024
SunflowerHelianthus annuus2023
Perennial CornflowerCentaurea montana2023
Greater CelandineChelidonium majus2023
LousewortPedicularis sylvatica2023
Petty WhinGenista anglica2023
HonestyLunaria annua2023
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2022
Odontites vernus subsp. serotinusOdontites vernus subsp. serotinus2022
Wood SageTeucrium scorodonia2022
Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella2022
Bifid Hemp-nettleGaleopsis bifida2022
HeatherCalluna vulgaris2022
Common CottongrassEriophorum angustifolium2022
Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis2022
GoldenrodSolidago virgaurea2022
FlaxLinum usitatissimum2022
TormentilPotentilla erecta2022
Tufted VetchVicia cracca2022
Large BindweedCalystegia silvatica2022
RedshankPersicaria maculosa2022
Bread WheatTriticum aestivum2022
MugwortArtemisia vulgaris2022
Hare's-tail CottongrassEriophorum vaginatum2022
GorseUlex europaeus2022
AlderAlnus glutinosa2021
Hordeum distichonHordeum distichon2021
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens2021

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 John Boothby · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Wheel rake at rest, Kenyon

1 / 21

Events & activities nearby

Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.

Bookable tours

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Pennington Flash County ParkUrban park3.5 km→🏞️PENNINGTON FLASHCountry park3.6 km→🌱Mesnes ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Peel Hall ParkUrban park4.6 km→🌱Culcheth Linear ParkUrban park2.6 km→🌱Willow ParkUrban park3.2 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 871e22bd-ae98-4622-8539-6f8dc39a0319