Rostherne Mere National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Rostherne NNR is the largest and deepest of the Cheshire meres, with the original basin deepened by salt subsidence. The reserve is of primary importance for its wintering wildfowl populations, particularly pochard. Mallard, teal, pintail and shoveler are also regular visitors and in winter ruddy duck, gadwall and goosander often visit the site. The surrounding reed beds support a large breeding population of reed warblers and the rare, booming bittern is also a regular visitor during the winter months. Birds of the surrounding woods include all three native woodpecker species together with tawny owl, sparrowhawk and kestrel. The scrub areas provide a home to summer migrants, such as reed bunting, willow warblers and whitethroat. After being absent for many years, the otter has returned, and the reserve also supports a population of harvest mice, which are rare in Cheshire. Insect species at Rostherne include a number of butterfly species, most notably the white-letter hairstreak, purple hairstreak and common blue.

Location

Rostherne

About the area

Nestled between the Welsh hills and Derbyshire Peaks, the Cheshire plains make an ideal location to take things slow and mess around in boats. Cheshire has more than 200 miles (302 km) of man-made waterways, more than any other county in England.