Welcome to RSPB Warton Mires!

Our Vision

In the short-term the reserve will be managed for the benefit of its lowland wet-grassland habitat potential, managing it less intensively, and attempting to expose the existing water table during the spring and early summer months to deliver improved habitat for breeding lapwing. It will become a biodiverse rich landscape with varied wildflower interest.  

The medium to long term aim, subject to funding, was for Warton Mires to become an exemplar within the Morecambe Bay Local Nature Partnership Area, for delivering multiple benefits i.e. the combination of delivering for wildlife, the community and flood alleviation. However, after a lot of feasibility work the complexity and cost of building an embankment and operating pumps means that this will not be pursued unless circumstances change. We will endeavour to support the local community in any further work that they wish to pursue that could help to mitigate flood risk including sharing any research / modelling undertaken to date. We will explore options to use solar-powered water pumps to recycle water within the site to keep scrapes and grips wet during the breeding season without holding back water that drains from the site.

Above and beyond existing commitments, the mires will become a more diverse wet-grassland complex. During the next 2-year period there will be works to create shallow scrapes (small pool like features) and grips (see photo below)and a predation exclusion fence around part of the site to protect ground nesting birds (subject to resources and any additional consents). This will further maximise the potential of the habitat for breeding lapwings but also improve the site for other waders such as redshank, snipe, avocet and curlew.  

The site will also continue to provide an important refuge for wetland birds during the winter months and improvements will mean it will be an increasingly important site within the Morecambe Bay area, with nationally and internationally significant populations of waders and wildfowl.  

Warton Mires will be an integral part of Warton Village and the community will benefit from the reserve and its development by connecting local people with nature on their doorstep.  

The 2-year Plan

Funding has been secured to make the habitat improvement works set out above – creating shallow scrapes and grips which will expose water in the spring and early summer to provide muddy feeding edges for waders, such as Lapwing, and their chicks.

These will be put in this Autumn (end August-September) by a highly qualified team who are used to working on wet ground and creating high quality habitat features. An excavator will carry out the scrape work.  It will also make some improvements to the ditches on the reserve by creating shallower edges so that birds can access the water more easily. The grips will be put in by a specialist bit of kit called a soil spreader, which will excavate and then ‘throw’ the soil across the ground in a thin layer, meaning that there won’t be mounds of soil to find a home for.

On top of the habitat work, we’ll also be installing some new fencing to replace existing ones that need repair.  They will allow cows that graze the reserve to be moved around more easily, and we can target their grazing exactly where we need it. We do this because the waders prefer to nest in shorter grass, so that they can see predators coming and group together to chase them off! We will also be doing a bit of hedge maintenance on the reserve to make sure the hedge stays clear of the footpath and that they are in the best condition to support both birds and pollinators.

Next Autumn (2027), the plan is to put in place a predator exclusion fence around part of the site. The plans are still being drawn up on how this will look but it will mean that ground nesting birds are protected from land-based predators such as foxes. We’ll also be looking at what path improvements we can make. We will update this page in due course with a bit more information on our plans for this.

In the meantime, if anyone wishes to ask any further questions we will be in the Malt Shovel Pub on Thursday 14th August from 6-8pm, and Friday 15th August from 2-4pm. Alternatively you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Warton and District Bowling Club have updated their listing. To find out more about the club go to the left hand Main Menu and select ‘Groups’ and follow the link.

New members welcome at all groups!

Weekly/Fortnightly Events:

Monday - badminton 1-3pm

Monday – sketching 1-3pm (07903 986180)

Monday - beavers then cubs 5.45pm-8.15pm

Tuesday - badminton 7-9pm (07929 283657)

Tuesday – art and craft group 7.15-9pm (07903 986180)

Wednesday – music club (2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month)

Wednesday late afternoon/early evening – LDS Theatre Arts

Thursday late afternoon/early evening – LDS Theatre Arts

Friday late afternoon/early evening - LDS Theatre Arts

Saturdays - LDS Theatre Arts

Monthly Events:

First Tuesday at 7.30pm – Warton Parish Council

Second Thursday Gardening Club

Third Thursday 7.00-10.00pm – Warton Crag W.I.

First Friday 1.00-3.00pm – Craft Group

The hall has a table tennis table, fully equipped kitchen, disabled facilities, hearing loop system, speakers, projector and screen, staging and tiered seating equipment, chairs on trolleys, bar, choice of three rooms, modern toilets, main hall marked out for badminton court

For further information and for enquiries about running your own class or course, please contact Carol Wolfenden on 07929 283657

There have been a number of recent reports of dog fouling on the village streets as well as some public footpaths. Most dog owners do pick up their pets poop although there remain a few who choose not too. Lancaster City Council would remind irresponsible dog owners that under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, it is an offence not to clean up after a dog has defecated on public land. Public land includes all public footpaths. A person may be issued with an £80 fixed penalty fine, if they do not clean up, or alternatively may be prosecuted through the magistrates court, where the maximum fine is £1000.

Warton Village Music club meets on the second and fourth Wednesday  (1900hrs to 2100hrs) of each month in the Village Hall.  The main aims of the club are to encourage and develop existing musical skills in a friendly and relaxing environment. Our current members, of varying amateur standards, use a variety of instruments and like to play well known light rock and folk songs.  Our group also occasionally presents musical entertainment in the local area. Anyone interested in joining the club, whether you sing or play an instrument, would be very welcome to join us. Come along and see if it’s for you.  To find out more about the club please contact Antony on 07715297036, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..