Marton Mere, Blackpool
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD342353 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 31.8 | 2023-03-27 |
| SD343355 | — | Favourable | 7.71 | 2010-11-02 |
Habitats
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Glacial
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| curlew | Breeding |
| curlew | Wintering |
| great crested grebe | Breeding |
| great crested grebe | Passage |
| great crested grebe | Wintering |
| greenshank | Breeding |
| greenshank | Wintering |
| little grebe | Breeding |
| little grebe | Passage |
| little grebe | Wintering |
| mallard | Breeding |
| mallard | Passage |
| mallard | Wintering |
| oystercatcher | Breeding |
| oystercatcher | Passage |
| oystercatcher | Wintering |
| pochard | Breeding |
| pochard | Passage |
| pochard | Wintering |
| redshank | Breeding |
| redshank | Wintering |
| ruff | Breeding |
| ruff | Passage |
| ruff | Wintering |
| shoveler | Breeding |
| shoveler | Passage |
| shoveler | Wintering |
| tufted duck | Breeding |
| tufted duck | Passage |
| tufted duck | Wintering |
Description
Description Marton Mere is a freshwater lake situated some two miles to the east of the centre of Blackpool. The Mere is believed to occupy a kettle hole, formed during the last glaciation over 14,000years ago and is thus one of only two remaining water bodies in Lancashire of natural origin, the other being Hawes Water at Silverdale which is also a SSSI. The water level has, however, been subject to much alteration by man and in 1976 the water surface was enlarged from about 15 acres to its present 44 acres, with loss of some marginal habitat. Much of the formerly extensive reedbed surrounding the Mere was submerged at this time, but many small patches of reed still exist around the lake margin along with other emergent plant species such as reed grass, yellow flag, bur reed, glaucous bulrush and lesser reed mace an uncommon plant in north west England which together provide an attractive habitat for water birds. In spite of the high level of pressure from recreational developments on surrounding land and from its proximity to a large centre of population, the open water and fringing habitats of Marton Mere support a wide range of waterfowl and wetland birds. The breeding community of the site is of particular note, approximately 35 different species are known to use the Mereas a breeding site and the community is an especially rich example of its kind. Marton Mere is the most important breeding site in Lancashire for little grebe up to 10 pairs and is also of county importance for its population of great crested grebe, coot second only to Leighton Moss, mallard, pochard and shoveler. The scarcity of similar habitat in the area and its position along a major migration route between breeding grounds in the far north and wintering grounds further south, make Marton Mere an important resting place for a wide variety of birds on passage. Over 140 species of passage migrant have been recorded with approximately 100 of annual occurrence. The site is also attractive as a wintering ground for over 65 species of bird and is of county importance for its wintering population of coot, mallard, shoveler and tufted duck. The muddy margins of the lake – a rare habitat in Lancashire –provide important feeding areas for a variety of waders, including ruff, oystercatcher, redshank, while the greenshank, surrounding curlew scattered scrub and vegetated areas provide attractive nesting and feeding habitat for several small passerine bird species. The scientific importance of the site is further enhanced by the availability of accurate, detailed ornithological records documenting the history of Marton Mere over a period of many years.
Species mentioned
Show the 12 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | NT (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| pochard | Aythya ferina | EN (NonBreeding), EN (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| tufted duck | Aythya fuligula | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| shoveler | Spatula clypeata | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-duck | anatidae |
| coot | Fulica atra | NT (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) | bird-gallinule | rallidae |
| great crested grebe | Podiceps cristatus | LC (NonBreeding), VU (Breeding) | bird-grebe | podicipedidae |
| little grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | LC (NonBreeding), LC (Breeding) | bird-grebe | podicipedidae |
| ruff | Calidris pugnax | EN (NonBreeding), CR (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| oystercatcher | Haematopus ostralegus | LC (Breeding) | bird-wader | haematopodidae |
| curlew | Numenius arquata | EN (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| greenshank | Tringa nebularia | LC (Breeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
| redshank | Tringa totanus | EN (NonBreeding) | bird-wader | scolopacidae |
Plant communities
S4 — Lowland fen, Nutrient rich eutrophic lake, Reedbed
Phragmites australis swamp and reed-beds
Show 98 indicator speciesSalix cinerea, Atriplex portulacoides, Solanum dulcamara, Bolboschoenus maritimus, Carex acuta, Carex lasiocarpa, Carex otrubae, Carex panicea, Carex pseudocyperus, Carex riparia, Carex rostrata, Cladium mariscus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Eleocharis palustris, Juncus articulatus, Juncus bulbosus, Juncus effusus, Juncus gerardii, Juncus maritimus, Juncus subnodulosus, Sparganium erectum, Sparganium minimum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Leptodictyum riparium, Sphagnum fallax, Suaeda maritima, Angelica sylvestris, Apium graveolens, Berula erecta, Cicuta virosa, Oenanthe crocata, Oenanthe fistulosa, Oenanthe lachenalii, Sium latifolium, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Sonchus arvensis, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Myosotis laxa, Myosotis scorpioides, Cardamine pratensis, Cochlearia anglica, Cochlearia officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Atriplex hastata, Atriplex littoralis, Salicornia dolichostachya, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lotus pedunculatus, Iris pseudacorus, Triglochin maritimum, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lemna minor, Utricularia intermedia, Utricularia minor, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Nymphaea alba, Epilobium hirsutum, Callitriche stagnalis, Hippuris vulgaris, Plantago maritima, Armeria maritima, Limonium vulgare, Rumex crispus, Rumex hydrolapathum, Potamogeton gramineus, Potamogeton natans, Potamogeton polygonifolius, Glaux maritima, Ranunculus flammula, Ranunculus lingua, Ranunculus sceleratus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia atherica, Elytrigia repens, Festuca rubra, Glyceria fluitans, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Molinia caerulea, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Puccinellia maritima, Typha angustifolia, Typha latifolia, Chara subspinosa
S25 — Lowland fen, Reedbed
Phragmites australis-Eupatorium cannabinum tall-herb fen
Show 53 indicator speciesSalix cinerea, Alnus glutinosa, Myrica gale, Solanum dulcamara, Carex acuta, Carex elata, Carex paniculata, Carex riparia, Cladium mariscus, Juncus subnodulosus, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Angelica sylvestris, Berula erecta, Oenanthe lachenalii, Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Caltha palustris, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Silene flos-cuculi, Calystegia sepium, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Vicia cracca, Iris pseudacorus, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Lythrum salicaria, Menyanthes trifoliata, Epilobium hirsutum, Pedicularis palustris, Rumex crispus, Comarum palustre, Filipendula ulmaria, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scrophularia auriculata, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Arrhenatherum elatius, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Thelypteris palustris, Athyrium filix-femina, Typha angustifolia
S26 — Lowland fen, Reedbed
Phragmites australis-Urtica dioica tall-herb fen
Show 60 indicator speciesSolanum dulcamara, Carex acuta, Carex otrubae, Carex riparia, Juncus effusus, Juncus subnodulosus, Sparganium erectum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Angelica sylvestris, Apium nodiflorum, Heracleum sphondylium, Oenanthe crocata, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium palustre, Eupatorium cannabinum, Pulicaria dysenterica, Sonchus arvensis, Myosotis scorpioides, Valeriana officinalis, Silene dioica, Silene flos-cuculi, Calystegia sepium, Dipsacus fullonum, Equisetum fluviatile, Equisetum palustre, Lathyrus pratensis, Lotus pedunculatus, Vicia cracca, Iris pseudacorus, Glechoma hederacea, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica, Stachys palustris, Lythrum salicaria, Epilobium hirsutum, Rumex crispus, Rumex hydrolapathum, Lysimachia vulgaris, Ranunculus acris, Ranunculus repens, Filipendula ulmaria, Potentilla anserina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Galium palustre, Galium uliginosum, Scutellaria galericulata, Urtica dioica, Agrostis stolonifera, Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Glyceria maxima, Holcus lanatus, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Poa trivialis, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Typha latifolia
W20 — Montane scrub
Salix lapponum-Luzula sylvatica scrub
Show 107 indicator speciesSalix arbuscula, Salix cinerea, Salix lapponum, Salix myrsinites, Salix phylicifolia, Salix reticulata, Empetrum nigrum, Calluna vulgaris, Salix lanata, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Carex atrata, Carex bigelowii, Carex binervis, Carex flacca, Luzula multiflora, Luzula sylvatica, Huperzia selago, Selaginella selaginoides, Aulacomnium palustre, Mnium hornum, Philonotis fontana, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhizomnium punctatum, Dicranum bonjeanii, Dicranum majus, Dicranum scoparium, Fissidens adianthoides, Racomitrium lanuginosum, Calliergonell cuspidatum, Ctenidium molluscum, Hylocomium splendens, Hypnum callichroum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Palustriella commutatum, Plagiothecium denticulatum, Plagiothecium undulatum, Pleurozium schreberi, Ptilium crista-castrensis, Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, Sanionia uncinata, Scorpidium revolvens, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Sphagnum capillifolium, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum girgensohnii, Sphagnum palustre, Sphagnum russowii, Sphagnum squarrosum, Sphagnum subnitens, Sphagnum teres, Barbilophozia barbata, Chiloscyphus polyanthos, Diplophyllum albicans, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiochila porelloides, Ptilidium ciliare, Scapania undulata, Cladonia squamosa, Peltigera canina, Angelica sylvestris, Caltha palustris, Hieraclium spp., Saussurea alpina, Solidago virgaurea, Campanula rotundifolia, Succisa pratensis, Valeriana officinalis, Rhodiola rosea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Thymus praecox, Epilobium anagallidifolium, Dactylorhiza viridis, Euphrasia officinalis, Rhinanthus minor, Oxalis acetosella, Oxyria digyna, Polygonum viviparum, Rumex acetosa, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus acris, Thalictrum alpinum, Alchemilla alpina, Alchemilla glabra, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum rivale, Galium boreale, Galium saxatile, Saxifraga aizoides, Saxifraga hypnoides, Saxifraga oppositifolia, Saxifraga stellaris, Viola riviniana, Agrostis canina, Agrostis capillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Deschampsia cespitosa, Deschampsia flexuosa, Festuca ovina, Festuca rubra, Nardus stricta, Dryopteris dilatata, Phegopteris connectilis
W21 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Crataegus monogyna-Hedera helix scrub
Show 81 indicator speciesHedera helix, Salix cinerea, Acer pseudoplatanus, Ilex aquifolium, Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Malus sylvestris, Sorbus aria, Taxus baccata, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus procera, Sambucus nigra, Viburnum lantana, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus sanguinea, Juniperus communis, Ligustrum vulgare, Clematis vitalba, Rhamnus cathartica, Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Juncus effusus, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Kindbergia praelonga, Rhynchostegium confertum, Tamus communis, Heracleum sphondylium, Torilis japonica, Arum maculatum, Arctium minus, Cirsium arvense, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Stellaria graminea, Stellaria holostea, Stellaria media agg., Calystegia sepium, Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Iris foetidissima, Glechoma hederacea, Lamium purpureum, Origanum vulgare, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Allium ursinum, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Circaea lutetiana, Rumex sanguineus, Anemone nemorosa, Ranunculus repens, Fragaria vesca, Geum urbanum, Potentilla sterilis, Poterium sanguisorba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa canina, Rubia peregrina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Anisantha sterilis, Arrhenatherum elatius, Brachypodium pinnatum, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Bromopsis erecta, Dactylis glomerata, Elytrigia repens, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris filix-mas
W22 — Hedgerow scrub, Mixed scrub
Prunus spinosa-Rubus fruticosus scrub
Show 49 indicator speciesHedera helix, Acer campestre, Corylus avellana, Ulex europaeus, Prunus spinosa, Plagiomnium undulatum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium striatum, Kindbergia praelonga, Thuidium tamariscinum, Atrichum undulatum, Lophocolea bidentata, Achillea millefolium, Cardamine flexuosa, Lonicera periclymenum, Moehringia trinervia, Silene dioica, Silene uniflora, Stellaria media agg., Mercurialis perennis, Geranium robertianum, Stachys sylvatica, Teucrium scorodonia, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Oxalis acetosella, Digitalis purpurea, Plantago lanceolata, Veronica chamaedrys, Armeria maritima, Rumex acetosa, Filipendula ulmaria, Geum urbanum, Rosa canina, Rubus fruticosus agg., Rubus idaeus, Galium aparine, Urtica dioica, Viola riviniana, Agrostis capillaris, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Holcus mollis, Poa trivialis, Asplenium scolopendrium, Pteridium aquilinum, Dryopteris borreri, Dryopteris filix-mas