Closer to Nature at RSPB St Aidans and Lotherton Hall

In Brief.

RSPB St Aidans is a nature reserve that occupies a former open cast coal mine, and which now provides a variety of habitats for birds and other wildlife, traversed by walks of varying lengths.  Nearby Lotherton Hall is run by Leeds Museums and Galleries, and includes more managed nature, in the form of formal and less formal gardens, a deer park, a woodland walk and a small zoo.

Reedbeds from the Lowther Loop Walk

What's Here?

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) runs over 200 nature reserves in the UK, which tend to combine the opportunity for a walk in the countryside with some more serious wildlife photography. Evidence for the latter is how many people are packing impressive camera gear.  Some RSPB sites seem better than others for walkers, and St Aidans is one of the better ones.  There are plenty circular walks, and not just walks that lead to hides; indeed there are no hides at St Aidans, and there is a cafe with decent views. In terms of bird spotting, most of the birds I saw can be seen in many places, such as swans, coots, ducks and herons, but then I was really there for a walk!  The other RSBB sight reported in this blog is Leighton Moss, which is less good for walkers.

A mining machine (a 'dragline excavator') preserved at St Aidans

Lotherton Hall is a country house and grounds, where the latter include formal gardens, a woodland walk, a dear park and a zoo.  The early 20th century gardens are pleasant to walk around, with a series of compact spaces leading from the house to the woodland walk. The zoo contains a substantial penguin area, but is much smaller than other zoos in the area, and with a lot of birds in rather confined spaces, I found it a bit depressing even though the animals seemed in good condition.  More substantial (and expensive) zoos that feature in this blog include Chester Zoo and the Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

The Parterre garden at Lotherton Hall.

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 67 miles

Drive Time: 1hour 15 minutes

Price: St Aidans: $ (for parking); Lotherton Hall: $$

Parking: There is parking at both sites.

Food and Drink: Both sites have pleasant cafes with satisfactory food, St Aidans with a view, Lotherton with a courtyard.

Retail therapy: Lots of cuddly animals are on offer at Lotherton.

Child Friendly: Lotherton has a substantial play area.

Toilets: In both places.

Do it justice in: St Aidans: 90 minutes; Lotherton hall grounds: 1 hour.

Inside-Outside: 10:90


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