Rixton Claypits

This site is the closest nature reserve to my home. The pits were produced by clay extraction from the 1920s until 1965, when the extraction ceased and the area was left to mature. The site has changed ownership a number of times in recent years and several applications for landfill have been made, but rejected. Let's hope this remains the case!

Rixton became a Local Nature Reserve in 1996, and is now owned and managed by Warrington Borough Council. It is now a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), best known for its population of Great Crested Newts (Triturus cristatus)

The site is 14ha comprising water bodies, heath, scrub and grassland. It does not have a dedicated website, and as far as I'm aware, sightings are not reported anywhere. A new car park and visitor centre are currently being built, however, so this may change in the near future.

There are no hides at the Claypits, so it's a matter of walking the paths and sometimes settling down to wait and watch.

From Warrington: Follow Manchester Road (A57) out of Woolston, across both M6 roundabouts for approximately one mile. Continue past the Transport café. About 400 yards on the left is the turning for the Visitor Centre, 120 yards further along on the left is the car park.

From Cadishead: Follow Liverpool Road (A57) through the traffic lights at Warburton Bridge & continue for another 420 metres. The car park is on the right just after Chapel Lane.

Visit the Warrington Borough Council Rixton Claypits Web page

Map of the Claypits (PDF 0.1MB)

My images from Rixton Claypits

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