Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve
An S.S.S.I. Managed by Woolston Eyes Conservation Group
KEY POINTS
WOOLSTON EYES NATURE RESERVE - access is by permit and key only.
PERMITS & KEYS - are obtained online or by postal application, see website Visiting section then Permits, Group Visits & Renewals, with payment by bank transfer, cheque or postal order. Permits are valid for 12 months from the month of purchase. Renewed permits run for 12 months from the expiry date of the proceeding permit. Carry your permit with you and if requested show it to our wardens or MSCCo officials on request.
THE RESERVE IS OPEN - 365 days a year during the hours 08:00 to 20:00 from 1st April to 31st October and 08:00 to 16:00 hrs from 1st November to 31st March. Only No.3 and No.4 Beds are open to visitors, No.2 and No.1 are working beds and are not accessible.
VEHICLE ENTRANCE - the only vehicle entrance is the canal side access track from the locked barrier at the end of Thelwall Lane. This is a compacted hardcore track which can develop many potholes to No.4 and No.3 bed parking areas. It is very popular with cyclists, walkers and dog walkers and has a 10mph speed limit. Drivers should proceed slowly, with caution and with consideration for other users.
PARKING – No.3 Bed has an obvious pull-in parking area with overflow parking on the grassy verge on the left just prior to the pull-in parking. No.4 bed parking is on levelled hardcore on the left just before the inclined entrance. Please do not obstruct the Canal Track as this is regularly used by heavy vehicles.
RESERVE FOOTPATHS & ACCESSIBILITY - are mostly natural mown grass which can become waterlogged and muddy in places in wet periods and are not regarded as wheelchair or mobility scooter accessible.
VIEWING HIDES – all the hides and viewing platforms are accessed by flights of steps, a necessity to view over the bunds and high reedbeds.
STAY ON THE ASSIGNED FOOTPATHS - venturing onto the top of the bunds/banks surrounding the water bodies will disturb the wildlife. The surrounding areas contain dangerous areas of deep fluid silt and water depth changes and the south-east part of No.4 bed is still in use for dredging deposits.
ON THE RESERVE - Please close all windows and doors when leaving the hides and lock all the gated entrances and barriers after entering and leaving. We would appreciate you sending sightings to Dan Owen by email to woolstonsightings@gmail.com
Information - Click to download a booklet about the Reserve with maps on Pg 13
DIRECTIONS
- By Car – Access by all vehicles is via Thelwall Lane to the west of the Reserve alongside the north bank of the Manchester Ship Canal at Latchford Locks. Use Sat-Nav Postcode WA4 1PD. Your Reserve key will open the track barrier to reach the parking areas for No.4 bed and No.3 bed.
- On Foot - Access on foot by the vehicle route from Thelwall Lane and additionally from the east via a public footpath which runs from the end of Weir Lane across Woolston Weir up the hill and down to the Ship Canal track with the entrance to No.3 bed on your right. Please do not use Weir Lane to park vehicles as it restricts access for residents.
- By Train – Warrington Central and Bank Quay Stations are 4km and 4.5km west of the Reserve with the bus interchange directly opposite the Central Station.
- By Bus – Please check up to date information from Warrington Transport before setting out. Buses do run regularly to within ¼ mile of Latchford Locks on the western side and close to Weir Lane on the north-east side from the interchange opposite Warrington Central Station. The current Warrington Bus Travel website address is; https://www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk/services
- Location of Woolston Eyes on Google Maps
Permits, Renewals & Group Visits
PERMITS & RENEWALS
Your permit fee along with grants we pursue enable us to retain the full-time services of our Estate Workers. Buying in their services from the RSPB has enabled us to tackle many of our habitat management tasks, to the benefit of both wildlife and visitors. Consenting to Gift Aid in the permit Application would boost your donations by 25% at no cost to you provided you are a UK Income Tax or Capital Gains taxpayer.
Permit Application or Renewal – permits are obtained via the website https://www.woolstoneyes.com Navigate to the Visiting tab on the menu bar at the bottom of the homepage then the Permits, Renewals & Group Visits tab.
An access Key - is also necessary to visit any part of the reserve which is obtained via the Permit Application. All About Keys
Permits allow visits to No.3 and No.4 beds 365 days per year - Our permit prices are £20-00 for a single permit (for an individual entry) and £30-00 for a family permit (entitles any members of the family living at the same address to visit).
New Permits - run for 12 months from the month of purchase. Renewed Permits run for 12 months from the expiry month of the preceeding permit.
Have questions about permits in general, applying or renewing? Please send a message through our CONTACT tab on the black menu bar at the bottom of our homepage or via this link: Contact Us or call/text 07831 230181
Complete an Online Permit Application or Renewal After submitting your application you will receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hrs.
Download a postal Permit Application or Renewal Form
Group Visits
Woolston Eyes has become a popular venue for visits by bird watching and nature groups and groups are required to book a date to visit.
Visit selection date - Prior to booking it is advised you check your intended date is free on our Group Visit calendar 2026-2027 Booked Group Visits Calendar. We cannot guarantee accommodating multiple groups on the same date.
Booking Form - Download the Group Visit Booking Form and when completed post to Mrs Rosalind Martin, 45 Albert Road, Grappenhall, Warrington, Cheshire,WA4 2PF, enclosing a SAE.
Prices - There is a minimum charge of £20.00 for any visit which we require in advance as a non-refundable deposit. The cost of a visit is £3.00 per person. If any of the group are existing Woolston Eyes permit holders there will be no charge for that person. We understand the exact size of the party may not be known until shortly before the visit so please make the final payment as agreed during the booking process.
Please Note
- We are no longer able to offer the services of a warden for escorting groups around the Reserve.
- We can offer maps of No.3 and No.4 beds showing the entrance points, footpaths and sites of the viewing hides.
- Your access on and off the Reserve will be discussed and agreed in the booking process.