Access to Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve is by permit only. Permit holders have the loan of a key to negotiate the locked Reserve vehicle entrance and individual access gates on No.3 and No.4 beds. The key must be returned to our permit Team if you do not continue to hold a valid permit (see information in Permits section below). The Reserve is accessible, only with a key, 365 days a year during the open hours 08:00 to 20:00 from April to November and 08:00 to 16:00 from November to April. Beds No.2 and No.1 are working beds and are not accessible to any visitors. Click to view a booklet about the Reserve

New Permit applications can be made online or by post.

Permit Renewal of expiring permits can be completed online.

Group Visits are only available by postal application although online payment is available.

Please note we cannot cater for on-the-day payment visitors.

If you are visiting by car please note; the canal side access track from the locked barrier at the end of Thelwall Lane to No.4 and No.3 bed parking is a compacted hardcore track which develops many potholes. It is very popular with cyclists, walkers and dog walkers. Drivers should proceed slowly and with caution especially in wet weather when the potholes are not visible.

Footpaths are natural mown grass which can become waterlogged and muddy in places in wet periods and the viewing hides are accessed by flights of steps, a necessity to view over the high reedbeds and neither are regarded as wheelchair accessible.

Please do not venture onto the top of the bunds for viewing this disturbs the wildlife and the beds contain dangerous areas of deep fluid silt and water depth changes.

The south-east part of No.4 bed is still in use for dredging deposits so it is important not to venture from the marked paths.

When parking please do not obstruct the Canal Track as this is regularly used by heavy vehicles.

Please lock all entrance gates when entering or leaving the Reserve and close all windows and doors when leaving the hides.

Please carry your permit with you and if requested show it to our wardens or MSCCo officials on request.

We would appreciate you reporting interesting sightings to the Recorder, Dan Owen at woolstonsightings@gmail.com or login to our sightings page and leave the record on the website.

Permits

Permits allow visits to No.3 and No.4 beds 365 days per year. Our permit prices are £20-00 for a single individual permit and £30-00 for a family permit (entitles any members of the family to visit).

Click here to apply for a permit online After submitting your application you can return to our main site by clicking on the Go back to Woolston Eyes main website link at the bottom of the form.

Download a Permit Application Form for postal application

To renew an expiring Permit online please click here Renew an expiring Permit

All About Keys

Group Visits

Woolston Eyes has become a popular venue for visits by bird watching groups and groups are required to book a visit date via our Group Visit Booking Form. Prior to booking it is advised you check the intended date is free on our Group Visit calendar 2024 - 2025 Booked Group Visits Calendar which is reproduced in our Latest News Section on our Homepage. Please send the completed Booking Form to Mrs Rosalind Martin, 45 Albert Road, Grappenhall, Warrington, Cheshire,WA4 2PF, enclosing an SAE. 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 and your access on and off the Reserve will be discussed and agreed in the booking process. 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. There is a minimum charge of £20.00 for any visit which we require in advance as a non-refundable deposit. We understand the exact size of the party may not be known until the day of the visit so please make the final payment as agreed during the booking process or by cheque payable to W.E.C.G. and sent to Rosalind Martin at the address given above.

Download a Group Visit Booking Form

Your permit fee along with grants we pursue enable us to retain the full-time services of an Estate Worker. 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.

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 Post Code 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 - You can 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.

Location of Woolston Eyes on Google Maps

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 - Anyone intending to visit the reserve using public transport is advised to 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 Warrington bus travel website address at 1st Jan 2024 was; https://www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk/services

Download a map of No.3 bed showing entrance point, footpaths and hides

Download a map of No.4 bed showing entrance point, footpath and hides