South East Cheshire Ornithological Society
These are some of the major sites for birding in the SECOS area, including a brief summary of the site and a grid reference of its approximate centre.
Some of these are on private land with no public access. Please respect land ownership.
Arclid Sand Quarry - SJ778623
(No public access)
Extensive area of water formed by quarry workings.
Astbury Mere - SJ849624
(Public access)
Extensive area of water formed by old quarry workings and now used for water sports and angling.
Bagmere - SJ796643
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
An overgrown mere still with some water and reed beds and a
designated SSSI.
Borrow Pit Meadows - SJ788570
(Public access)
A 16 hectare site of mixed habitat adjacent to the Salt Line, managed by Cheshire East Council.
Bent Farm Sand Quarry - SJ830621
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
A large working sand quarry owned by WBB Minerals.
Brereton Heath CP - SJ798651
(Public access)
A Cheshire East Council Country Park comprising a water-filled quarry and surrounding mixed woodland.
Crewe Business Park - SJ720550
(Public access)
Primarily a Business Park but managed very sympathetically for wildlife. Adjacent to Quakers Coppice.
Crewe Golf Course - SJ744546
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
Situated at Haslington. It also includes the Valley Brook and
surrounding woods.
Crewe Hall - SJ735544
(No public access)
A very extensive area of mixed woodland and farmland.
Doddington Pool - SJ714464
(Access to SECOS members only)
Includes two large lakes, woodland, the Hall and grounds.
Lawton Woods - SJ825559
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
Large area of woodland including a lake.
Meremoor Moss - SJ745530
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
An area of wet meadows between the A500 and the railway line.
Mow Cop - from SJ856573 to SJ873593
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
A sandstone ridge of moorland habitat giving extensive views over the Cheshire Plain and which forms the Cheshire / Staffordshire border.
Quakers Coppice - SJ724546
(Public access)
A wood of six hectares on the south side of Crewe owned by Cheshire
East Council.
Rode Pool - SJ815575
(Access to SECOS members only)
A 1300 metre-long lake with islands and extensive reed beds, surrounded
by woods. The SECOS bird hide overlooks one end of the pool.
Roe Park - SJ858583
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
Large area of mixed woodland on the side of Mow Cop, like Welsh hill
valley habitat.
Salt Line - SJ775582
(Public access)
A well surfaced trail along the old railway line towards Alsager, managed by Cheshire East Council.
Swettenham - SJ801675
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
Farmland and mixed woodland by the River Dane.
Timbersbrook / The Cloud - SJ896627 to SJ900635
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
A small (but important in a SECOS context) area of upland moorland and conifer forest.
Westlow Mere, Congleton - SJ855644
(Some access or viewing from footpaths and roads)
Previously known as Hulme Walfield Sand Quarry, now a trout fishery.
Other Sites
Doddington Pool
Rode Pool