North Walney Nature Reserve

North Walney Nature Reserve is a national nature reserve on Walney Island, England. The reserve, which has an area of 646.5 ha, is notable as a habitat of natterjack toads. It is one of the sites in the Duddon Estuary which support one-fifth of the national population of the rare amphibian.

North Walney Nature Reserve

Habitats

The geology of the island is the product of erosion and reworking of glacial sediments,^[1] sometimes interpreted as an esker. The reserve protects a sand dune system along with other habitats such as salt marsh and intertidal mudflats.

Protection

North Walney was formerly a separate Site of Special Scientific Interest, but it has been amalgamated with other SSSIs to form the Duddon Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Duddon Estuary was designated a Special Protection Area under the Birds Directive,^[2] and is now merged with Morecambe Bay.

See also

There is a separate nature reserve at South Walney, managed by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, notable for its gulls and seals.