Pilling Sands

Pilling Sands is a tidal marsh in the Borough of Wyre, Lancashire, England. Named after the village of Pilling, located on the Fylde coast immediately to the south,^[1] it forms part of the southern edge of Morecambe Bay.^[2] Cockerham Sands adjoins it to the east.

Pilling Sands
People walking on the sands, with Heysham Power Station, located to the north, in the background
Pilling Sands Show map of Lancashire Pilling Sands Show map of Morecambe Bay Pilling Sands Show map of the Borough of Wyre Pilling Sands Show map of England
Geography
Country	England
District	Wyre, Lancashire
Population center	Pilling
Coordinates	53.95°N 2.92°W / 53.95; -2.92 (Pilling Sands)

The 134-mile (216 km)-long Lancashire Coastal Way runs beside the sands. This section is closed from 26 December to Good Friday to protect lambs and birdlife.^[3] Rare birds for Lancashire that have been spotted near the sands include lesser yellowlegs and hoopoe.^[4]

In 2022, the North West Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority found that the Pilling Sands cockle fishery was, in a Habitats Regulations Assessment, in non-compliance of the North West Sea Fisheries Commission byelaw 13A, and was subsequently closed temporarily.^[5] Closure notices are active until two consecutive samples return normal levels of bacteriological quality for the production area.^[6]

Horse racing regularly took place on the sands in the 19th century.^[7]