SSSI · 21 miles · Merseyside to Lancashire
The Sefton Coast
Twenty-one miles of coastline between the Mersey and the Ribble — saltmarsh, sand dunes, pinewoods and one of the most important stretches of coastal habitat in England.
Not many people outside the North West know it exists. That's their loss. From Marshside's 80,000+ Pink-footed Geese to Red Squirrels in the Formby pinewoods — this coastline punches well above its weight for wildlife.
Geography
Where it is
The Sefton Coast runs along the Lancashire and Merseyside shoreline from Crosby in the south to Southport in the north — taking in Formby, Ainsdale, and the Ribble Estuary at the top end. It sits on the edge of two major conurbations (Liverpool and Manchester are both within an hour) but feels entirely separate from both.
The whole stretch is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Large portions are managed by the National Trust, RSPB, Natural England and the Sefton Council ranger service. It's one of the few places in lowland England where you can still see nationally rare habitats in reasonable condition.
Ecosystems
Key habitats
Saltmarsh and managed lagoons — Marshside & Crossens
At the northern end of the coast, the RSPB manages two reserves at Marshside and Hesketh Out Marsh. Tidal creeks, managed scrapes and saltmarsh grassland hold huge numbers of waders and wildfowl through winter. Pink-footed Geese from Iceland arrive in October — at peak, 80,000+ can be present on the Ribble. Breeding Avocets, Lapwing and Redshank nest here in summer.
Sand dunes — Ainsdale NNR and Formby
The dune system at Ainsdale is one of the most extensive in England — mobile yellow dunes at the seaward edge, fixed grey dunes further back, and dune slacks (wet hollows between the ridges) that support nationally rare plants and the only natural breeding population of Natterjack Toad in the North West.
Rare dune plants including Grass of Parnassus, Round-leaved Wintergreen and Dune Helleborine grow at Ainsdale NNR. Access is managed — check Natural England's guidance before visiting the most sensitive areas.
Pinewoods — Formby (National Trust)
Planted Victorian pinewoods at Formby now support one of the last viable populations of Red Squirrel in England. The NT manages the site for squirrel conservation — Grey Squirrel control is an ongoing requirement for the population's survival. Red Squirrels are most active and visible from September through to February.
The pinewoods also hold Woodcock, Treecreeper and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the older sections. Worth exploring beyond the squirrel trail if you have the time.
The beach and intertidal zone
Formby Beach is managed by the National Trust. The intertidal zone — the stretch exposed at low tide — is significant for roosting and feeding waders. Sanderling, Dunlin and Ringed Plover work the tideline year-round. Little Tern colonies nest on the beach at Ainsdale each summer — the colony is one of the most important in England and is wardened by the RSPB.
Species database
Wildlife summary
119 species recorded
Including 42 winter visitors and 13 breeding summer species
Insects61 species recorded
One of the richest invertebrate assemblages in the North West
Plants52 species recorded
Including nationally rare dune and marsh flora
Mammals25 species recorded
Red Squirrel, Grey Seal, Natterjack Toad and more
Looking after it
Conservation
The Sefton Coast faces the same pressures as coastal habitats everywhere — sea level rise, erosion, visitor pressure and invasive species. The dune system is naturally eroding at the seaward edge while scrubbing over at the landward side. Both processes reduce habitat quality for dune specialists.
Active management — scrub removal, grazing by cattle and rabbits, Natterjack Toad egg-string translocations, Little Tern wardening — keeps the system in better condition than it would otherwise be. It's unglamorous work and it makes a difference.