A584
We trek along the A584. A dirty, noisy dual carriageway called Preston New Road.
Why?
To find Newton Marsh. The OS map shows the marsh running alongside the A584. We’re not sure of access so park in a layby on the outskirts of Freckleton, and tramp over a mile along the A584. It’s horrible! Carling, Costa, Red Bull, Guinness, Johnnie Walker and other detritus gathers in the verges, along with a dead pheasant and mangled hare. We reach a turning to find industrial units, huge lorries and even more rubbish.
Then what?
It gets amazing. Whistling teal, pochard, wigeon, shovellers are all busy dabbling. The males are resplendent in their finest breeding colours. Lapwings swerve, tumble and dive over the marsh calling “peewit”. Golden plovers join in. Black-tailed godwits roost. A buzzard “pee-ows” in the distance. This is the attraction of Newton Marsh.
Private land
Newton Marsh, close to the River Ribble, is privately owned with no access other than to view from the fence. It’s popular with regular birders, some with scopes, others spying through binoculars from their car window. One chap tells us there’s a snipe on the island. It is so well camouflaged we can barely see it – and then it moves its head.
We’ve been back again, twice. Certainly not for the walk! On each occasion we’ve seen something amazing. Avocets today.
Thankfully we’ve found a layby only a quarter of a mile away. Roads, laybys, industrial estates – not our first choice for a walk – but worth it for the rewards of Newton Marsh.
mybpool 