Activities and Information About Jacksons' Brickworks Local Nature Reserve

Jacksons’ Brickworks in Higher Poynton is a special place, reclaimed by nature after its industrial interlude. It is now so valuable for wildlife that it has been designated a Local Nature Reserve (LNR). The 9½ hectare site is managed as a mosaic of different habitats:

  • Wetland
  • Grassland
  • Woodland and scrub

It is especially important for the great crested newt, a species protected under European law.

A surfaced path, with graded slopes, offers easy access through the site and connects with the Middlewood Way.

Wildlife highlights at Jackson's Brickworks

Unimproved grassland, many ponds and lake with growing reed bed, great crested newt, more than 400 species of moths and large numbers of butterflies. It is also a locally important site for several migrating bird species.

Management undertaken at Jackson's Brickworks

Grassland/Meadow, Pond, Woodland and Scrub management. three compartments grazed by sheep to aid grassland improvement.

For further information on events and activities in the area please visit the Ranger event pages.

Latest Jackson's Brickworks news

Autumn is now with us and the meadows on the reserve have had their annual cut. The grass is cut each year and the cuttings are left to dry for a short period and then removed by raking. This process removes the nutrients and helps to control the encroaching scrub, benefiting the wild flowers.

The 3 fenced compartments are home to sheep at this time of year, these animals will graze the areas and increase the bio-diversity and improve the grassland and flora. Grazing is an excellent management tool which is widely used to control the encroaching scrub. This management will extend the grassland and improve the wetland habitats that are breeding grounds for the great crested newt.

Looking back at the summer we had amazingly good numbers of butterflies, on the dry, sunny days that we were lucky enough to have, gatekeeper, meadow brown, small copper, large and small skippers and common blue

We also had good sightings of dragonflies such as brown and southern hawker and black darter. On sunny days in autumn you should be rewarded with views of common darters

Our regular pair of buzzards reared young on the edge of the reserve and can still be seen on most days. We have also had good views of hobbies throughout the summer, a falcon which looks like a giant swift and feeds on dragonflies, house martins and swallows, it breeds here in summer before migrating back to Africa  

Our winter work programme will soon be underway, with areas of trees and scrub being removed to extend the grassland.  We are working to improve conditions for a wider range of wildlife, so a 10 year coppicing rotation in 10 separate compartments’ has been planned for the woodland areas on the edge of the reserve, the plan will link in with the Loop Line and Middlewood. Coppicing means cutting at the base and allowing to re-grow. This provides extra light and benefits a wider variety of species.

Recent sightings have been very good, with kingfisher, green woodpecker and unlucky for the reserve an American mink. If you have any wildlife sightings, while visiting Jacksons' Brickworks, please email Peter Dowse (Countryside Ranger).

Contact Ranger service

rangers@cheshireeast.gov.uk

For Middlewood Way, Jacksons’ Brickworks, Poynton Coppice and Poynton Park: phone 01625 383700

For Tegg’s Nose Country Park: phone 01625 374833

For Lindow Common or Macclesfield Riverside Park: phone 01625 374790

For Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve, Dane-In-Shaw Pasture SSSI, Croxton Park, Biddulph Valley Way, Timbersbrook Picnic Area, Salt Line, Borrow Pit Meadows and Rode Heath Rise: phone 01477 534115

For Astbury Mere Country Park, Merelake Way and Wheelock Rail Trail: phone 01260 297237

For Gritstone Trail: phone 01270 686029

Page last reviewed: 27 September 2022