Things to see and do at Formby

This rare amphibian is nocturnal and can be found in dune pools, or slacks, on warm nights during their breeding season from April to July. The males come to the pools first and call to the females using their distinctive ratchet-like song. These calls can be heard up to a mile away, and have given rise to the natterjack toad’s local nicknames – the Birkdale Nightingale or the Bootle Organ.

The female toads lay strings of spawn in the pools, from which tadpoles hatch out. As the dune pools are shallow and warm, the tadpoles develop quickly and the young toadlets have usually all left the pools by late summer.

This colourful lizard can be quite hard to spot as it is very shy and has excellent camouflage. It likes areas that have a mixture of both bare sand and grasses, and is probably most easily spotted when basking on the sand in the early morning sun.

Although both sexes are beautiful, it's the male that's particularly striking with his bright green sides. The female is brown with a patterned back and can often be mistaken for a common lizard, a species that's also an inhabitant of the Sefton dunes.

If you ever think you’ve spotted a tiny dragon swimming around the pools at Formby, then you’ve probably caught a glance of a male great crested newt in his breeding outfit.

This is the largest of the UK newt species, and is most likely to be seen in the Wicks Lake area or dune pools during the breeding season from March to June. Out of the breeding season, these rare newts occasionally hide under fallen logs in the woodlands.

Northern dune tiger beetles are a rare and protected species, and the Sefton Coast is one of only a few places in the UK where they can still be found.

These precious insects are thought to be one of the fastest beetles in the world, making them great hunters. They have long legs, which help them to run quickly, but they also fly.

They thrive in areas of free-moving sand without lots of vegetation. During the summer months when it’s not too windy, they can be seen sunbathing on the sand and dig holes up to 20cm deep in the face of the dunes to hide at night or when it’s cold.

The shoreline along the Sefton Coast is an internationally important area for feeding and roosting birds. Large flocks of several species of waders and gulls can be seen moving and feeding up and down the coast, particularly through the autumn and winter months including sanderling, grey plover, dunlin and knots.

Many of these birds take a break here on their migration to either their breeding or overwintering grounds. You're welcome to watch from a far but please don't disturb them.

Formby is part of the Sefton Coast, the dunes in the area are home to over 450 species of flowering plant, including 33 that are locally or regionally rare like petalwort and liverworts found around the edges of damp slacks. Other flowers that carpet the dune slacks in summer time are yellow bartsia, round-leaved wintergreen, early marsh orchid, pyramidal and bee orchids, dune helleborine and pendulous flowered helleborine.

In woodland glades bluebells and celandines flower in spring. You might also spot herb robert, rose bay willow herb, red campion and white deadnettle.

During the spring and summer months regular surveys are carried out to monitor all the wonderful wildlife here at Formby’s nature haven. These surveys are a really important part of the conservation work we do here.

Formby is home to over 800 species of moth, with 27 of them being on the Nationally Scarce list. Although many come out at night there are over 200 that are daytime flyers.

During the spring and summer months regular surveys are carried out to monitor all the wonderful wildlife here at Formby’s nature haven. These surveys are a really important part of the conservation work we do here.

The ranger team work are delighted to work with Richard, the volunteer county moth recorder for Lancashire. Each year around 50 special light traps are set over night. In the morning the team check the traps, log and photograph all the moths found and then release them back into the wild.

Formby is home to over 17 different species of butterfly. The most commonly spotted during the summer months are gatekeeper and meadow brown.

During spring and summer the ranger team carry out regular surveys, to record the number and range of butterflies here. This is a really important part of our conservation work as it helps us to monitor the impact of changes in the environment, including air pollution and climate change. As well as keeping track of how successful our conservation is.

Butterflies are a crucial part of the ecosystem. Not only are they great pollinators but they are also part of the food chain. A significant drop in their numbers can give early warning signs that an ecosystem is struggling.

Formby is also home to one of Britain’s largest populations of rare native black poplars — a nationally significant species. Planted over a century ago to protect crops from coastal winds, their twisted trunks and vivid canopies remain a striking part of the landscape and a living link to Formby’s past.

Look out for clusters of imposing and elegant trees with dark, almost black bark and knobbly twigs, arching over the path.

Formby is within the North Merseyside and West Lancashire red squirrel stronghold, one of a few refuges left for red squirrels across the UK. There’s nothing better than spotting one jumping through the pine trees. If you're taking a wander in the woodlands at Lifeboat Road or Victoria Road, take time to stand a while and don't forget to look up.

They can be quite elusive and timid, hence why spotting one at Formby’s nature haven is never guaranteed but a real delight when it happens. We stopped feeding red squirrels a while ago due to the increased risk of spreading squirrel pox. This means they no longer gather together in popular spots like Squirrel Walk at Victoria Road. As wild, solitary animals they are spread out more naturally right across the site and local area.

You can find our top tips for spotting red squirrels here.

We’re proud to work in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to protect Formby’s red squirrel population.

You can help monitor the local red and grey squirrel populations by reporting any sightings in the local area or at NT Formby, using The Lancashire Wildlife online form here.

If you find a dead or sick red squirrel on site or in the local area please call Lancashire Wildlife Trust on 07590 745 862.

Bring a bag to take your litter home and recycle.

Scoop that dog poop and drop it off in the car park or pavement bins.

Keep dogs close by – dogs are welcome but please keep them under control.

Stick to the sea for paddling, to protect natterjack spawn, tadpoles and toadlets in the dune pools.

Keep your distance from resting, shoreline birds.

Tread softly – you never know what special wildlife is under your feet.

No barbecues or fires, please – enjoy a picnic but please don't have a barbecue or light a fire.

Don't feed the red squirrels – there's plenty of natural food for them to enjoy.

Help reduce air pollution – switch off engines when stationary.

No overnight stays – please search for designated campsites here.

Discovering the pre-historic footprints at Formby is never guaranteed as it depends what the tide has exposed but knowing what to look out for as you wander will help you on your way.

👣Best time to see them is about 2 hours after high tide.

👣It can be easier to find and explore the sediment beds if the wind or sun has had time to dry and harden the soft sediments.

👣Head to the north end of the beach and position yourself about 80m to 100m from the edge of the sand dunes.

👣Walk parallel to the sea north or south along the foreshore looking for areas that are dark brown in contrast to the golden sands.

👣As you get closer you might be able to see what looks like dark, sludgy mud patches. The sediment is made up of layers that you should also be able to see.

👣Once you think you have found a sediment bed you can start looking for footprints

👣It’s best to look for trails of animal or human footprints. This will help you recognise what is, and what isn’t, a footprint.

👣The footprints tend to be much deeper in the sand than the ones you would find from today

👣Each layer lasts about 2-3 weeks and the footprints will then disappear forever as the tide washes them away.