Aqualate Mere NNR is situated 3 kilometres to the east of Newport, at the heart of a private estate, centred on Aqualate Mere - the largest natural lake in the West Midlands. Main habitats: open water, reedbeds, rush pasture. Features of interest This site is designated under Ramsar as an internationally important wetland reserve for its habitats and overwintering wildfowl populations. Wildlife can be viewed in close quarters from the public observation hide at the eastern end of the 72 hectares Mere. The mere supports a diverse fish population, in particular pike and bream, and large numbers of wintering and breeding wildfowl. Duck present on the Mere in the winter include mallard, teal, wigeon, pochard, tufted duck, goldeneye, and gadwall. Aqualate supports a large heronry that has been on site for over 300 years. The reedbed habitat also supports reed warbler, sedge warbler and reed bunting with the occasional visiting marsh harrier and osprey. The site also sees large murmurations of starlings at dusk in the winter months. The low lying pastures at the east and west of the reserve provide breeding areas for lapwing, curlew, snipe and redshank. Hunting barn owl and buzzard are also seen regularly over these fields. Mammals found here include otter, polecat, stoat, water vole, yellow-necked mouse, harvest mouse, and bats such as pipistrelle and Daubenton’s. See the site visitor leaflet for more details. Please note that wheelchair users cannot access the bird hide from the public car park as the leaflet suggests. Directions Newport is on National Route 55 and Regional Route 75 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network, and the reserve is 1.5 km north of an easy-access trail, the Way for the Millennium. There is a bicycle rack in the car park The nearest train station is Stafford Bus services from Newport along the A518 are provided by Arriva Bus Midlands. Aqualate Mere is 2 km east of Newport. Access to the reserve car park is via minor roads from the A518, A519 and A41. There is space for 10 cars only. Approaching from north, south or west leave the A41 at Newport onto the A518 in the direction of Stafford. Proceed along A518 for 1.5 miles; pass a golf course on the right, Aqualate Park on the left. Turn left down Guild Lane, signposted towards Sutton. The car park is 0.5 miles down the Guild Lane on the left. Approaching from Stafford/ Gnossal turn right off the A518 before reaching Coley Mill, down Guild Lane, sign posted towards Sutton. Contact For more information about this reserve, or to discuss volunteering opportunities, contact Paul Shires (Senior Reserve Manager for Staffordshire and Cheshire NNRs) on 01952 812111 or email paul.shires@naturalengland.org.uk