What is the history of Marton Mere?
The Mere is one of only two nature lakes in Lancashire. The site was formed at the end of the last Ice Age over 10,000 years ago, covering a much larger site than you see today.
Surrounded by forest and marsh attracting animals such as beaver, elk, wild boar, wolves and bears, local people would have caught fish and hunted wildfowl as well as collected reeds and rushes for thatching their homes.
In the early 18th century the original Mere was drained for agriculture significantly reducing the open water habitat. In more recent times, much of the site and surrounding area was used as a refuse tip until 1972. After the site was reclaimed the Nature Conservancy Council designated the area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1974 and Blackpool Council declared the site as a Local Nature Reserve for wildlife in 1991.