III.

Wildlife

At Martin Mere, just west of Rufford, is a wildfowl park where thousands of birds are to be seen, including both Bewick's and Whooper swans. The Forest of Bowland is particularly noted for the prevalence of red campion, and is home to many moorland and woodland birds, such as curlew, green plover, whinchat, red grouse, and willow warbler. The whole coast is the haunt of seabirds, which are especially to be seen in Morecambe Bay, now designated a Special Protection Area by the European Union because of its importance as a wildlife habitat.