Rixton Clay Pits

Rixton Clay Pits is a former clay extraction site in Rixton, near Hollins Green, Warrington. Once farmland, clay digging began in the 1920s for nearby brickworks and stopped in 1965. Since then nature has taken over, creating ponds, scrub, woodland and damp grassland. The site is managed by Warrington Borough Council as a local amenity. Two large sections covering 15 hectares are protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation. The area supports calcareous grassland communities and the largest breeding population of Great Crested Newts in Cheshire. It became a local nature reserve in 1996, with waymarked paths and a visitor centre. Fishing is allowed on the lake between the two protected sections, controlled by the Warrington Anglers Association. The lake holds tench, bream, roach, carp and pike. Visitors find waymarked paths winding through varied habitats of ponds, scrub and woodland. The damp grassland and calcareous grassland communities support diverse wildlife. A visitor centre provides information on the site’s ecology and history. The lake offers fishing opportunities under local angling rules. The reserve’s varied landscape makes it a quiet place for walking and observing nature.