Location
Near St Martin's off the B5069 north of Oswestry, Grid ref SJ 319375 (for a map showing the location of the site click the link on this page).
Limited parking available (just after ‘Stan's Supermarket’ take the first turning left. Brown coloured ‘Nature Reserve’ signs will then guide you to the site).
Public transport links
Arriva bus route 53 to St Martins, then half mile walk to site.
Recreational Activities
A formal route to the viewpoint provides easy walking and is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Easy, reasonably level walking on other unmade paths, stout footwear recommended, can be very muddy. There are some steeper sections of path in the woodland.
Refreshments and toilets are available locally in St Martins.
The site is accessible to wheelchairs but you will need a 'Radar Key' to fully open the entrance kissing gate to allow access for a wheelchair.
Visitors are requested to keep to the paths and keep dogs under control during the skylark breeding season (April-July)
Ifton Meadows is a countryside site reclaimed from what was once colliery spoil. An example of an industrial wasteland being reclaimed by nature.
The 20 hectare (40 football pitches) site includes a variety of habitats
- Price's Dingle woodland and stream
- A pool at the top of Price's Dingle
- Rough grassland provides summer nesting for skylarks
- extensive views of the Clwydian hills
The site supports a wide variety of wildlife from a magnificent display of spring woodland wildflowers to birds such as skylarks and woodpeckers, bats, dragonflies, adders and grizzled skipper butterfly.
The area had been mined for coal for 400 years when Ifton Colliery was closed in 1968 and in the mid 70's the spoil tips were regraded and covered. The site was opened to the public in 1978.
In 2005 Ifton Meadows was also designated a Local Nature Reserve (follow the link to find out more about Local Nature Reserves).
For more information take a look at the attached document about Ifton Meadows Local Nature Reserve.
There are opportunities for people to get involved with looking after the site by joining conservation work parties on the second Sunday of each month. Contact Harvey Morgan using the contact details on this webpage if you would like more details.