Moston Fairway Nature Reserve

Moston Fairway is a small but genuinely surprising urban nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. Just a mile from Manchester city centre, this three-hectare patch packs in an impressive range of habitats: urban marsh, woodland, grassland, boggy fen and mossland, all in an area no bigger than a football pitch. It is open at all times, every day of the year.

Spring and summer are the best seasons to visit, when southern marsh orchids push up through the vegetation and clouds of butterflies, moths, damselflies and dragonflies fill the air. Brown hawker and broad-bodied chaser dragonflies are regulars, and reed buntings, linnets, kestrels and snipe are spotted here throughout the year. Frogs and smooth newts breed on site, and if you keep your eyes peeled you might spot the "Witches Tree", a willow that was struck by lightning.

The paths are steep in places, which makes it tricky for wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility, so it is worth bearing that in mind before you head out. Dogs are welcome but need to be kept under effective control, and there is a fence along the railway boundary that visitors should not cross.