The reserve covers 42 hectares (105 acres) and is made up of lakes, mature broadleaved and conifer woodland, sandy, wet meadows and heaths. The site is nationally important for wildfowl and dragonflies. The name 'Mere Sands' dates back to medieval times when the area was on the shore of a large lake called 'Martin Mere'.

The main wildlife interest at Mere Sands Wood are the over-wintering birds. Winter wildfowl populations include nationally important numbers of Gadwall and Teal, as well as Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Goosander. Locally important species include Mandarin Duck and Kingfisher and there are annual sightings of Willow Tit and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Breeding species include Great Crested and Little Grebes, Shelduck, Gadwall, Pochard and Tufted Duck, alongside Little Ringed Plover and Lapwing. Birds that breed in the woodland include Sparrowhawk, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Redpoll alongside the common Tit and warbler species. Turtle Dove and Quail breed occasionally. In all, over 170 bird species have been seen on the Reserve, of these 60 are known to have bred.

As the reserve has developed, The diversity of butterflies, dragonflies, moths and other invertebrates has increased as the reserve has matured, fifteen species of dragonfly are seen regularly from May to October including ten breeding species such as Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer and Migrant Hawker. The dry heath and grassland is kept open by preventing scrub invasion. An annual mowing regime, on certain sections of grassland, has been successful in encouraging less common plants such as orchids to thrive in the low nutrient conditions. Some Birch is coppiced on a three-year cycle to provide habitat for Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. The habitat diversity has been increased by careful management; for example locally gathered Common Reed has been successfully added to create reedbeds on re-profiled lake edges which now accommodate more than 15 pairs of Reed Warbler and a roost of over 100 reed buntings. Kingfishers have been encouraged to breed by the creation of a cliff-like bank on a stream running through the reserve.

Reserve is half a mile west of Rufford on the B5246, which runs between the A59 at Rufford and A565 at Mere Brow. Look out for the Meresands cattery and kennels sign!

Reserve managed by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside