Mere Sands Wood — Local services in West Lancashire

My elderly disabled mother did bring her grandson here regularly as he loves nature but never again. She went the other day but was short of the parking fee by a couple of pence but knew the machine took card payments so wasnt too worried until she came to pay only to find out the card facilities were out of order so she went into the shop to pay and spoke to the assistant who was just locking up he said he couldn't help but that she could pay on line unfortunately mum isnt very confident with technology so when a warning came up that the site was a scam she left it quickly and was too scared to put her card number in so instead went back the next day to pay with cash. Because originally the car she was in was a hire car as hers was being repaired after someone ran into the back of it while she was stopped at traffic lights and that had now been returned the machine wouldn't except her payment (something to do with cameras picking up your license plate number ) again she went in to talk to the shop and ask for help but they said they didn't know what to suggest. The result is she got a letter from her hire car company charging her £39 admin fee as they received a fine that they were passing on to her along with their charge. My sister phoned them up and explained what had happened and they said they would wave their charge if she apealed the fine and won but when she tried to explain how she had tried to pay 3 times but because of them she couldn't they just sent her an email rejecting her apeal with no explanation. When i tried to call to complain they refused to discuss it saying our only option is to apeal again to an independent regulator but this will probably take us over the early payment discount meaning the fine will go to £50 + the £39 from the hire car company if she doesn't win. She is an old lady with no savings and on a measly state pension and too scared not to pay before it goes up. They are utterly discusting money grabbing poor excuse for human beings she wanted to pay for parking she tried 3 times to pay but they dont care they just want to rob her. We will...

Not worth visiting,disgraceful centre was closed during covid took kids for a walk to cheer them up somewhere cheap as my partner lost his job, car park meter wasnt working even man in front said it wasnt, but got a fine in post 2wks later in post, i appealed on line with , but without responding 3D parking sent my details to Trace debt Management company. Charging me £80! , and lots letters n email harrasment for final demand n solicitor n court action and jump to £160. Tried to contact mere sands they could do a'ything for me. Tried contacting 3d to tell them and sent appeal. i didnt get apeal response but instead they refered me to trace for increased fine, they said some one will call no one did, again after a week i contacted 3d, told me to email them my complaint as other lady gave me wrong info as no one could call me that wasnt the process and no one wored in office.I then sent complaint to 3d, 3d lady called said i should email to let them know i didnt get the initial appeal to get the amount bk to discounted rate £25 (even though it wasnt our fault), and she sent me a (copy) appeal reply (which i didnt get previously! ), I emailed as she requestedthat i was willigto pay initial cost of parking but still no reply. n kept getting letter of Trace threatning to increase cost and court action. Tried contacting trace on phone hold for 30min costing me further b4 they saying they could only hold fine for a week. Couldnt do anytjing else. And i was unable to appeal 2nd time as they mentioned if i did and it got rejected it would cost me double! At end i tried telling Trace that 3D didnt respond but said they xont talk to me anymore and 3d wont reply to appeals as time period had been passed..( Eventhough i mentioned I was still waiting for them to reply to 1st appeal /complaint correspondence Re not reciving the initial appeal reply and chance to pay initial fine). Its a money making scam.. Ended up paying full amout and stressed for 3months never going there again!! Absolutely Disgrace! Not family...

Some lovely woodland walks with plenty of lakes and ponds. It will take you around 2 hours to walk round all the paths if you just walk, but there are plenty of places to just stop, sit down, and ponder life and the universe. There is a cafe onsite but is very limited in terms of food so I would suggest brining your own, there are picnic tables to sit an enjoy. Its £2 to park, cash, contactless card and Ringo are all accepted. In terms of Wildlife there is so much to see if you enjoy the smaller side of nature, bugs and butterflies abound, there are Dragonflies everywhere and on a hot day they will sit on benches and fence posts allowing you some really close views. We saw a kestrel on the hunt and finding a place to sit just watched him for an hour from less than 50m. In terms of Covid-19 there are signs everywhere reminding you to give other people space on the paths, the cafe is currently masks on as are the bird hides. Most people seem to adhere to this and we felt safe. The notable exceptions seem to be the regular birders sat in the hides who without exception were maskless and refused to put one on when asked. The only issue we had were the dog walkers, there are signs everywhere advising that dogs need to be kept on a lead and to clear up the mess, however we came across a fair few leadless "don't worry he's friendly" dogs who's owners cannot grasp the idea that people may be allergic to dogs and visit such places knowing that if dogs are on a lead its possible to share the space as its easy to keep a distance. So all in all, fab place, but with the downside that, as everywhere, it can be affected by the minority who think rules do not...