 AFTER nursing our daughter through the latest childhood illness, we were in need of a some time off... In the past, we have tried to find Mere Sands Wood, Rufford - and been unsuccessful But this time, we were on a mission and we wouldn't be thwarted. And suddenly there it was - off the A59 in Rufford, along Holmeswood Road and sharing a drive with Meresands Kennels. The wood is a rich wildlife haven which covers 105 acres in the heart of agricultural landscape. It has lakes, trees and grasslands which are being actively managed for the beneft of wildlife. At the visitor centre we found out that while admission to the site is technically free, you are asked to donate £2 towards its upkeep. There are three different walks to follow through the woods, plus other trails. We decided to follow the blue trail - a circular route from the car park which takes you on a 1.25mile amble through birch woodland surrounding a series of connected lakes. Around the water, you might see a kingfisher and, during the summer, noisy young grebes and reed warblers, as well as huge dragon-flies; the reserve is one of the top sites in the region for them. This trail, which should take about about 45 minutes to complete, takes you past four hides and is suitable for wheelchairs. It actually took us nearly twoand-a-half-hours. Our two little girls, Asha and Francesca, kept stopping to take in the scenery (and, on one occasion, to have a bit of a tantrum). As Asha put it: "It's so quiet I can hear the birds." We spotted a wren, plenty of crows, some jays and I'm amcertain I glimpsed a spotted woodpecker. I certainly heard it. The hides along the trail were great for calming down two excitable kids - and the serious twitchers were more than happy to accommodate them. | 
