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 | | | | | | | | | |  BBC Copyright | | Industrial Teesside isn't a location you'd automatically associate with nature watching but a trip to Seal Sands is a real treat for wildlife lovers. Seal Sands is of international importance because it's the only area of inter-tidal mudflat between Lindisfarne to its north and the Humber to the south.
| |  | Wildlife is increasingly finding its way into our towns and cities. Find out about some urban wildlife adventures.
| |  | - Urban areas offer surprisingly good opportunities for wildlife watching close to where you live.
| | | Seal Sands - Visitor Guide | | Address: | Seal Sands, Teesmouth Nature Reserve, north east Middlesbrough, Teesside. | | Postcode | TS2 1 | | Telephone: | Natural England Teesmouth Site Manager - 01429 853325
Teesmouth Field Centre - 01429 264912Hartlepool Tourist Information - 01429 869706 | | e-mail | northumbria@english-nature.org.uk | | Maps: | Streetmap of Seal Sands. | | Ordnance Survey: | OS reference: NZ507252 and NZ529273. | | Key attractions: | Bird watching - waders. Seals.
The Teesmouth Field Centre, next to North Gare, provides a range of educational activities - book in advance.
| | Essential kit: | Kit - walking shoes and binoculars/scopes. Tide times.
Bird identification book. | | Nature watching: | Seal Sands forms part of the Teesmouth National Nature Reserve. There are two areas of the reserve - North Gare to the north and Seal Sands to the south.
Bird watching - two hides in the Greatham Creek area.
Autumn/winter - Knot, Shelduck, Teal, Redshank, Curlew, Cormorant. Spring - Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Oystercatcher.
Summer - Sandwich Terns.
Seal sightings are pretty much guaranteed. Good places to watch the seals are:
- the nature reserve footpath along Greatham Creek (high tide);
- Greatham Creek hide - exposed mudflats (low tide);
- North Gare reserve;
- a viewpoint close to the main A178 road at Greatham Creek (high tide). | | Facilities: | The nearest toilets and refreshments are in Seaton Carew. | | Safety tips: | Take care when crossing the A178 road at Greatham Creek - busy traffic.
To make the most of your visit, check tide times before leaving home. | | Access: | Disabled access: There is an Easy Access path from the car park at Greatham Creek along to the disabled access hide. | | Getting there: | Seal Sands/Teesmouth National Nature Reserve lies halfway between Hartlepool and Redcar, 5 km north east of Middlesbrough.
By car: Take the A178 from Teesside.
Parking at North Gare (via a minor road from the A178) and Cowpen Marsh (on the A178), 0.5 km from Seal Sands.
By rail: The closest train station is Seaton Carew.
By bus: The Hartlepool Stagecoach No 1 runs hourly between Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. | | Opening times: | Year round - open access. | | Charges: | Free. |
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