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Management of the Reserve is largely carried out by volunteers, and consists of scrub and bracken clearance to stop the areas of open heath from reverting to woodland, as well as path maintenance and survey work to monitor the lizards and other wildlife using the heath and woodland. The main period of active conservation work is between September and March, when volunteers meet on the first Sunday of each month, but work to control bracken, and to keep paths open also takes place from June to August, while surveying takes place all year round. More volunteers are always welcome and details of activities can be obtained from Mike Maher, Voluntary Reserve Manager :
Cleaver Heath is a small, 7 acre island of lowland heath fringed with birch and oak woodland on the edge of Heswall. A wide range of birds has been recorded using the Heath, there is a small population of common lizards, and the plant community includes typical heathland grasses as well as heather, bilberry and both the European and rarer western gorse. Badgers, foxes and hares have also been recorded. The Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), has spectacular views across the Dee estuary to the Welsh hills and down to the Point of Ayr.
Access from Oldfield Road, Heswall
O.S. Grid Ref SJ 256826
O.S. Grid Ref SJ 256826