It is a wildlife rich haven in the heart of agricultural West Lancashire. The reserve covers 42 hectares (105 acres) and is made up of lakes, mature broadleaved and conifer woodland, sandy, wet meadows and heaths.

Perhaps 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 an 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.