Martin Mere, also known as Martin Mere Wetland Centre, is not quite a lake in the traditional sense. It’s a vast marsh located near Burscough, Lancashire, England, on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain.

Martin Mere was once the largest body of freshwater in England until it was drained. Today, it’s a wetland nature reserve and wildfowl collection managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. It’s designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA), and a Ramsar Site, making it an important habitat for various bird species.

The name “mere” refers to a shallow lake or pond, and Martin Mere was indeed a large lake at one point. However, over time, it has become a wetland due to the accumulation of peat and other organic matter. The remaining water body is still significant, though, and it’s surrounded by extensive reed beds, marshes, and other wetland habitats.