The Wirral Peninsular is a haven for hikers, cyclists and nature lovers with its many open green spaces, parkland, beaches, nature reserves and nature trails. In all the peninsula is home to twelve green flag parks, eight Special Sites of Scientific Interest ( SSSI ) three country parks, five nature reserves and hosts three nature trails.
Below is a list of Wirral's main parks, and special sites of scientific interest, followed by a list of other important conservation sites, complete with post code reference or addresses.
PARKS.
Ashton Park, West Kirby - CH48 4DH.
Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead - CH41 4HY.
Brotherton Park, Bromborough - CH62 2BJ.
Coronation Gardens, West Kirby - CH48 0QG.
Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve, Eastham - CH62 2BJ.
Eastham Country Park, Eastham - CH62 0BH.
North Wirral Coastal Park, Moreton - CH46 4TA.
Royden Park, Frankby - CH48 1NP.
Vale Park, Wallasey - CH45 1LZ.
Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston - CH61 0HN.
S.S.S.I AREAS.
The area consists of eight Special Sites of Scientific Interest, they are -
Bromborough.
Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve.
Heswall.
North Wirral Foreshore.
Red Rocks, Hoylake.
The Dee Estuary.
Thurstaston Common.
West Kirby Beach.
Other interesting nature locations include Bidston Hill, a 100 acre site of woodland and heathland which hosts some rare mummer carvings, part of a Roman road, WWII air raid tunnels, ancient Norse carvings and the former Bidston Observatory and Bidston lighthouse, both built in the 1800's.
Bidston Moss is an eight hectare former salt marsh which is now an important wild life sanctuary of reed beds, ponds, grassland and scrub.
For information the area's ranger number is 0151 653 9332.
Hilbre Island, a small offshore island situated off the promenade at West Kirby which is accessed by foot at low tide, is a nature reserve and favourite haunt for sea birds and a local Atlantic Grey Seal colony.The island also boasts it's own indiginous vole, a tiny mouse like creature which has evolved entirely on the island and is seen no where else in the world.
Thornton Hough, Brimstage and Raby are three villages that have been designated Areas of Special Landscape Value.These three villages all boast a fine array of historic buildings, churches and houses most of which are built in the area's local red sandstone.
Thornton Hough also sports a typical Victorian Village Green.
The local porous sandstone of the Wirral allows little in the way of standing water to flourish, but the village of Raby is unique as it sports a natural, village pond known as Raby Mere, which has become a local beauty spot and favourite haunt for fishermen.
Raby is also the home of Wirral's oldest pub, the Wheatsheaf, built in 1611.
Ness Botanical Gardens is a grade II listed historic park and garden originally built by local entrepreneur Arthur Kilpin Bulley in 1898.The gardens today boast a wealth of botanical plants and water features all set in a large area of parkland.
Ness Botanical Gardens.
Ness.
Neston.
CH64 4AY.
Tel - 0151 353 0123.
New Ferry Butterfly Park is a five acre urban nature reserve built on former industrial land which harbours a wealth of plant and animal life which has learnt to come to terms with the industrial landscape around them and now live and thrive amongst the acidic grass lands left by the area's former coal yards and busy dock lands.
The park is situated in New Ferry at post code location CH62 5BG.
Tam O'Shanter Farm is a four acre, green flag community awarded, urban farm whose aim is to make farm animals accessible to all children. The farm relies solely on fundraising, grants and donations in order to be able to offer free admission to all on a daily basis.
Bidston Hill,
CH43 7PD.
Tel - 0151 652 9197.
Thurstaston Common is a 250 acre area of woods and heathland situated on periglacial weathered sandstone which is a local nature reserve and Special Site of Scientific Interest.
The common is also home to Thor's Stone, a giant sandstone outcrop which legend says was once a ceremonial Viking religious site.
NATURE TRAILS.
There are three walking trails situated along the Wirral Peninsular, all are interlinking and can be found on O.S Explorer Maps 265 and 266.
The Wirral Coastal Walk is a 15 mile path from Seacombe Ferry near Birkenhead to Thurstaston Visitor Centre at Wirral Country Park.The route takes in stunning vistas of the Liverpool skyline, the promenades at New Brighton and Egremont and follows the Irish sea coast to West Kirby taking in the reed beds, sand dunes and marsh land of the River Dee estuary with it's low tide mudflats which harbour a wealth of wading and sea birds.
The Wirral Shoreway is a 22 mile walk fron the centre of the ancient, walled city of Chester along the route of the River Dee all the way to West Kirby taking in a host of sea side villages along the way as well as stunning views out across to the North Wales coastline.
The Wirral Way is a 12 mile railway walk from the railway station at West Kirby along the now defunct
Wirral Circuit Railway, all the way to Hooton station. The walk takes in the area's fine boulder cliffs and the 31,500 acre River Dee Estuary, with stunning views out across to North Wales, the Clwydian Hills beyond and finally the Irish Sea. The Wirral Way is also part of Route 56 of the National Cycle Network.
GREEN FLAG PARKS.
In 2011 twelve of the Wirral's parks were awarded green flag sites, they are -
Aston Park,West Kirby.
Bidston Hill.
Birkenhead Park.
Coronation Gardens, West Kirby.
Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve.
Eastham Country Park.
Hilbre Island.
Royden Park, Frankby.
The Arno Gardens, Oxton.
Thornton Hough Village Green.
Vale Park, New Brighton.
Wirral Country Park.
PROTECTED AREAS.
The Wirral Peninsula has nine scheduled monument sites, they are -
Birkenhead Priory, Birkenhead.
Bromborough Hall moated site.
Grange Beacon, West Kirby.
Irby Hall moated site.
New Hall moated site, near Gayton CH64 3TE
Overchurch, Upton.
St Barnabas' Cross, Bromborough.
Standing Cross, Woodchurch.
Storeton Hall, Storeton.
The Wirral Peninsular has twenty five Conservation Areas, they are -
Barnston Village.
Bidston Village.
Birkenhead Park.
Bromborough Pool.
Bromborough Village.
Caldy Village.
Clifton Park, Prenton.
Eastham Village.
Flaybrick Cemetary, Bidston.
Frankby Village.
Gayton Village.
Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.
Lower Heswall.
Meols Drive, West Kirby.
Mountwood, Prenton.
Oxton Village.
Port Sunlight Village.
Saughall Massey Village.
The King's Gap, Hoylake.
The Magazines, New Brighton.
Thornton Hough Village.
Thurstaston Common.
Wellington Road, Bebington.
West Kirby Beach.
The Wirral Peninsular has four historic parks and two wooded conservation areas, they are -
Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead.
Flaybrick Gardens, Bidston.
Port Sunlight, Bromborough.
Storeton Woods, Storeton.
Thornton Manor, Thrornton Hough.
Upton Meadow, Upton.
