Welcome To Wirral

The valley woodland represents the largest and one of the finest examples of ancient woodland on Merseyside. The rest of the reserve consists of meadows, reed swamps, parkland and amenity grassland. The Nature Reserve provides an attractive and stimulating environment for educational visits. A wide range of activities to suit all age groups can be carried out on the reserve, in which pupils can develop skills in many curricular areas, particularly science and geography.

These notes contain background information, maps and photographs on the history, wildlife and management of the Nature Reserve. There is considerable scope for these ideas to be expanded and modified by teachers/group leaders to suit the requirements of their pupils. The Ranger Service at Dibbinsdale welcomes information on educational activities that have been carried out on the Nature Reserve. Your experiences, ideas and suggestions can be incorporated into future updates of this web site, benefiting other users.

The Dibbinsdale Rangers are based at Woodslee Cottages, off Spital Road, Bromborough. Telephone: 0151 334 9851 (or at Eastham Country Park. Telephone: 0151 327 1007) In order that we can ensure you are aware of all the facilities and resources available and can keep a record of how many schools/ groups are using Dibbinsdale please contact us if you intend to visit the site, even if you do not require our assistance. 

Access

Dibbinsdale is easily accessible from all parts of the Wirral, being close to the A41 and the M53. There is ample parking for minibuses and cars in the main car park and many pedestrian access points as indicated on the main map.

The driveway to the car park is unsuitable for coaches.

By road: Along the A41 from Chester to Birkenhead the reserve is signposted. A sharp turning off Spital Road brings you to the car park on the right of the drive. From the M53, leave at junction 4, taking the B5137 to Bebington; continue through the cross roads (The Three Stags) and past Spital station. At the mini-roundabout (Spital Dam) turn right passed the sandstone cutting. The entrance to the reserve car park is marked.

By rail: A frequent service runs between Liverpool and Chester, stopping at Bromborough Rake and Spital Stations. Access is possible directly from these stations into the reserve. Information is available from Merseyrail: Tel. 051 236 7676

Due to the steep terrain of the river valley, unfortunately the reserve is not suitable for wheelchairs or push chairs. 

Facilities

First Aid:

First Aid points are situated at the Rangers Office and Brotherton Nature Centre at Woodslee Cottages.

Toilets:

(including disabled) are situated in the Brotherton Nature Centre.

Picnic Areas:

A small number of picnic tables are situated close to Woodslee Car Park, but groups are also welcome to use any of the mown grass areas for picnics.

Recreation:

There are no formal recreation facilities at Dibbinsdale, but Woodslee Playing Fields and Spital Field are both suitable for informal group games.

Brotherton Nature Centre
The Brotherton Nature Centre is situated at Woodslee Cottages, opposite the Rangers Office. The Centre was completed in 1996 and provides facilities for visiting groups/schools and volunteers. The Centre can cater for up to 30 people at one time, although smaller groups are advisable for practical sessions. The Centre provides a small resource library, microscopes and hand lenses for examining specimens, and writing/drawing equipment. A slide show is also available by prior arrangement. Equipment for field studies within the reserve is available from the Centre, including pond nets, trays, survey kits, measuring tapes, identification sheets and a small supply of childrens waterproof coats for emergencies. The Walled Garden to the rear of the Centre contains beehives, a small pond, and wildflower/tree nurseries which groups are welcome to visit.

Groups wishing to use the brotherton centre and its facilities must book in advance.

Profile of Dibbinsdale in the 19th 20 th Centuries

1861 Robert Rankin of Bromborough and David McIver of Brombrough Hall purchased much of the open land at Dibbinsdale, east of the railway. Woodslee House was built and a park created.

1919 The land was sold to Alan Brotherton and Company Ltd. Woodslee House was converted into flats.

1930 Brotherton donated part of the park to Bebington Borough Council (now Wirral Council)

1950 Brotherton sold the council the rest of the park and Woodslee House. The house was demolished. The cottages and stables still remain.

1963 Bebington Borough Council purchased some land west of the railway, now called Spital Fields. The woodland was cleared and the area used as a municipal waste tip, the extent of which was increased in 1972. The area was then grassed over and some areas were planted with trees. This is now a recreational area with a fitness trail.

1979 Most of Dibbinsdale and some of the areas upstream and the ClatterBrook were designated as a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest' (SSSI) by the Nature Conservancy Council, now English Nature.

1981 A Ranger service was established by the Wirral Borough Council to manage Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale (which is leased from the Lancelyn-Green family).

1983 Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1983 and has been managed to maintain and enhance wildlife and landscape whilst maintaining public access to date.

1993 Building work begins on the Woodslee stables to convert them to a visitor centre and rangers office and workshops.

Woodslee House and Woodslee Cottages

Woodslee House was built after the land was sold by The Rev S.K. Mainwaring to a Liverpool Merchant Mr. Robert Rankin in 1866. This was a wedding present to his daughter when she married Mr David McIver a shipping magnate. The house which was completed in 1878, stood near the present car park on a flat area between the present buildings known as Woodslee Cottages and the edge of the valley. The Yew trees mark the edge of the garden behind the house which faced east towards the Monkey Puzzle Tree. Woodslee Cottages, the servants quarters, stables and coach house still stand. There is also a lodge near the entrance to the park.

Lord Brotherton (Edward Allen Brotherton of Wakefield) purchased the Beyer Company dyestuffs factory in Magazine Road, Bromborough in 1917. He also purchased the Woodslee Estate two years later with the intention of setting up a Chemical Research Laboratory under the name Port Rainbow. However, due to cheap imports from Germany after World War 1 he changed his mind and converted the buildings at Woodslee into flats and cottages for his key employees and the grounds became known as Brotherton Sports Club. The facilities provided by the club consisted of cricket and bowling areas with pavilions and two tennis courts. The Chief Chemist at the Brotherton Works was a Mr.J.H.Wilson who lived for a while in one of the ground floor flats at Woodslee. His son, Harold, became one of the first sixth form pupils at Wirral Grammar School and went on to become Prime Minister.

He and his wife later became known as Lord and Lady Wilson of Rievaulx.