Environment and planning
Parks and open spaces
Parks and open spaces - information and advice
Welcome To Wirral
Green Flag Parks
Wirral’s Green Flag Parks 2009/10
Wirral Parks and Countryside Service has achieved the prestigious Green Flag Award for 11 parks during 2009/10. Green Flag is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. For further details visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk
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Ashton Park
Ashton Park was laid out in 1899; the Wirral Way divides its five hectares into upper and lower parks, which was one of Britain’s first country parks. The park offers diverse facilities intended to meet the public’s need for both passive and active recreation. It includes two bowling greens, grass and tarmac tennis courts, junior football pitch, recently constructed Multi Use Games Area and children’s play area for the more active and formal and informal gardens in association with a lake for gentle relaxation. The ‘friends’ run a Tea- shop at weekends throughout the year and provide a quality events programme.
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Birkenhead Park
Birkenhead Park was Britain’s first publicly funded Municipal Park, is Joseph Paxton’s major contribution to the design of public parks and is registered Grade 1 in English Heritage’s Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. In 2004 an £11.3m restoration of the park began will be completed by the end of 2008.The importance of the park as a heritage of national and international value, as well as an invaluable resource for the local community, has been the focus of the restoration project. An annual programme of events and activities based around community arts, local heritage and sports takes place regularly for further information contact the visitor center on 0151 652 5197.
Birkenhead Park has also been successful in achieving Green Heritage Site Accreditation. This award is sponsored by English Heritage and promotes the value of and best practice in the care and upkeep of green spaces in England that are of local or national historic interest.
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Coronation Gardens
Coronation Gardens was opened in 1938 to commemorate the coronation of King George V1. Laid out on sand dunes between Banks Road and the promenade, the Gardens originally comprised traditional, highly ornamental, seaside planting with colourful annual and herbaceous planting schemes and manicured lawns providing the backdrop to a gentle circular footpath route and bench seating. A new landscape scheme with a central feature, seating and planting to create interest and height was completed in 2007. The licensed café at the promenade entrance to the site provides refreshments with views over the Gardens and the marine lake towards Wales.
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Dibbinsdale LNR
Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve comprises of 32 hectares (81.1 acres) of semi-natural countryside along the river valley of the Dibbin.
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, park land 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.
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)
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Eastham Country Park
Eastham Country Park contains within its 43h some of the finest mature broadleaf trees to be found on the Wirral. Situated on the bank of the river Mersey; superb views are provided across the tidal estuary with its abundant bird life and busy shipping lanes. As the tide begins to ebb Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone, and Curlew can be seen below the cliffs feeding amongst the mud and weed. It provides the setting for peaceful walks, bird watching and orienteering, with a network of footpaths extending throughout the woodland. Within the courtyard, situated adjacent to the main car park, visitors can find the information centre, rangers office and toilet facilities. Picnic areas are provided on the open grassland close to the river and also within the Tea Garden, where refreshments are available. The park contains areas of considerable ecological value and many historical features. A variety of Ranger led activities takes place in the park, throughout the year. These include guided walks, bird activity days, fungal forays and volunteer task days.
For further information contact the visitor center on 0151 327 1007
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Hilbre Islands LNR
The Hilbre Islands Local Nature Reserve is contained within the Dee Estuary on the North West coast of England. The Dee Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area, a Ramsar Site which is a Wetland of International Importance and a candidate EU Special Area of Conservation.
The three tidal islands lying at the mouth of the Dee Estuary, Little Eye, Middle Eye and Hilbre, have been designated a Local Nature Reserve. Access to the Local Nature Reserve is free of charge.
For information, safe routes and tide times please contact the Ranger Service at Wirral Country Park Tel. 0151 648 4371 (10am – 4pm, 7 days a week).
There are no shops, or any fresh water on the Islands, and very little shelter. Toilets are available
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North Wirral Coastal Park
The North Wirral Coastal Park is a linear park based on the route of the coastline embracing public open space, common land, natural foreshore and sand-dunes. The park lies between Dove Point at Meols and the Kings Parade at New Brighton. At 4 miles in length and 400 acres in area it is Wirral's largest park. It is managed by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral Ranger service
The North Wirral Coastal Park provides for a wide variety of recreational activities, some of the more popular being: sailing, sea angling, swimming, cycling, picnicking, walking, jogging, ball games, bird watching and horse riding. Views of Bidston, Caldy and the Welsh Hills, and out over the Irish Sea add interest to the area for the visitor
The North Wirral Coastal Park Rangers are based in Leasowe Lighthouse. The Ranger Service has been present in the park since its creation in 1986. In addition to looking after and managing the park, they are available to help you when you visit the park.
The North Wirral Coastal Park and its immediate area are very well provisioned with facilities. 8 car parking areas, 3 toilet blocks (one summer only), an extensive footpath network and public bridleways, 4 picnic areas, 2 refreshment kiosks, a pitch and putt course, and bathing beaches patrolled in the summer by lifeguards.
For further information please contact the Coast Rangers on 0151 678 5488
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Royden Park
Royden Park is a large area of parkland adjacent to Thurstaston Common, which offers a wide range of activities and facilities for the visitors. There are large open areas where children can play freely without fear of traffic hazards and families can picnic. During the summer bank holidays model train enthusiasts run a steam powered passenger locomotive which is a big hit with kids of all ages. Arts and crafts fairs are held during bank holiday weekends, where you can purchase items made by Wirral craftsmen and women.
Royden Park comprises over 26h of mixed deciduous and conifer woodlands, meadows, fishing mere and wetland mere. The woodlands are home to a wide variety of resident birds such as Woodpeckers, Owls and Treecreepers. The meadows support many wild flowers including orchids. Roodee Mere contains water all year and is open to the Association of Wirral Angling Clubs licence holders to fish. Close to the car parks is the splendid Victorian Coach House with its prominent clock tower. On summer weekends traditional crafts are shown here with information and interpretation about the Park. The ever-popular Tea Servery is also available most weekends and some weekdays. Adjacent to the Coach House is the Walled Garden that is open all year from 10.00am to 4.30pm. Situated in a commanding position in the middle of Royden Park is the grade II listed, privately owned, mock Tudor hotel known as Hillbark.
For further information contact the visitor center on 0151 677 7594.
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Thornton Hough Village Green
Thornton Hough Village Green has won the Green Flag Award since 2004 and is the traditional ‘green’ for the attractive country village of Thornton Hough. Thornton Hough village was built to form a part of the estate of the former Lord Leverhulme, owner of the famous Port Sunlight soap works. The village consists of a fine example of mixed architectural styles with construction dating from the turn of the century. The buildings are full of character and range from ornate red brick cottages to black and white two and three storey half-timbered Tudor style terraces. Two fine sandstone churches, the village school, a public house and the village smithy also compliment the village. They all combine to present a quintessential English village setting. Thornton Hough Village Green, covering 3.3 hectares is at the hub of village life. It provides a venue for soccer, cricket, tennis and children’s play and has a picturesque half timbered, thatched roofed pavilion. Informal recreational activities such as dog walking and ball games are also very popular and locally organised events take place on a regular basis
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Vale Park
Vale Park celebrated its centenary year in 1999. It is situated adjacent to the promenade of the River Mersey, close to the coastal resort of New Brighton. Covering an area of 3.97 hectares, the park has a mature tree and shrub stock, ornamental rose garden, bandstand, kick-about area and a children’s play area. Attractive displays of annual bedding are situated in close proximity to the parks cafe terrace and the community centre ‘Vale House’. The centre provides a comprehensive programme of adult learning courses and offers a range of activities for all age groups. Events organised by the groups ‘bandstand committee’ include a series of Brass band concerts held on the white domed bandstand during the summer.
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Wirral Country Park
Wirral Country Park is a major leisure facility and wildlife habitat. For 35 years it has been Wirral’s most popular visitor attraction, not only for local people, but from Merseyside, the north west and beyond. The ‘backbone’ of the park is the 12 mile long Wirral Way, a footpath and bridleway developed on a disused railway which closed in 1962. The park is large and diverse enough to absorb a wide variety of activities, from walking, riding, cycling, running, birdwatching, picnicking and BBQ’s. A number of access points, view points and picnic sites along the length of the park allow for short circular or longer linear walks, with good public transport links at either end of the Wirral Way and at various points in between. Half way along the Wirral Way is the parks core site at Thurstaston. This is where the park amenities are centred such as parking, toilets and a Visitor Centre. A stretch of amenity grassland provides access to the cliff and there are a number of wildlife ponds. The cliffs offer fantastic views of the Dee Estuary across to Wales as well as access down to the beach. The wider park takes in ‘Cubbins Green’ and a woodland gorge ‘The Dungeon’ both accessible from the Wirral Way. There are three Sites of Special Scientific Interest and three Sites of Biological Interest. The park is also a gateway to the Dee Estuary which has multiple international designations including Wetland of International Importance (RAMSAR).
The Park Visitor Centre at Thurstaston is open all year round and contains an information desk where you can find out what's on and also a "green shop" where you can pick up leaflets and books of special interest or simply talk to the Rangers or Information Staff. You can buy refreshments at the adjacent snack bar, use the toilets or visit the bird hide and small exhibition area.
Opening times 10am to 5pm daily, except Christmas Day.
For further information contact the visitor center on 0151 648 4371/3884.
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Green Pennant Award
The Green Pennant Award was launched in 2002 to recognise and reward high quality green spaces in England and Wales that are managed by voluntary or community groups. The criteria for the award are based on the Green Flag Award criteria but have been adapted to reflect the voluntary nature of the managing group and the types sites that they are responsible for. For further details visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk
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Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm
The farm is managed by the Tam O’ Shanter Cottage Urban Farm Trust in partnership with Wirral Council’s Parks and Countryside Service. In the 1980’s the Trust was formed to preserve and develop the farm to provide enjoyment and education for all members of the community. The farm provides opportunities for people to learn about farm animals, nature conservation and the local environment.
Facilities include a café, children’s play area, picnic area, activity room, nature trail, an events programme and souvenir counter.
The farm is open every day from 9-30am to 4-30pm and admission is free.
For further information contact the farm on 0151 653 9332.
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