Hilary Ash, Mathilde Baker-Schommer and Ranger Lynne Greenstreet met up with Alice on a chilly West Kirby beach in December to look at management, especially of the reedbeds and natterjack toads. Alice had not visited the beach for 8 years, and was amazed and delighted at the new "Green Beach" of salt marsh and sand dune which is developing there. The new area already supports a variety of specialist flora and fauna, including one rare moth, the Sandhill Rustic. It is developing pools which will hopefully be suitable for natterjack toad breeding in a few years. Lynne and Alice talked about creating temporary pools for the toads in the meantime. The only problem is the salt marsh taking over some areas of mud used as high tide roosts - the birds tend not to come into the marsh which is more liable to disturbance by dogs and people. Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens do a good job in educating users about not disturbing the birds, but cannot control everything! We walked round the CWT reserve at Red Rocks marsh, admiring the spread of Mackay's horsetail, a rare fern, which has greatly increased in recent years along the southern part of boardwalk.
Wednesday 29 December 2010
New Natural England officer for Wirral
Hilary Ash, Mathilde Baker-Schommer and Ranger Lynne Greenstreet met up with Alice on a chilly West Kirby beach in December to look at management, especially of the reedbeds and natterjack toads. Alice had not visited the beach for 8 years, and was amazed and delighted at the new "Green Beach" of salt marsh and sand dune which is developing there. The new area already supports a variety of specialist flora and fauna, including one rare moth, the Sandhill Rustic. It is developing pools which will hopefully be suitable for natterjack toad breeding in a few years. Lynne and Alice talked about creating temporary pools for the toads in the meantime. The only problem is the salt marsh taking over some areas of mud used as high tide roosts - the birds tend not to come into the marsh which is more liable to disturbance by dogs and people. Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens do a good job in educating users about not disturbing the birds, but cannot control everything! We walked round the CWT reserve at Red Rocks marsh, admiring the spread of Mackay's horsetail, a rare fern, which has greatly increased in recent years along the southern part of boardwalk.
Friday 24 December 2010
Thursday 16 December 2010
Mersey Tidal Power
We have received this information from Peter Robertson, Acting Regional Director of the RSPB, and want to let as many people as possible have the chance to comment on the proposals by Peel Renewables to harness energy from the River
At our meeting on 9th September we told you that Peel Renewables were drawing up a shortlist of projects. However, at that stage we did not know what was on the shortlist. We were hoping that Peel would seize the opportunity to utilise emerging new technologies that could operate without harming the Mersey Estuary’s important wildlife. Unfortunately Peel have not done this.
We argued from the outset that the aim of the project should not be to maximise energy outputs in such a sensitive wildlife site. However, their shortlist of three options all put energy before wildlife. A full impoundment barrage is worryingly emerging as the frontrunner, though largely because of economic arguments. However, this option would need to be situated in deep water downstream of the ship canal, which would therefore need locks to allow ships to pass, or an expensive extension to the ship canal. A full impoundment barrage would undoubtedly be the most damaging option.
The two remaining options are what they term a “very low head barrage”, one in a similar position to the first barrage, and one in shallower water upstream of the ship canal. What they term very low head would still create a difference in water levels of two to three metres, and would only be 2 metres lower than the full impoundment barrage. It would also be very likely to cause significant damage to the
Peel are hoping to have a preferred option by March 2011. They have said whichever option they choose they will introduce measures to reduce the damage to the Mersey Estuary, but whatever they do, there will still be a significant reduction in the intertidal habitats, and the amount of time the remaining areas will be exposed for birds to feed on them.
Peel are asking for comments on their stage 2 report before
www.merseytidalpower.co.uk/sites/default/files/MTP%20Feasibility%20Stage%202%20Options%20Report%20Summary%20-%20November%202010_0.pdf
You can make your views known by commenting on their website which some of you have done already, thank you, or by sending an email. Peel are also organising a series of community consultation events which are listed below. If you can make any of these events, please do go along and ask them questions. For example, why have they discounted various options for technical and financial reasons, but have not discounted any for ecological reasons? You could ask them if they have assessed the ecological impacts of each option. Or more specifically, what will the impact of each option be on Dunlin, Teal or Redshank? You could ask if they have fully considered the impacts on flood risk as a similar barrage in the
The dates and venues of the community consultation events are:
· Thu 16 Dec 12pm - 6pm, The Bluecoat, Liverpool
· Tue 11 Jan 2pm - 7pm, Ellesmere Port Civic Hall
· Thu 13 Jan 12pm - 6pm, Bromborough Library and Civic Centre
· Sat 15 Jan 10am - 2pm, Britannia Inn, Riverside Drive
· Thu 20 Jan 12pm - 6pm, Stobart Stadium, Widnes
· Sat 22 Jan 10am - 2pm, Eastham Country Park Visitors Centre
· Mon 24 Jan 12pm - 5pm, Garston Community Library
Tuesday 30 November 2010
MP visits Butterfly Park
Last Friday Alison McGovern MP enjoyed a "frosty" visit to New Ferry Butterfly Park on Friday, hosted by Janel Fone, chief executive of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Stephen Ross, chair of Wirral Wildlife and members of the Butterfly Park committee. Fuelled by hot coffee, she had a tour of the Park and discussed various topics including:
- The on-going campaign to save the Park, including access.
- Problems with damage by a neighbour
- The effect on Cheshire Wildlife Trust and on people seeking careers in ecology of the demise of the Future Jobs Fund.
Janel and Hilary Ash will now be writing letters for Miss McGovern to bring to the attention of relevant ministers.
Award winning Sparrow
Friday 26 November 2010
Cockling on Leasowe Shore
Thursday 21 October 2010
New Ferry Butterfly Park on Merseyrail poster
When Alex Rowan came to the New Ferry Butterfly Park with his Scout group he really enjoyed it. In school, he was asked to draw a poster for travelling somewhere by train and he picked the Butterfly Park. He was one of the winners. The poster is going to be up on Merseyrail stations and is part of their new calendar.
Thursday 14 October 2010
Thursday 7 October 2010
Another Apple Day
Wirral Tree Wardens are holding their own Apple Day at Tam O'Shanter Farm on Sunday October 17th 12-3pm.
As well as apple varieties and the Wirral Wildlife wooden press to make juice, there will be many children's activities.
Everyone is welcome.
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Overchurch woodland saved
Botanical Recorders at work
Wednesday 15 September 2010
Wildlife Quiz
Wirral Wildlife Prize Quiz, Lindisfarne, 25 Park West, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 9JE
There are 21 clues. The first 7 clues lead to the name of a bird; the next 7 are other animals; and the rest are places in Wirral where you might find wildlife.
The closing date for receipt of completed entries is 31st January 2011. The prize for the winner will be a gift voucher value £10.00. The judges’ decision in all cases is final. The name of the winner and the answers will be published in the newsletter of Wirral Wildlife. All the proceeds from this quiz will go to Wirral Wildlife.
Tuesday 14 September 2010
Save the bat roost
Tuesday 17 August 2010
Silver Jubilee for Wirral Countryside Volunteers
Friday 30 July 2010
Wildlife Watch group is relaunched
Saturday July 31st
Saturday 14th AugustA Big Moth Breakfast 10 – 11.30 a.m.
Saturday 11th September
Saturday 9th October
Saturday 20th November
Saturday 4th December
Monday 26 July 2010
Talk at Thurstaston Visitor Centre
Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre, Thurstaston
Wednesday 28th July 2010
7.30pm
An illustrated photographic talk by Derek Cotgrave, a well known and accredited bird ringer and photographer, featuring birds from the African continent and elsewhere. Entrance is £2 per head, with refreshments included.
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Ness Gardens summer events
Andrew says: "We have developed what we feel is a strong, interesting programme of courses, workshops, guided walks and lectures at Ness for anyone who is interested in learning more about plants, wildlife and gardening. This includes a range of introductory workshops/courses and the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture."
Gardening Club
What should you be doing every month to get the best of out of your garden? All is answered in this monthly guide.
First Tuesday of every month, 10.00-12.30.
Ness through the Seasons
There is always something see at Ness, with thousands of plants from all over the world. Learn more about the plants at Ness and gain inspiration for your own garden.
Last Tuesday of every month, 10.00-12.30.
A full list of upcoming events can be found on the Ness Gardens website. To book and for further information telephone 0151 353 0123.
Saturday 3 July 2010
Big Lunch at New Ferry Butterfly Park
The Big Lunch began life as a wild seed at The Eden Project who believe the world can get better by working together, with nature, optimism and common sense. By simply having some fun on one day in July, we can build new friendships that we can enjoy for the rest of the year. For more details see
http://www.thebiglunch.com/what-is-the-big-lunch/index.php
Have you seen this bee?
We are being asked to look out for this bee, Bombus hypnorum.
This is a new bumble bee for us in Cheshire. It is a frequent species in Continental Europe, but first appeared in the UK in 2000 and has been expanding its range steadily since. It has been found near Warrington this year. It appears to like urban and woodland habitats. Look out for the fox-coloured thorax and the white tail. If you see one, please report to rECOrd via their website http://www.record-lrc.co.uk/
Seaside events in July and August
Thursday 22nd July Life at the Seashore. 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Thursday 29th July Life at the Seashore. 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Thursday 5th August Seal Watch and rock pooling. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th August Albert Dock Watch
Thursday 12th Aug Life at the Seashore. 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Thursday August 19th Hilbre marine life
Tuesday August 24th High tide Hilbre Island trip. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday 4 May 2010
Butterfly Park Open Day
And for further details about the park, see our web site:
Thanks to Richard Ash, John Gill and Jan Peddie for sharing their photographs.
Thursday 29 April 2010
Woodland Walk
Sunday 18 April 2010
Butterfly Park springs into action
Amongst other things, visitors will be able to see an interactive percussion instrument, multi-storey insect habitats and a range of hanging botanical illustrations to help inform their visit. Children will be invited to help cover the park’s new (t)wigwam with found objects from the park itself. The Day will include a series of art workshops and woodland craft demonstrations, tours of the park, nature walks, art and craft sales, tombola, face painting and a BBQ. Entry is free and all proceeds from donations and sales will be in aid of New Ferry Butterfly Park.
Carol Ramsay has a blog describing her work at the Butterfly Park as Artist In Residence:
www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/single/614513
Saturday 10 April 2010
How to make a bat box
Some people were interested in making a bat box so here are some instructions you can print off (right click on the image and save it to your computer first).
Don't forget that the wood must not have any preservative or varnish on it as this will poison the bats that use it. Put it about 9 feet above the ground and wait for the bats to arrive.
Don't forget that the Wirral Ranger Service holds guided bat walks for the public. You can always let us know of your bat sightings by sending us an email.
Monday 22 March 2010
Wildlife Crime Unit Investigator wins international award
Saturday 6 March 2010
Butterfly man wins Dragonfly Award
Paul has been honorary secretary of Wirral Countryside Volunteers for 16 years and has organised a varied programme of events throughout the Wirral and beyond. Paul has had a sustained relationship with the Mersey Basin Campaign gaining 23 grants and awards in the last 15 years. The Wirral Countryside Volunteers have been involved in pond restoration at Thornton Common a Site of Biological Importance which has benefited wildlife including longhorn beetles and thick-legged flower beetles and has been naturally colonised by Great Crested Newts. At Thornton Wood, a Site of Special Scientific Interest which lies along Clatter Brook, Paul and the volunteers have developed a six year hazel coppice rotation supplying hedging stakes for hedgerow restoration projects throughout the Wirral. Here bluebells and primroses flourish under this coppice regime. Paul has organised a woodland craft display at Eastham Country Park’s annual Woodland craft for more than a decade. Here the Mersey Basin Campaign have sponsored many interesting and hard to come-by woodland craft tools. The volunteers also work on the most westerly point on the Mersey Basin catchment area, at Gilroy Nature Park, West Kirby, near the source of the river Birket.
The Wirral Countryside Volunteers are currently based at New Ferry Butterfly Park. Here Paul has organised hedge-laying training days, scything parties to mow the meadows, and he hosts an annual celebratory BBQ in August. Paul enthused “We have been mowing grasslands and raking up the cuttings for over a decade now. It is a long haul; we are seeing the fruits of our labour as there are an increase in the number of cowslips in the spring and common sorrel, betony, meadow buttercup and red clover in the summer.” Paul, receiving the award at the park, reflected that “Here, at the park, is an area of land previously used for antisocial behaviour which has now turned into a community asset. This microcosm, admirably reflects the aims of the Mersey Basin Campaign which has helped to turn the Mersey from something neglected into an asset. In our own small way we have an impact and reflect the aspirations of the Mersey Basin Campaign.”
Thursday 4 March 2010
Spring tide
Monday 15 February 2010
Seashore search
Here are some photos of the afternoon...
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Butterfly Park case in court
After the hearing at Birkenhead County Court, Janel Fone, chief executive of CWT, said: “What is important is to secure the long term future of the Butterfly Park, and I think today has helped us ensure the short term future – which gives us space to work towards the longer term.
“We really did not want it to come to this. We have been trying to have discussions with Brock and get an undertaking from them and to work with them on the future of the park. It’s a shame it has come to this.”
New Ferry councillor Steve Niblock, who has been supporting the campaign to save the park, said he was pleased with the outcome of the court hearing. He said: “This is a short term step towards a fuller court hearing in some weeks time.” He added CWT had offered to buy the park site from Brock and had they accepted “their generous offer” the court action could have been avoided.
Brock again refused to comment. Although any activity by the company (or associate companies, D. Morgan plc and Frithmere Ltd) on the reserve would now be a criminal offence we ask anyone who spots anything suspicious to report it to one of the following groups:
- New Ferry Butterfly Park Committee: Paul Loughnane 645 8937 or Hilary Ash 327 5923
- Cheshire Wildlife Trust: 01948 820728
- Police Wildlife Crime officer, DC Kenneth Dummigan: 777 5447 or police HQ 709 6010.
- British Transport Police (for trouble at the height barrier on the access road): 0800 405040.
- In emergency, if there is evidence a crime is in progress: ring 999.
Tuesday 2 February 2010
Black Poplar Planting
Irby Primary School pupils are doing their bit to help Britain's rarest tree, the native black poplar. Last week they planted 13 young trees in their school grounds, with help from Wirral Tree Wardens. The young trees have been raised from Wirral and Cheshire stock by members of the Cheshire Black Poplar Biodiversity Action Group.
Mrs Joan Sheery, from Irby Primary School, said: "We are pleased to plant these trees in our grounds, where they have room to grow to maturity. As well as helping local wildlife, they will in future provide much-needed shade for pupils and staff when out of doors."
Native Black Poplar has become rare because its natural habitat, unaltered river flood plains, is now in short supply in Britain. Wirral has about 70 trees, but most are elderly, so it is important to plant new stock to replace them. All those found so far in Wirral Borough are male, though female hybrids do occur.
Wirral's Black Poplars grow mostly in gardens, but one is very visible along the Upton Bypass, on the Cricket Club fence just behind their nets. This is quite a short tree compared to many Cheshire specimens, but shows the gnarled bark, red catkins in April, and habit of growing slanting.
More information on black poplar in Cheshire can be found on the Cheshire Biodiversity Partnership website.
Friday 15 January 2010
Wirral Borough Council takes action to save Butterfly Park
The CPO is being issued on environmental and social grounds. The Park supports at least 397 species, including butterflies, moths, bees, spiders, shield bugs, pond life, and a long list of plants including two species of orchid. The social benefit has been shown by the willingness of people to sign the public petitions.
Hilary Ash, Hon Conservation Officer, said "We are very grateful to everyone who has signed our petitions, and all the people who have made great efforts to collect signatures on behalf of the Park. The paper petition submitted to Wirral MBC reached 1990, and the e-petition 1542, a grand total of 3532. Thank you, everyone."
Once the legal procedures have gone through, it is the intention of Wirral MBC to sell or lease the Park to Cheshire Wildlife Trust, to continue as a nature reserve managed by the local community. Substantial donations have already been offered, and a public appeal for funds will be launched in the near future. Over the last 16 years, the New Ferry Butterfly Park committee has raised over £24000 in grants and £3000 in donations, all to make the Park accessible for visitors, keep it secure and aid the wildlife.
Cllr Steve Niblock, who has been actively backing the campaign, said “I am delighted that the Cabinet have agreed to Compulsorily Purchase the Park, following the groundswell of support from local people to save this gem in New Ferry.”
The Butterfly Park currently has about 35 volunteers involved in various roles, including wardening, practical management, hosting educational and other groups, fund-raising and publicity. However, more volunteers are very welcome! Contact Hilary Ash (327 5923), Paul Loughnane (645 8937) or send an email.
Thursday 7 January 2010
Butterfly Park Fight Taken To Parliament
Ben Chapman commented: “I hope that this gesture in the House will go some way to encourage those that have the power to save the park, to do so.
I have expressed my view on the importance of safeguarding this urban nature reserve countless times. Many of my constituents as well as wildlife enthusiasts have written to voice their support. Lord Harrison, who once represented Wirral in the European Parliament also wrote to express his concern for the future of this invaluable asset. I have passed all correspondence on to Steve Maddox, Chief Executive of the Council for his consideration.
I hope the Council is fully aware of the vast amount of support this campaign has attracted, and will consider all possible measures to secure the park’s future”
Hilary Ash, Hon Conservation Officer for Wirral Wildlife, added “We have been amazed and touched by the support from all sides of the community for our campaign to save New Ferry Butterfly Park from closure. Over 3000 people have signed out petitions to Wirral Borough Council. We are especially grateful to Mr Chapman, a long-term supporter of the Park, for taking this to national level. Hopefully it may also benefit any other nature reserves that find themselves under threat from private interests.”