Wildlife Watch group is relaunched

The Wirral group of the Wildlife Watch club is relaunching this weekend with a Meadow Safari. This is a club for children aged 8 to 12. Places are limited and booking is essential. Telephone the Visitor Centre on 0151 648 4371 to reserve your place.

Saturday July 31st

Meadow Safari 2 – 4 p.m.

We will be making our own “pooters” before investigating the insect life of the meadows at Wirral Country Park using sweep nets, beating trays and our own pooters.

Saturday 14th AugustA Big Moth Breakfast 10 – 11.30 a.m.

Join us at Wirral Country Park to open up the moth trap to see what’s been caught overnight. There will be some weird and wonderful moths inside, but don’t worry you won’t have to eat any!

Saturday 11th September

Bat Detectives 7 – 9 p.m.

On this trip to the Dungeon Woodland we will be searching for bats before they go into hibernation for the winter. Come along and have a go on our bat detector!All children must be accompanied by an adult for this event.

Saturday 9th October

Wildlife Garden 2 – 4 p.m.

Come along and help us to create the Thurstaston Watch Club’s very own wildlife garden at Wirral Country Park. We’ll make bug boxes and create habitat piles for now, but this is just the start of a long term project! We’ll do more in the spring.

Saturday 20th November

Mud Soup 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

We’ll be out and about on Thurstaston Shore to look at the thousands of waterbirds that visit us in the winter. They feed on worms in the gloopy mud but we won’t be getting muddy we’ll use telescopes to spy on them!

Saturday 4th December

Our Days Are Numbered 2 – 4 p.m.

Come and join us making calendars for 2011. We’ll use recycled materials to make a calendar to record our wildlife moments for the coming year.

Talk at Thurstaston Visitor Centre

BIRDS : AN ILLUSTRATED TALK

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.

Ness Gardens summer events

Andrew Lambie, Adult Education Co-ordinator at Ness Gardens has asked us let our members and supporters know that they will now be running all adult education activities themselves as their partnership with the Welsh College of Horticulture has ended.

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.

Big Lunch at New Ferry Butterfly Park

Carole is organising a 'Big Lunch' at New Ferry Butterfly Park, kicking off at around 12.30 p.m. on Sunday 18th July. Pop down to the Butterfly Park, bring some food to eat and share with others, enjoy a walk around this beautiful nature reserve and take in the art trail. Our entrance is up Howell Rd (at the back of Aldi), New Ferry and next to Bebington Rail Station car park. (all outdoors so if it rains too much we may have to cancel, keep up to date on our facebook page). http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Ferry-Butterfly-Park/112509052095055

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

Sunday 11th July Count Me In Beach Party. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Join Count Me in for a day on Thurstaston beach recording its marine life. Meet at the Thurstaston visitor centre Wirral Country Park.

Thursday 22nd July Life at the Seashore. 10 a.m. – 12 noon

Join the Wirral Rangers and staff from the Blue Planet Aquarium and discover what has been washed along the shore by the tide. Meet at Hoyle Road slipway (next to the RNLI Station) Hoylake. No need to book. For further enquiries Tel: 0151 678 5488 or email

Thursday 29th July Life at the Seashore. 10 a.m. – 12 noon

Join the Wirral Rangers and staff from the Blue Planet Aquarium and discover what has been washed along the shore by the tide. Meet at the end of Marine Promenade New Brighton . No need to book. For further enquiries Tel: 0151 678 5488 or email

Thursday 5th August Seal Watch and rock pooling. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Join Cheshire Wildlife Trust on a trip to Hilbre Island. The group will leave the slipway at West Kirby at low tide and walk the 2 miles across the sands to Hilbre Island. The day will include a seaside scavenger hunt, rock pool dipping, bird and seal watching. Not suitable for children under 5. Venue – Hilbre Island, West Kirby, Wirral. Contact Jan Shone by telephone on 01948 822218 or email for more details and booking.

Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th August Albert Dock Watch

This year the weekend will be devoted to the biology and history of the Albert dock and the Irish sea beyond. There are many events. Check the Liverpool museums website for more details.

Thursday 12th Aug Life at the Seashore. 10 a.m. – 12 noon

Join the Wirral Rangers and staff from the Blue Planet Aquarium and discover what has been washed along the shore by the tide. Meet at the sea front car park at The Gunsite, North Wirral Coastal Park . No need to book. Tel: 678 5488 or email

Thursday August 19th Hilbre marine life

Join Cheshire Wildlife Trust on a day at Hilbre seal and bird watching and rummaging on the rocky and sandy shores we will leave the slipway at West Kirby at low tide and walk the 2 miles across the sands to Hilbre Island. The day will include a seaside scavenger hunt, rock pool dipping, bird and seal watching. Not suitable for children under 5. Venue – Hilbre Island, West Kirby, Wirral. Contact Jan Shone by telephone on 01948 822218 or email for more details and booking.

Tuesday August 24th High tide Hilbre Island trip. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This is an exciting opportunity to visit Hilbre Island over the high tide with Cheshire Wildlife Trust. The group will leave the slipway at West Kirby at 9 a.m., 2 hours before high tide. The trip involves a 2 miles across the sands to Hilbre Island. An excellent opportunity to have close encounters with birds, such as waders and their predators as the high tide drives them onto the island. Seals and sea birds will be seen offshore. Not suitable for children under 5. Venue – Hilbre Island, West Kirby, Wirral. Contact - Jan Shone or Gill Bellairs. Telephone 01948 822228 or email for more details and booking.