Port Sunlight River Park

Mersey view from Port Sunlight River Park. Photo: Anne Litherland

Port Sunlight River Park is a vibrant, stunning green space formed on the site of the former landfill at Bromborough Docks. It has transformed a closed area, giving access to the Mersey waterfront with unrivalled views not only of the Liverpool skyline and waterfront, but also across Wirral and North Wales. There are woodlands and an ecologically important wetland and the site has excellent views of the Shorefields mudflats and wildfowl, which is part of the Mersey SSSI.

Funding for the transformation and long term management has been made possible through the Newlands 2 programme, led by the Forestry Commission and supported by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Biffa and Unilever have donated land and funds.

The River Park opened to the public on 12th August 2014 and is managed by Wirral Autistic Society on behalf of the open space management charity the Land Trust. The regular park users include dog walkers, running groups and individual runners, cyclists and cycle groups and bird watchers. Families come to watch the ships, admire the view and let off steam at the weekends. Visitors whilst enjoying the views should not walk, or let their dogs walk off the surfaced paths as the land is still settling and objects may move to the surface. Also between March and August ground nesting birds use the grassland so no access is permitted on these areas.

Opening Day at the River Park. Photo: The Land Trust

The River Park is a unique venture for Wirral Autistic Society (WAS) as service users help to maintain the park during their weekly visits. Tasks undertaken include cutting the grass, clearing leaves, weeding, patrolling and litter picking. It is also good to see other members of WAS using the park to walk with groups or with family and friends. The weekly Step into Work group have improved the mini beast hotel and cleared barrow loads of litter and hazards from the wood near the United Utilities works. This woodland was planted in 1997 but the tree guards were still in place and as well as looking unsightly were choking the trees.

Due to the steep slopes and uneven ground on site, winter maintenance depends upon volunteers rather than service users and one of the great bonuses for PSRP is the number of people who want to help. Volunteers meet every Saturday and Wednesday for outdoor tasks but additional opportunities exist to help with events, reception, walks and wildlife identification and with the new Friends group. The priority for the winter months will be removal of hazards as objects make their way to the surface. The views need maintaining so work will be done on the Mersey front to remove buddleia and willow. 

In 2014 lapwings and skylarks nested in the rough grassland overlooking the Mersey. As the park only opened to the public in August disturbance was limited but this year, as the park is busy, there will be a need to protect these areas, especially from dogs. While signage can help inform it is hoped that new volunteers will patrol these areas to engage with the public in a similar way to the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens but over the spring and summer months. Over 70 species of birds had been recorded up to the end of November 2014, including the transient hen harrier, wheatear and whimbrel. Birds, such as black tailed godwits and redshank, use the lake for resting, especially at high tides.

The lake at Port Sunlight River Park. Photo: Anne Litherland

Wirral Wildlife surveyed the site in 2014 and recorded 50 species of spider and a variety of butterfly and bee species. It is early days for this site and both flora and fauna will change though time. The species rich but unusual grassland flora with many legumes is reflective of low fertility soils. The abundance of banks of yellow melilot when I started in October is an example. Path edges around the site have colonies of a rare but non-native species, wallflower cabbage (Coincya monensis ssp. cheiranthos), a close relative of the endemic Isle of Man Cabbage which grows on the Wirral sand dunes. Nearly 16,000 trees have been planted: field maple, silver birch, sessile oak, rowan, grey willow, sweet cherry, wych elm together with dog rose, blackthorn, hawthorn, gorse and gueldar rose. Maritime pine has been planted for future climate change reliance. In addition there are areas of wildflower plantings: a perennial downland mix plus cornfield annuals.

A regular programme of events is being established including weekly health walks and activities for families in the school holidays. We are looking forward to taking part in the Wirral Walking Festival in May with guided walks planned around both PSRP and Bromborough Pool village.

If you want to find out more about events, visits or volunteering please look on the website www.portsunlightriverpark.com or contact me by email or phone 07587550060.

Anne Litherland