Burton Mere talk at Burton Manor

Thursday 13th June

RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands: Home for Birds and Wildlife

7.15 p.m.

Burton Manor Gardens

An illustrated talk by Dan Trotman

The early years... development during the first five years of the wetlands, giving nature a home, the plans for the future and a general overview of the rich wildlife and birds which have made it their home.

£8 (£6.50 for Friends of Burton Mere Gardens)

To book tickets phone 0151 345 1107 or email

Support Heswall Dales

Join the Friends of Heswall Dales at their inaugural meeting at Heswall Hall on 31st May at 7 p.m.

Find out more about the Dales and how you can help support Wirral Council to protect this SSSI in Heswall.

For more information, please email Neil Irvine

Bioblitz at Port Sunlight River Park

Find and record as many plants and animals as possible in Port Sunlight River Park.

On Friday 26th May from 9pm to 10.30pm there is a Bat Walk. £3 per person and booking is essential.

Contact the Ranger on 07587550060 or email

On Saturday 27th May you can discover flowers, bugs, stalls, toddler trail and more.

8.30 a.m. Meet the Moths

9.30 -11 a.m. Bird Walk

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Stalls and activities at the site office plus wildlife ID stations open

10.30 a.m. - 12 noon Flower Walk

1.30 - 3 p.m. Family Fun Nature Walk

May the Force (of Nature) Bee with you

Work colleagues from the Institute Integrative Biology (IIB) at the University of Liverpool had a plant sale as part of a Sustainability Awareness Project. This was to encourage and introduce people to growing plants and to introduce the Sustainability Team. There was a tremendous range of plants including house plants, garden plants, herbs and vegetables.  

The plants were loving cultivated by IIB staff and were comprehensively labelled with full nurturing instructions by Alex Holme.  

Photograph Paul Loughnane

The plant sale was held on the green at the entrance to the Bioscience Building.  

Photograph: Paul Loughnane

It is the first time a plant sale has been held at the site and was an unknown venture. It proved to be very successful with a great response in terms of plant donations and generous plant buyers. The event raised over £550 which was truly amazing. The funds raised were donated to New Ferry Butterfly Park.

Joan Robinson, one of the Sustainability Project Managers, said “We wanted the plant sale to be a charitable event in aid of a local charity, and related to sustainability.  The butterfly park ticked all of the above boxes, with the added bonus of Paul’s connection to IIB.”

Paul Loughnane, Hon Secretary of New Ferry Butterfly Park and IIB, said “It was very generous of the sustainability group to help the park out and I hope to arrange a thank you visit to the park for the sustainably team.  The money will go towards much needed solar lighting in the tool shed.” 

Alongside the plant sale there was a display on the butterfly park and this lead to further interactions. Dr Seth Barribeau who is interested in the diseases of solitary bees donated a solitary bee home to put up at the park. With its abundance of nectar and pollen sources the park should provide an excellent location to collect samples of solitary bees.

Photograph: Paul Loughnane

Report by Paul Loughnane

Bluebell walk at Dibbinsdale

Photograph taken before the start of the
‘Bluebell Walk’ at Dibbinsdale last Saturday.
Photograph Hilary Ash

36 people turned up for the Bluebell walk at Dibbinsdale, which made two nice-sized groups led by Pete Miller and Hilary Ash. The bluebells presented a lovely display and they also saw a few celandines and wood anemones, as well as wood sorrel, wood speedwell, sanicle and other flowers.

Record Breaking Open Day

The sun shone on New Ferry Butterfly Park on Sunday April 30th and the visitors arrived....and arrived and arrived! 1059 in all.

A new banner covering the side of the container was unveiled. It was designed by Calum and Carol Ramsay.

The banner on the side of the container

There were lots of things for visitors to do. Pond dipping, making flower pictures, pedalling a bike to make a smoothie or making their own plant pot to pop a seed in 
. 

Newspaper plant pots. Photograph Liz Maidment

The cake and plant stalls are always popular and busy. 

A very small section of the plant stall. Photograph Liz Maidment

Local crafts people also came with items to sell. 

Photograph Liz Maidment

Wirral Tree Wardens brought their maypole and music to celebrate the upcoming May Day. 

Photograph Liz Maidment

Thanks also to Port Sunlight River Park, Record and our 'Spider Man' for adding to the fun. 

Photograph Liz Maidment

The volunteers on the barbecue never stopped cooking and the queues showed how popular their food was.

Don't forget New Ferry Butterfly Park is open on Sunday afternoons from 12 to 4 p.m.

If you would be interested in becoming a volunteer warden and spending two hours greeting visitors at the Park once a month do email us or speak to one of the wardens when you visit.

Butterfly Park Warden Retires

A big thank you to Frank Cottrell for his role in the creation of New Ferry Butterfly Park. At 94 he has just retired as a volunteer warden, having been involved in the creation of the Butterfly Park in 1993.

Frank with his print 

He urges others to become wardens and if you could spare a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon once a month please contact us by email.

The container banner was designed by Calum and Carol Ramsay.

Red Rocks Evening Walk

Photograph : Carl Skepper

Cheshire Wildlife Trust have organised an evening walk at Red Rocks as part of the Wirral Walking Festival 2017. 

Sunday, 14th May from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

An evening guided walk at Red Rocks with a chance to listen out for singing Natterjack toads.

Cost £5

To book telephone 01948 820728 or email