Butterfly Park Visitor Numbers At All Time High

Below is a graph showing the number of visitors to the  park from  2002-2017.

  

3250 visitors was a substantial  increase this  year  due to  increasing general popularity  of the park (seven  Sundays  with over  100  visitors), the  very successful  Open Day (1,059  visitors)  and the increased number of  visiting groups (20  groups).

Total butterfly record counts have been compiled over the period 2002 to 2017. This gives a  good picture of how the butterflies are faring at the Park. Unfortunately it was a mediocre to  poor 2017 season for most of our butterflies, except the Red Admiral and the Holly Blue  who have had their best year to date.

Thanks to all the volunteers who have helped in this success. 

Paul Loughnane

Port Sunlight River Park AGM

The Annual General Meeting and Celebration is on Thursday October 12th from 7 - 8.30 p.m. All welcome.

The Old School Room at the Lyceum, Port Sunlight, CH62 4UJ.

More details by email from Alison McGovern's office

Seed Gathering Saturday

Come on an autumn walk to collect seeds and berries to grow into new plants.

This event is at Port Sunlight River Park on Saturday 21st October from 1.30 - 3.30 p.m.

Meet at Dock Road North Car Park.

For more information contact the Ranger on 07857550060 or email

Wirral Wildlife Out and About

Did you come and say hello to us at Gardeners Question time on Saturday 16th September?

Our new display boards and table cloths had another outing. The previous weekend we had been at Earthfest where we braved the rain but this time we were snuggly in a marquee.

At each event we talked to lots of lovely people who were interested in wildlife and the environment. At Gardeners Question Time there were visitors from all over the country and we were promoting wildlife friendly gardening.

There is another chance to catch us out and about this weekend as it is our Apple Day at Eastham Country Park on Sunday September 24th from 1.30 - 4pm. We will have more than 20 different varieties of apples from Willaston and Brimstage Orchards on our display and tasting table. You will be able to see how apple juice is made using our wooden press and sample it. Mersey Morris Men will be dancing too to add to the fun.

Apple Day 2016: our Chairman busy with the apple press.

Vote for Cleaver Heath

Our Cleaver Heath Nature Reserve project has been shortlisted for a public vote in Tesco’s Bags of Help initiative.

www.groundwork.org.uk/sites/tescocommunityscheme

Vote in store for us to win the top prize!

Voting is taking place in the Tesco superstore at Heswall, and the Tesco Express stores in Neston, Eastham, Pensby, Little Sutton and Ellesmere Port.

Voting is open through September and October.

Vote For New Ferry Butterfly Park

This year's Green Flag. Photo: Richard Ash

Help us to make New Ferry Butterfly Park the nation’s favourite in the People’s Choice Awards

This year an army of experts awarded a record breaking 1,797 Green Flag Awards to the UK’s very best parks and green spaces.

One of the award winners was New Ferry Butterfly Park.

The scheme is now asking the public to vote for their top 10 favourite parks. This is a chance to show how much New Ferry Butterfly Park means to you.

You can find New Ferry Butterfly Park details at http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/park-summary/?park=2066. To vote simply follow this link and click the vote button. Once you’ve voted, why not encourage others to get involved too.

Voting opens 1 September and closes 30 September, with the top 10 winning sites being announced on 11 October.

Show how much New Ferry Butterfly Park means to you. Make your voice heard. Vote now.

Wirral Wader Festival - 8th to 10th September

There will be lots to see and do at Wirral Wader Festival next weekend.

High Tide Bird Watches

1. Cheshire Wildlife Trust Red Rocks Reserve, West Kirby

Saturday 12.30pm – 3pm,  Sunday 1.00pm – 3.30pm 

High tide bird watch with the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens as they protect wader flocks on the beach.

Learn more about waders from the Wader Quest volunteers and about Red Rocks Nature Reserve from the Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

Live wader roost webcam in the Wirral Sailing Centre car park, Dee Lane. There will be a chance to watch a live wader webcam with images from Little Eye island and opportunities to brush up on your SLR/bridge camera skills.

Parking: Dee Lane and along the Promenade (South Parade), West Kirby (CH48 0QG) and Stanley Road, Hoylake (CH47 1HZ)

2. Hoylake

Saturday 12.30pm – 3pm, Sunday 1pm – 3.30pm 

High tide bird watch with the RSPB, Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens and Wader Quest.

Meet at the RNLI station. Nine species of wader are regularly seen and it's a chance for you to brush up on your identification skills. If you don't have a telescope there will be some provided.

Parking: Hoylake Promenade, (North Parade) (CH47 3AL)

Wildlife Walk at Red Rocks Reserve with Cheshire Wildlife Trust

Starting at 3.00pm Saturday and 3.30pm Sunday

Meet at Wirral Sailing Centre car park (CH48 0QG).

Sunset Walk to Hilbre Island 

Saturday 5.30pm-8pm

Booking essential. £3 fee.

Join Wirral Rangers and Cheshire Wildlife Trust on a magical walk to Hilbre Island. Email to book and for meeting details.

(Composting toilet available on the Island, no other facilities).

Family Activity Day

Sunday 1pm – 4pm 

Cheshire Wildlife Trust Red Rocks Reserve, on the beach between West Kirby and Hoylake 

Join in and get creative with family activities on the beach including natural art, a scavenger hunt and sand sculptures. You can also follow the wader trail or enjoy a wildlife guided walk.

Learn more about our coastal birds and meet the creatures that live in the estuary mud.