Wednesday 29 September 2021

Wirral's Wild 50!


Wirral's Wild 50. How many will you discover?
Wirral's Wild 50. How many will you discover?

This year it is the 50th anniversary of the creation of Wirral Wildlife as the local group of Cheshire Wildlife Trust.


To mark the occasion we decided to create a monthly educational resource for local schools and called it ‘Wirral’s Wild 50’. We provided a list of 50 species of plants and animals to be found on the Wirral and their habitats. Each month there is a worksheet of things to do, a list of online resources and a relevant activity, game or craft.


This month we are giving you the species list – how many will you be able to find?


5 habitats found on the Wirral and some of the species you will find there
5 habitats found on the Wirral and some of the species you will find there


Then each month we will post the sheet on our Blog to reach a wider audience. Please do let us know if you find it useful.


Monday 13 September 2021

A Treasure Trove of Incredible Invertebrates


Male and female common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus)
Male and female common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus)

In August, New Ferry Butterfly Park had 13 visitors from the Tanyptera Trust and Liverpool World Museum, who had organised an invertebrate recording day. This included experts on beetles, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, spiders and a whole range of other 'mini-beasts'.


Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami)
Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami)


The sun shone and it stayed dry, and much collecting was done, including in places the rest of us might think unlikely, such as the compost bins and the woodchip pile. The full results will not be known for a while, as identifying these creatures can be difficult, but Roy Lowry has kindly let us show you some of his pictures.


Meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)
Meadow grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)


Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum)
Common Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum)

Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)



Long hoverfly (Sphaerophoria Scripta)
Long hoverfly (Sphaerophoria Scripta)


Crab spider (Xysticus cristatus)
Crab spider (Xysticus cristatus)


In the photo below, a wasp (Glypta vulnerator) was exploring a knapweed flower in search of micromoth caterpillars to lay her eggs in. A honeybee decided it wanted to share the flower. The wasp continued her search, getting quite animated and causing her ovipositor to swing around like a sword in the bee's vicinity. The bee decided it was time to find a quieter flower. There must have been caterpillars in the flower as the wasp soon started egg laying.


Honeybee (Apis mellifera) and a wasp Glypta vulnerator

Saturday 4 September 2021

The Transformation of Hoylake Willows


Sally Scott is one the brains behind the idea to rewild an area in Hoylake that was cleared last year. The transformation since then has been amazing to see and learn about. Below we share information from the Hoylake Willows progress report that Sally has produced.


The cleared land in Hoylake in February 2020
The cleared land in Hoylake in February 2020


The site plan
The site plan


In February 2020 three willow trees near to Hoylake’s Manor Road Station were pollarded – the site was heavily covered with sawdust and woodchip and the 3 stumps presented a forlorn image.

Gradually plants began to colonise the space, but until the 3 stumps first produced new leaves it seemed very slow, however an idea emerged that this space could be protected and monitored for nature.

The site was considered too small an area to have much status, but in August 2020 a botanical survey was undertaken by Dr Hilary Ash, as a result 88 newly emerged plants species were recorded.

At this point we saw another opportunity… That wildflower species could enrich the rough grass edge of the lane that goes to the Hoylake Allotment site providing another source of pollen – and an informal ‘green corridor’.


Early days at the rewilding area of Hoylake Willows
Early days at the rewilding area of Hoylake Willows



The wildflower area was given No Mow signs by Wirral Borough Council

The wildflower area was given No Mow signs by Wirral Borough Council 



Initial Project Plan

Monitoring of the Rewilding area would continue. This area would have a ‘light touch’ management, with no new planting and the only very limited removal of those plants that risked taking over the site.

Paths would be established, to ease working, to minimise trampling and to increase access to members of the community, many of whom enjoyed spending time in the area during lockdown in 2020.

A Wildflower area (since renamed the Triangle) was prepared, and consideration given to what should be planted and how it was to be best managed.

Our commitment to work with Wirral Borough Council was seen as vital, with the hoped-for increase in Biodiversity and contribution to Green Corridors and Green Space in line with Council policies.


Progress though the year, across all seasons


The earliest flowers in January - Lungwort

The earliest flowers in January - Lungwort



Meadowsweet – blossoms and seed

Meadowsweet – blossoms and seed



Tangle of flowers including relocated Purple Loosestrife

Tangle of flowers including relocated Purple Loosestrife



Rewilding Area

  • Species
It appears that a few species have been lost, eg Hop Trefoil, whilst about 20 newly emerged species have been seen, most recently Common Vetch. We have seen some large swathes of flowering plants, eg Lesser Celandine, Greater Birds-foot-trefoil and Meadowsweet as well as significant clumps of Hedge wound-wort, Mugwort and White Campion, and of course the expected Great Willowherb.

A magnificent stand of Purple Loosestrife has not only reappeared this summer, but the species has spread to new locations on the site.

  • Invasive species
The botanical survey of a year ago recorded a patch of Himalayan Balsam. However, despite frequent checking only a few small shoots have reappeared. Ongoing close monitoring will be necessary.

Though not initially seen/recorded, a line of Japanese Knotweed appeared close to the railway boundary fence, during the year. Wirral BC and Network Rail have been informed, and this part of the site is registered as needing annual treatment by the Council.

  • Trees
As well as the 2 Elder trees, other very young trees have appeared - an Oak and an Ash, 2 Horse chestnuts, 2 Sycamores and numerous Hawthorns. A Norway Maple a few years old has been recognised, but lies just outside the area originally surveyed.

Dr Ash’s survey commented that an Ash tree, also outside the site area, had some signs of Ash Dieback, the visibly affected branches were disposed of, and to date, there is no visible sign of further Dieback.

  • Paths
The paths have been managed with the help of WBC, who provided woodchip to ensure greater visibility and to help maintain these paths.


Teasels and sunflowers
Teasels and sunflowers


Chives and yarrow
Chives and yarrow



The Triangle

This wildflower area has provided interest and delight from Allotment plot holders and members of the community taking walks on nearby paths. An amazing show of flowering plants has replaced some of the rough grass.

About 30 types of wildflower plants were grown from seed, or donated by well-wishers. Experiments to tackle the dominant species, such as course grass and ground elder, were carried out, using Yellow Rattle, rather than chemicals. The results are yet to be seen.

Some so called ‘garden’ flowers were planted if they are ‘native’, pollen rich and locally grown.


View across the fields from The Willows
View across the fields from The Willows



In conclusion

All this has been, and still is, an ongoing a source of learning! The focus for both parts of the work has mainly been on flora, but as we gain more experience and hopefully will be less undermined by Covid-19, more attention will be given to our better recognition and monitoring pollinators and other fauna.

A ‘private’ Facebook group has been set up to provide a space for information about, and photos of, the site. It is an informal ‘blog’. Group members can comment and it's a resource for anyone interested in rewilding and wild flower policy.

Join Hoylake Willows Facebook group here: