New Ferry Butterfly Park Opening Day 2026

No butterflies but still lots of fun

New Ferry Butterfly Park held its 15th Opening Day on the Sunday of the first May Bank Holiday. This event marks the start of the park’s 31st open season to the public.

Guests of honour were the local Bromborough ward councillors Jo Bird and Ruth Molyneux. The councillors said how valuable this well-loved asset is to the community and thanked all the volunteers who keep it open and ensure its continual improvements. They also talked of the importance of biodiversity to everyone.

Bromborough ward councillors Jo Bird and Ruth Molyneux opening the new container

Then the councillors declared the new container ‘open’ by pulling a red ribbon bow attached to the doors. The new container will enable the volunteers to run community visits more efficiently. Each of the three local ward councillors, including councillor Keiran Murphy, contributed £300 to the container from Wirral Borough Council funds. This, along with a crowd funding project, a grant from Vitalflo and funds from plant sales together enabled the purchase of the container, material for the associated ground works and the addition of a sloping roof, guttering and water butt to harvest rainwater. The new container will act as an art tableau in the future as an artwork will be attached to the side with money from a legacy from the late Howard Gibson.

Mike being made Honorary President of the Butterfly Park. He never likes a fuss and is in the navy blue coat with his back to the camera.

A special presentation was given to volunteer Mike Maher who has been at the forefront of the plant sales at these opening days since 2012 and in the last four years extending to weekly plants sale throughout the season, constantly renewing the stocks. The money raised is important - over £4,000. But just as important, Mike made it an opportunity to engage with the park’s visitors, swap stories and learn a little more about wildlife. Mike even charmed a couple of his plant customers into joining the wardening team. A new team will continue with the plant sales. Mike Maher was made the First Honorary president of the park and given a certificate and a president’s trophy, a miniature of the butterfly bench that many butterfly park guests have sat on. This miniature of the bench was created by Ian Ramsay, whose wife Carol created the original bench.

Presentation of the model bench to Mike

Despite the unpromising weather, the 1,118 guests enjoyed a tempting BBQ, delicious homemade cakes, a tombola, local craft stalls, plus wildlife exhibits allowing close encounters with spiders, newts, slow worms, owls and a skunk.

BBQ

The Owl Man (with owls!)

A slow worm, brought along by Wirral Amphibian and Reptile Group

Sophie Lewis shared her pond dipping pleasures (see her blog post). RECORD was there to help guests hone their recording skills of plant and animals and informing people how to contribute their records. You could make newspaper pots and sow seeds in them to take home, and of course you could buy plants lovingly grown by volunteers. There was a stall about honeybees and honey from the Park was also available.

Sophie at the pond dipping table

Sewing seeds in pots with Steve of Wirral Countryside Volunteers

Honey from very local bees

A quieter spot was the storytelling gazebo where the children were spell bound by the storyteller and entered a world of calm. They made up their own stories about butterflies and they all knew about their life cycles. This year there was a special stall from the Cheshire Guild of Spinners and Weavers. They brought four spinning wheels and samples of various fibres such as alpaca, camel, possum, plastic before they were spun. A blanket had been made up of squares of all these various materials which you could feel.

Cheshire Guild of Spinners and Weavers

Examples of woven yarn

Although the Park had more spring flowers than ever there were no butterflies on the wing due to the unpromising weather. However, Alistair Noakes of Butterfly Conservation was on hand to show the milk bottle shaped eggs of a brimstone butterfly, so at least some butterflies were seen but without their wings yet.

Phil Putwain, chair of New Ferry Butterfly Park, said,  “The success of Opening Day, year after year, is a testament to the incredible hard work and commitment of so many of the park’s volunteers and Wirral Countryside Volunteers, often including spouses, partners and children, not only in organising, preparing for and then running the Opening Day but clearing up and returning many items back from whence they came. I thought this year was a lovely local community occasion, so relaxed and friendly and sometimes meeting and re-acquainting with people that one has not seen for a while and not too overcrowded. An experience of the best of local community culture at work.”

RECORD stall

Plant sale

Thanks to Bebington Tesco for donations to the BBQ and tombola, to the Refreshment Rooms, Rock Ferry, for sponsoring 100 burgers and more importantly use of a large chest freezer, to The Easter Lily for ribbon and to New Ferry Village Hall for the loan of gazebos and tables. Thanks to the team of 42 volunteers involved in the day; the team gets stronger every opening day.

The tombola

The Park is now open every Sunday between 12 noon and 4 pm until mid-September.

So do come back on a quieter Sunday and enjoy the succession of wildlife as the season progresses. The plant sales continue throughout the season.

New Ferry Butterfly Park - March Update

The area where seeds have been sown

On the Butterfly Park workday on 8th March, we sowed more seeds on the ground opposite Mel’s Garden (pictured above). In total, more than 20 species of grass and wildflower seeds are in the soil so far.

On the following day we put some degradable plastic ribbons and flower/ yoghurt pots to deter the birds from eating the seeds (photo below). We hope it works, but apologies to the birds for this temporary deprivation. They can resume their pecking after a month or so. Some of those seeds are bought, but most are donated by friends and partner conservation organisations. Although some are a bit old, we shall wait and see!

Trying to deter birds from eating the freshly sown seeds

Some of the plugs planted by university students and refugees last year are doing well, in particular Black Knapweed, Hawkbit, Great Birds-foot Trefoil, Red Campion and Selfheal (all pictured below).

Black Knapweed

Hawkbit

Great Birds-foot Trefoil

Red Campion

Selfheal

If you have some native grass and wildflower seeds to spare, why not give them to us and we will make good use of them.

Yan and Charles, New Ferry Butterfly Park volunteers

Helping Hands for Wild Flowers at the Butterfly Park

If you have been to New Ferry Butterfly Park, you may remember the bramble-dominated patch opposite to Mel’s Garden. Like the picture shown below, two suffocating species, ivy and brambles, operate like ground and air forces driving all other species to the edge. However, can you imagine that the exact area was once grassland some 20 years ago? While brambles are important to wildlife and there are plenty of them in the Park, flower-rich grassland provides an equally important but different wildlife habitat.

Ivy and brambles opposite Mel's Garden at the Butterfly Park

The work was started by Brian Burden from Wirral Countryside Volunteers and his helpers last autumn. We seized the opportunity and were carried away to transform this patch of ground back to its original shape. The tasks involve removing the prickly and scrambling brambles together with their roots and (as much as possible) the ivy crawling on the ground surface. While doing these tasks, some redcurrant bushes were revealed, the remnant of an allotment site many years ago!

Now the area looks so different, more open and fresher. Some dormant wildflower seeds in the soil will germinate soon. More wildflower seeds were added to the soil and more seeds to follow! Wildflower plug plants gifted by Cheshire Wildlife Trust were already in the ground last autumn, thanks to the helping hands of students from Liverpool John Moores University and refugees residing in Hoylake. 

A dead hedge at the edge of the garden area

In the picture above you may just make out a dry / dead hedge on the left, adding some style and decoration, as well as a demarcation “advising” the brambles and ivy where to stop!

Like managing any other wildlife habitats, there will be plenty of maintenance work to do in the years to come. However, the efforts will be hugely rewarded by watching the butterflies and other animals attracted to and making good use of the area! 

Yan and Charles, Butterfly Park volunteers

Cleaver Heath 2025 - An Eventful Year

Two significant events occurred at Cleaver Heath during 2025 that largely determined the nature of the work carried out by the volunteers during the year. Firstly the contractor led heathland restoration project which was part-funded by a very generous grant from Woodchurch High School and which was carried out in February and secondly, the fire which severely damaged the main heather panels during August.

For the restoration project, an area approximately 0.25 hectare in size within the southern part of the reserve that had been covered in bracken and gorse with some birch and very little heather present, was cleared of vegetation to ground level by specialized contractors. After this initial scrape, the plan was for the volunteers to clear regenerating scrub, monitor any existing heather regrowth and spread heather seed collected from other areas of the reserve over the site later in the year to encourage new heather growth.

Contractors working on site at Cleaver Heath

More machinery to help clear the ground for heather regeneration

Although the contractor scraping had removed a significant amount of bracken rhizome, much still remained deeper in the soil and initial volunteer work during March involved digging out and removing as much of the dense underground rhizome network as possible.

Volunteers clearing bracken rhizome

Bracken rhizome

During April and May, sprouting gorse stumps and the first young unfurling bracken fronds from the remaining rhizomes were removed. Further clearance work continued monthly throughout the summer dealing with even more bracken pulling and rosebay willow herb, birch, oak, bramble and fresh gorse seedling removal. A few pioneer stage heather plants were observed.

Removal of gorse stumps using tree-poppers

Uprooted gorse seedlings

In October, seed-containing heather shoots were harvested from other areas of the reserve and spread across the cleared restoration site. Germination and growth of the new heather will be monitored while continuing to keep the site clear of unwanted scrub regrowth.

Fresh heather shoots spread over the restoration area

Heather seeds

The second main but very much unwanted event of the year occurred during August when after many weeks of hot dry weather, significant areas of the heath were severely damaged by fire.

Fire damage at Cleaver Heath

An extensive area of heather was burnt

Remarkably within a couple of months, fresh regrowth of vegetation was apparent across the blackened surfaces. Initially purple moor grass tussocks sprouted followed by other grasses, rosebay willow herb, extensive coverage of germinating gorse seedlings and some bracken.

Regrowth of grasses along edge of footpath

Rosebay Willowherb regrowth

Volunteers are working to control this regrowth to prevent the return of excessive amounts of scrub and invasive species and allow for the hopeful germination of existing heather seed and the growth of underground heather shoots already in the soil They are also cutting down and removing large blackened gorse bushes especially within the lower slopes of the reserve.

Volunteers scraping out surface regrowth

Blackened gorse

One undesirable effect of the fire was to totally remove a significant area of the surface vegetation within the lower heathland slopes thus allowing easy access to this previously inaccessible area for visitors and their dogs. In order to limit this access we have constructed a dead hedge along the edge of the main public footpath which together with some appropriate signage will explain to members of the public why it is important to keep off the burnt areas to encourage the natural recovery of important plants and animals.

Thanks are due to both the Wirral Wildlife and Cheshire Wildlife Trust volunteers who together with Graham Borden-Long, Living Landscape Officer at CWT, have worked hard throughout the year to progress the restoration project and deal with the aftermath of the fire.

John McGaw
Volunteer Reserve Warden Cleaver Heath

New Year – New Opportunities – Taking Action for Wildlife

Members of Wirral Wildlife want to create a Wirral richer in wildlife by managing our reserves to increase biodiversity and encouraging people to join us.

If you are interested in taking action for wildlife alongside us, how can you get involved?

Do you like to be outdoors and use skills you already have – or learn new ones?

We look after 3 local nature reserves and practical work is carried out by honorary wardens and a team of volunteers. Once a month volunteers do practical work at Cleaver Heath and New Ferry Butterfly Park, with occasional workdays at Thornton Wood. Examples of tasks include removing invasive birch at Cleaver Heath so heather has a chance to spread, coppicing of hazel in Thornton Wood and removal of invasive species like Himalayan balsam. You could learn how to scythe or lay a hedge at New Ferry Butterfly Park.

Scything fun at New Ferry Butterfly Park!

A workday at Cleaver Heath

Do you have knowledge to identify plants, fungi, invertebrates, birds or mammals?

A team of recorders do annual surveys of local wildlife sites so there is a permanent record of the wildlife there and any changes. If you aren’t an expert you can learn as you go.

Surveying at Thurstaston Common

Are you interested or concerned about building developments in Wirral?

We look at planning applications to check if they may have an impact on wildlife and advise the council accordingly.

Are you interested in finding out more about local nature?

We have a programme of talks and guided walks open to the public. Monthly talks are held from September to April at Thornton Hough WI Hall and feature a wide range of speakers. Guided walks usually include a spring flower walk, a walk in Thornton Wood and an autumn fungi walk. Each autumn we hold an Apple Afternoon at New Ferry Butterfly Park where visitors can taste locally grown apples and help to make juice using our traditional wooden press.

Bluebells in Thornton Wood

Do you like enthusing children?

We work with schools by giving guided tours of New Ferry Butterfly Park, going into schools to give talks or attending school nature events.

Show children how to build a bug hotel

Do you like meeting people or fundraising?

We attend events like Cool Heswall and Ness Nature Day and have an Open Garden afternoon at Poulton Hall. We have volunteer wardens at New Ferry Butterfly Park on Sundays from May to September.

The Wirral Wildlife stall at Ness Gardens Nature Day

Are you a local ‘Friends’ group? Do you want some wildlife advice?

We have members with experience who could help with surveys or ideas.

Do your skills lie in organising or communication?

Would you like to organise events or write newsletters or social media?


Our dedicated Wirral Wildlife volunteers do all these things and more. We are a busy, inclusive group and welcome anyone who wants to make Wirral richer in wildlife.

Send an email to info@wirralwildlife.org.uk or come to one of our talks (see the Events page on our website) and speak to one of us.

No prior experience necessary – just a desire to be involved. You would be made very welcome if you would like to join us.

Taking Action for Wildlife: A Review of 2025

2025 saw celebrations of the 30th anniversary of New Ferry Butterfly Park being open to the public. Since 2002 we have welcomed a total of 34,890 visitors, some on Sunday afternoons and some on guided visits. This year the Butterfly Park received its 13th Green Flag and its second RHS North West in Bloom level 5 Award. All these things reflect the dedication of volunteers that includes the Wirral Countryside Volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer at New Ferry Butterfly Park, either as a voluntary warden or on a workday, email us at info@wirralwildlife.org.uk

Visitors at the 2025 Open Day at New Ferry Butterfly Park

The season started well at Cleaver Heath reserve with a regeneration project, which saw an area dominated by bracken and gorse scraped back to mineral soil, in order to encourage the regeneration of heather. The work was funded through money raised by Woodchurch High School and our own fund-raising. The Cleaver Heath volunteers then worked hard to remove remaining bracken roots. Then, at the end of August, a fire broke out (in another area of the heath), probably caused by someone lighting a fire in an improvised fire pit. Luckily by the end of November some recovery of vegetation was evident.

Work in progress to remove an area of bracken and gorse at Cleaver Heath

Events Attended in 2025

Wirral Wildlife attended many outside events in 2025, none of which we could do without our dedicated volunteer team.

March was a busy month with Our Dee Estuary's Final Celebration in Hoole, the Wirral History and Heritage Fair in Port Sunlight and Cheshire Wildlife Trust's Action for Wildlife Weekend at Birkenhead Park. At each of these events we took our display boards and our children’s crafts where appropriate and told visitors about the work of Wirral Wildlife. 

Linda gave a talk at the Action for Wildlife event at Birkenhead Park

In May we had a table at Cool Heswall with information and activities to help spread the word about the vital importance of nature.

The Wirral Wildlife stall at Cool Heswall

Volunteers worked hard at Poulton Hall Open Day in July, making cream teas, welcoming visitors and leading meadow walks. 

A guided meadow walk at Poulton Hall

Ness Nature Day was held on a beautiful August day and we did craft activities with lots of children.

Wirral Wildlife volunteers at the Nature Day at Ness Gardens

In October an Apple Afternoon was held at New Ferry Butterfly Park with a display of 28 apple varieties and apple juicing using our traditional apple press.

Just some of the varieties of apple at the Apple Afternoon at the Butterfly Park

Green Libraries Week in October found us helping the librarians at Birkenhead Library and West Kirby Library deliver sessions on nature-based crafts.

Children's crafts during Green Libraries Week

If you would like to join our events team please email us at info@wirralwildlife.org.uk

All year round our Recording team is busy with surveys or writing up their observations. It is vital to know which species are present and if their distribution is changing.

Transects surveying at Thurstaston Common

Two members of Wirral Wildlife committee received special recognition this year. Hilary Ash, Honorary Conservation Officer, was presented with the Cool Wirral ‘Environmental Hero’ award, and Stephen Ross, Chairman, received the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award from Cheshire Wildlife Trust.

Hilary received a Cool Wirral Environmental Hero award

Stephen was awarded the Volunteer of the Year by Cheshire Wildlife Trust

From this brief overview of 2025 you can see what Wirral Wildlife volunteers have achieved.

Why not come and join us? It is very rewarding to ‘Take Action for Wildlife’, as we promise to do!