Green Shoots at Cleaver Heath Following Fire

At the end of August a fire broke out at Cleaver Heath, probably caused by someone lighting a fire in an improvised fire pit.

The probable cause of the fire at Cleaver Heath - a makeshift fire pit in amongst the heather

There is heartening news though as one of our volunteers captured a photo of a 'very much alive' common lizard running across one of the most badly burnt areas. Hopefully there are more lizards that managed to escape.

Common lizard seen in the burnt area on Cleaver Heath

Burnt tussocks of purple moor grass are already sprouting new leaves, deep root systems probably helped them survive.

Purple moor grass sprouting new leaves

In another area of the heath that thankfully wasn't affected by the fire, tiny 'christmas-tree' shaped heather seedlings have appeared. Common heather seed was spread over this area last year as part of a long-term programme to manage the age structure of heather across the reserve.

Heather seedling growing in an area of Cleaver Heath unaffected by the fire

John McGaw
Voluntary Warden at Cleaver Heath

The aftermath of the fire on Cleaver Heath

At the time Cheshire Wildlife Trust reported:

"….. a wildfire spanning more than 800 metres broke out at our Cleaver Heath Nature Reserve. The fire brigade responded swiftly, arriving with four engines at 11:36 am and fully extinguishing the blaze by 12:58 pm.

We’re extremely grateful to the fire service for their swift and professional response, their quick action prevented what could have been an even more devastating outcome. While we're relieved the blaze was contained, we are deeply concerned about the damage to this rare heathland and the species that depend on it. 

Incidents like this are a stark reminder of just how vulnerable these habitats are and how vital it is that we all play a part in protecting them. 

The fire appears to have been started by a makeshift firepit constructed directly on the heather at the bottom of the slope. It then spread into neighbouring vegetation and quickly moved across the reserve, undoubtedly accelerated by the long dry spell and the highly flammable nature of the heathland itself."

Graham Borden Long, Living Landscape Officer, said:

“Cleaver Heath is part of the Heswall Dales Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is protected due to the rare and vulnerable habitat found at the reserve. The fire at this time of year will have had a huge impact on a vast number of invertebrates, reptiles, and nesting birds.” 

Cleaver Heath is a rare and precious lowland heathland that supports a rich mix of wildlife all year round, from butterflies and breeding warblers to kestrels hunting across the heath. Over 50 bird species have been recorded, including linnets, redwings, and winter-visiting woodcock. Scrub and surrounding woodland add even more variety, providing shelter for mammals like foxes, bats, and badgers. Around 85% of UK heathland has been lost over the past 150 years due to agricultural development and conifer planting, making this diverse habitat increasingly rare and vital for many declining species."

Astra Zeneca Gives Seasonal Booster to Butterfly Park

Astra Zeneca team 2025

Most seniors get an annual influenza vaccine, possibly manufactured locally by Astra Zeneca, Speke, Liverpool. New Ferry Butterfly Park got its annual Astra Zeneca (AZ) booster in August when ten AZ employees and a coordinator from Employee Volunteering came - they worked on four projects.

Restoring the Butterfly Park boundary

Our founder Mel Roberts’ former residence, adjacent to the park has been sold and restored for the rental market. The new owners removed the dilapidated fencing and all the fencing was handsomely restored apart from a small wedge at the end of the garden which was cut short leaving a bit of an undetermined boundary. The AZ team solved this under the direction of our in-house volunteer, Peter Martin, by putting in two concrete posts, two gravel boards and two wooden fence panels to make the park safe. AZ also provided funds for the material for this project; they can come again. They worked carefully around the 25-year-old crab apple tree on the boundary not to damage its roots. There was a small gap left in the new fencing, but the gap is going to be bridged with a bespoke panel made to measure by Timber Kings, Prenton.

A sunken bath planted up

A bath donated by a volunteer during the pond restoration project last year was sunken into the ground by the M&S Bank team in July. The AZ team filled the bath with soil and water with a thin layer of compost placed on top. This newly created wetland area was then planted up with plants used by butterflies. There was bugle, a great spring nectar source used by eleven species of butterfly found at the park and lady’s smock, the larval food plant of both orange tip and the green veined-white butterflies. Also added were Common Sorrel a larval food plant for the Small Copper and Devil’s bit scabious, a great end of season nectar sources used by ten species of butterfly found at the park. Another addition was Common Fleabane which is used impressively by sixteen butterfly species at the park and is the favourite nectar source of the small copper butterfly.

In dry summers it is great to keep some nectar and larval sources in good condition. Very soon three small copper butterflies were recorded adjacent to the sunken bath. In this dry summer, sheep’s sorrel, one of the larval food plants of the Small Copper, were starting to dry out in the coal dust areas and became unsuitable for larval survival. On a well-drained railway site, which the park is, the wetland areas provide welcome respite in dry summers.

The bracken removal party

For the first time for some years, bracken was cut at the park as it is starting to advance over the railway ballast areas. Paths were created in Charlie’s Field by mowing with scythes. A couple of employees loved using the scythes, especially when they cut close to the ground as it was much easier and gave a much better cut. Hilary gave an engaging lunch time tour to give a bigger picture of the park and how all these projects contributed to the continued success of the park. One of the AZ staff who came from Bebington and had never heard of the park will be coming again, another link made. We look forward to another booster next year.

Scything in Charlie's Field

(Photos by Mike Elderton and Hilary Ash)

Paul Loughnane
Reserve Manager, New Ferry Butterfly Park

A Pearl of a Park

The Butterfly Park's 30th Birthday celebrations at Windsor Close Community Centre

New Ferry Butterfly Park’s 30th Birthday party was held at Windsor Close Community Centre, New Ferry. This venue is where many of the Park activities have been planned. The room was set out cabaret style with nine of the Green Flags awarded to the park being used as tablecloths to colour the place up and as a roll of honour. As well as tea and coffee, there was a good selection of homemade cakes and savoury snacks.

Green Flags from years past used as tablecloths

The inspiration for the Butterfly Park came from the late Mel Roberts, who lived adjacent to the site. His original booklet dated 1991 entitled  “A proposal for the re-development of the old Alma Street Goods Yard at Bebington and New Ferry Station”, and his display boards were on display. Both were used to convince the Cheshire Wildlife Trust to take the Park on board. There was also an opening day programme from 15th July 1995 when Lyndon Harrison, West Cheshire MEP, officially opened the Park.

A display about the history of the Butterfly Park

There was a modern poster display put up by Linda and also a rolling PowerPoint presentation from over the years featuring many celebrations and much cutting of cakes with billhooks! Despite being deeply involved in the Park for a considerable length of time, most attendees learned something new about the Park.

Carol Ramsay’s open day poem of 2014 struck a chord with many, as it is true for every year. Here it is for another airing.

Carol's Reflections on the Butterfly Park Open Day

Well, wow what a really lovely day we've just had.

Now that it's over we're actually quite sad.

Many thanks to the Mayor and also to the Dame, 

to the stall holders and everybody else who came.

A few butterflies were spotted as the weather stayed nice,

and ladybirds and shield bugs as well as woodlice.

People loved pedalling the smoothie bike

and the Barbecue was another big like. 

Green flag rose high, seen by visitors and passersby;

but the newts are now tired; we cannot lie. 

The day is over, the volunteers are all spent, yet we're all 

delighted with how well it went.

Carol Ramsay 2014 

Then Hilary Ash, the longest standing volunteer of those associated with the Park, began the speeches. She first met Mel in June 1991 when Wirral Wildlife hosted a stall at Ness Gardens; who knows what happens when you host a stall? Mel explained about the Alma Street Goods Yard and Hilary was immediately very interested, as the subject of her PhD was developing derelict land for nature conservation purposes. Thirty years on we can see the results of his foresight.

Hilary thanked all those volunteers present, the long-standing volunteers and those who could not make it and remembering those who are no longer with us.

Dr Hilary Ash, giving a speech with Mel's display in background 

Charles Neame, Vice-Chair of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, was invited as guest of honour.  Charles is no stranger to the park as he came on an apple grafting course at the park and successfully grafted an Ecclestone Pippin in 2019. He was one of the guests of honour at the 2024 opening day when the tiles in the brick pillars of the silver jubilee gates were unveiled.  Charles said a few generous words on how the Cheshire Wildlife Trust derived kudos from the work of the volunteers at the Park and declared, “Here is to the Butterfly Park and all who sail in her”, cutting the ceremonial cake, a second brood female white butterfly, with a billhook expertly and accurately straight down the middle.  Charles, you will have to take up hedge laying.

The butterfly birthday cake

Charles Neame, of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, cutting the cake with a billhook - something of a Butterfly Park tradition!

Charles was presented with a large jar of blackberry jam made by Paul and Philippa Loughnane, from blackberries picked at the Park just a few days before. The stocks of jam created from blackberries at the Park are used through the year for ceremonial cakes and workday cakes.

Charles with the jar of homemade blackberry jam

Some of the Butterfly Park committee members with Charles Neame

Formalities over, much chat was enjoyed. There was a great buzz to the room, with the making of re-acquaintances and chance to engage with the larger volunteer team. Hilary led a tour of guests around the perk. Thanks to all who contributed; cakes, savoury snacks, washed and dried dishes and swept the floor at the end leaving the community centre spotless, as ever great Butterfly Park teamwork. Thanks to all the volunteers who have contributed to the success of the park over the last 30 years. If you do visit the park soon, bring a tub down and collected some tasty blackberries, there are loads for wildlife and humans.

Paul Loughnane

Photographs by Paul Loughnane, Hilary Ash and Mike Inger

Cleaver Heath Restoration Update

A visit to Cleaver Heath

Some members of Wirral Wildlife committee and Cleaver Heath managers visited Cleaver Heath on 4th August to see the restoration work that was started last spring.

An area dominated by bracken and gorse was scraped back to mineral soil, using funding raised by Woodchurch High School and our own fund-raising. Since then the volunteers have been working hard to remove remaining bracken roots.

An area that has been cleared of bracken and gorse

In the photo above the nearest part to the camera has been cleared, but the further part needs work.

More volunteers to help would be much appreciated - please email info@wirralwildlife.org.uk if you would like to help.

Habitat restoration is a slow business, but we hope in a few years’ time the cleared area will look more like the top area of the heath, shown below.

Heather in flower at Cleaver Heath

Dr Hilary Ash
Honorary Conservation Officer, Wirral Wildlife

Spring/Summer 2025 Prize Quiz: Winner and Answers

Cumulus clouds - the answer to clue 13

Very many thanks to everyone who entered our weather themed quiz. Your support is very much appreciated and the money sent to Wirral Wildlife for the entrance fees is most welcome.

We received a total of 139 entries, of which 37 were all correct. We had a random draw to select the winner, who is Shelley Challenger, of Chippenham.

Here are the answers to the clues:

1. Singing boy on thoroughfare with rodent (American) – maybe on cloud nine? (11). ALTOSTRATUS

2. Do I hear my mother’s sister working within a succession of recurring events? (11). ANTICYCLONE

3. Uses the bathroom after a danger loses energy. (5, 7). APRIL SHOWERS

4. You might think this is a measuring instrument for pubs. (9). BAROMETER

5. Bee first landed on Cornish promontory, I heard. (8). BLIZZARD

6. Mary, the baker, taking on one of the seven deadly sins after losing Romeo, was assailed by this weather. (8). BLUSTERY

7. Have a KitKat where computer files may be stored, letting 45 through. (5, 2, 3, 5). BREAK IN THE CLOUD

8. Talking of French cheeses? (6). BREEZE

9. Romeo takes one of Charlie’s places in the Big Top. (6). CIRRUS

10. Hackneyed expression including pal, and also all new German leaders. (7, 6). CLIMATE CHANGE

11. Was that Charlie with a noisy explosion? (10). CLOUDBURST

12. Viral infection ahead! (4, 5). COLD FRONT

13. Looking back initially, sunlight usually lifted up most undeveloped clouds. (7). CUMULUS

14. “From the empty air appearing, into empty air returning, taking shape when earth it touches, but invisible to all men in its coming and its going.” – The Song of Hiawatha. (3). DEW

15. The insectivorous plant sundew points its sticky leaf-hairs towards the sun. (3, 5). DEW POINT

16. Soft feathers beside Italian river and ancient city. (8). DOWNPOUR

17. Doctor really should look for water. (7). DROUGHT

18. In Rinteln in old British army base (in Germany) during the 1950s, my cousin did National Service. (2, 4). EL NIÑO

19. Prolonged 16 produces two kinds of light. (5, 5). FLASH FLOOD

20. Weather you may find in France or Germany, primarily, mending a tattered garment. (3, 7). FOG PATCHES

21. This will need treatment. What’s best for it? (9). FROSTBITE

22. Category 8 according to Sir Francis. (4, 5, 4). GALE FORCE WIND

23. World conflict about Chinese dynasty. (6, 7). GLOBAL WARMING

24. Aftermath of painted dwelling? (10, 6). GREENHOUSE EFFECT

25. Are you leaving us to face this variable weather? (4). GUST

26. Greet ageing rock band enthusiastically. (10). HAILSTONES

27. Was Edward Heath a zealous Europhile? (4, 4). HEAT HAZE

28. Will Hong-Kong leader take in food with a gesture? (8). HEATWAVE

29. Stoned news media by Yorkshire river. (4, 8). HIGH PRESSURE

30. Did I hear Adam and Eve say “Get a move on, son!”, or words to that effect? (9). HURRICANE

31. Apache adder perhaps? (6, 6). INDIAN SUMMER

32. Matt jeers rudely. (9). JETSTREAM

33. Is this the study of shooting stars? No! (11). METEOROLOGY

34. “This is a mistrial,” said the judge, “I’m leaving.” (7). MISTRAL

35. Little Monday is approaching. (7). MONSOON

36. I get out of minibus when it breaks down. (6). NIMBUS

37. Six balls for the actors. (8). OVERCAST

38. If you start running again in November, you will get soaked. (4). RAIN

39. Domesticated animals on the throne reportedly. (7, 4, 3, 4). RAINING CATS AND DOGS

40. Condition welcomed by one in charge of lambs. (3, 3, 2, 5). RED SKY AT NIGHT

41. Whisky didn’t hit the spot, we’re told. (6, 4). SCOTCH MIST

42. Seen in sea areas like Viking, Faeroes, Fair Isle, etc. (5). SLEET

43. Stir up – down first, on a windy winter’s day. (9). SNOWDRIFT

44. Is this the worst Mons weather? (9). SNOWSTORM

45. CJ, who “didn’t get where I am today by …” was boss of these desserts. (8). SUNSHINE

46. Someone unlocked the pearly gates, causing 16. (3, 7, 6). THE HEAVENS OPENED

47. Audio-visual display (from two German reindeer?) (7, 3, 9). THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

48. Ripped with what Shakespeare found a lot of concerning nought. (7). TORNADO

49. Motorcar spoilt, vandalised, but nothing stolen. (8, 5). TROPICAL STORM

50. Looked behind, not in, French Riviera city once more, as George would say. (6, 3, 4, 5). TURNED OUT NICE AGAIN

Here are some notes on the clues that seemed to cause the most difficulty:

3. APRIL SHOWERS – “a danger” = “a peril”; “shower” couldn’t be accepted, as the clue

requires third person singular.

7. BREAK IN THE CLOUD – We didn’t accept “clouds” because computer files are stored in

“The Cloud”, and “clouds” has too many letters.

8. BREEZE – nothing in the clue would suggest a second syllable, so “breezy” was not

accepted.

12. COLD FRONT – We didn’t allow “cold spell” as it didn’t fit with “ahead” in the clue.

15. DEW POINT – Dew point is the temperature at which dew starts to form. The whole

phrase was hidden in the clue: “… sundew points …”.

20. FOG PATCHES – This is a phrase commonly used in weather forecasts.

22. GALE FORCE WIND – A lot of people put “gale, fresh gale”; both are terms used to

describe a Force 8 wind, but “gale, fresh gale” is not an expression that is commonly used.

23. GLOBAL WARMING – A popular entry was “global warning”, but we are not aware of a

“Ning” dynasty; also the phrase is not weather-related.

24. GREENHOUSE EFFECT – Several people put in “greenhouse gases”, some spelling it

“gasses” in order to fit the letter count. But there is nothing in the clue that refers to gases.

26. HAILSTONES – The Rolling Stones is the rock band that the clue refers to. “Stones” is a

common shorthand for the band. We also accepted “Hailstorms” in recognition that “Storm”

is the name of a rock band. “Hailstone” and Hailstorm” were not accepted – too few letters.

33. METEOROLOGY – This is the study of the atmosphere, with focus on weather-

forecasting.

42. SLEET – A lot of people didn’t spot this hidden in the clue: “… Fair Isle etc.”

43. SNOWDRIFT – Anagram of “down first”.

45. SUNSHINE – This refers to the BBC sitcom “The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin”.

Perrin worked for a firm called “Sunshine Desserts”.

50. TURNED OUT NICE AGAIN – This was a catch phrase used by George Formby, the

Lancashire entertainer.

Mayor Keeps Countryside Volunteers at the Cutting Edge

The gathering crowd at the Wirral Countryside Volunteers 40th Anniversary celebrations

Mayor, Councillor Brian Kenny, and Mayoress, Helen Kenny, marked 40 years of Wirral Countryside Volunteers and helped keep them at the cutting edge at their 40th year celebration BBQ at New Ferry Butterfly Park.

First, the Mayor unveiled a foot treadle operated sandstone wheel, recently restored by the volunteers. The wheel is used for sharpening axes and billhooks which are required for effective coppicing and hedge laying. The mayor had a go turning the wheel and sharpening a billhook.

WCV's Paul Loughnane showing the Mayor how to sharpen a billhook

The mayor gave a great speech about the achievements of the volunteers making it to their 40th year and how they have worked on over 40 Wirral sites, on council sites and other areas, with rangers, Friends Groups and farmers as well as having helped with open days at New Ferry Butterfly Park and afternoon teas at Poulton Hall.

An amazing seven kilometres of hedge has been laid/restored by the Wirral Countryside Volunteers over the last 40 years, and they have kept the local Cheshire style of hedge laying alive by taking part in local and national competitions. They have promoted hedgerow restoration and have hosted twenty free hedge laying training days, which proved to be exceedingly popular with fifty-eight people on one occasion. The Volunteers hedge laying projects have been sustained by hedging stakes harvested from coppicing regimes at Thornton Wood, Eastham Country Park and New Ferry Butterfly Park. These coppice regimes have benefited the spring woodland flowers. As well as being experts in hedge laying and coppicing they are also experts in scything which they use to maintain wildflower meadows and woodland glades around Wirral and in particular at New Ferry Butterfly Park.

The 40th anniversary cake

The Mayor and Mayoress slicing the cake with a billhook

After the speech, the mayor and mayoress sliced a ceremonial cake made by the group’s treasurer. They cut the cake together using a billhook, a tool used for cutting the woody stems in hedge laying. Following this, they raised the Green Flag for New Ferry Butterfly Park which the Wirral Countryside Volunteers have had a constant and extensive input into for the last 30 years. This is the 13th consecutive year the park has gained this award.

The Mayoress raises the Green Flag with Wirral Countryside Volunteers

The mayor met many of the volunteers who were enjoying a BBQ, including Jonathan Grice, one of the original volunteers from 1985!

The BBQ team

Mayor with an original 1985 Wirral Countryside Volunteer

The mayor had a go at scything the meadows and viewed laid hedges. The enthusiasm and gusto of the mayor impressed everyone. The Mayor of Wirral was a delightful guest of honour.

The Mayor has a go at scything

Paul Loughnane, Secretary, Wirral Countryside Volunteers

Tea, Tours and Traditional Skills: Poulton Hall Open Gardens 2025

Looking through the meadow towards Poulton Hall

The Lancelyn-Greens hosted an open garden event at Poulton Hall Walled Garden and parkland as a fundraiser for Wirral Wildlife and New Ferry Butterfly Park. Poulton Hall lies secluded by woods just above the 'Dibbinsdale Dip' on Poulton Road which connects Spital Crossroads and Bromborough. Many people pass the hall in their cars, but few get a chance to visit -  however when they do, they are delighted to find such an enchanting area on their doorstep.

Meadow Tour at Poulton Hall Gardens

Celebrating National Meadows Day, the first Saturday of July, Dr Hilary Ash gave two meadow tours with the first one having the largest number of participants to date. The tour was a great chance to celebrate meadows and increase awareness about the vital role meadows play in supporting biodiversity, providing habitats for wildlife and enhancing the landscape. Hilary is a keen grass champion and is good at encouraging others to gain an interest in the 12 different grass species present. As well as the interesting flora there were a respectable number of meadow brown butterflies fluttering around the meadow. Marsh Orchids were popular, and there was a good population of Yellow Rattle, which weakens the grasses and allows more wildflowers to thrive.

The Wirral Countryside Volunteers area with a woven hurdle demonstration

Wirral Countryside Volunteers (WCV), who were set up in the parkland under the shade of the large oak, had a mock-up hedge to have a go at hedge laying. This gained a few participants and acted as a window shop for WCV, as a Willaston landowner was interested in getting the WCV to lay his hedge. The WCV will follow up and investigate this lead. There were tool sharpening demonstrations where most the of tool edges were so highly polished, they were like mirrors. Also a newspaper pot making and seed sowing seed activity. There was a display about the coppicing the volunteers conduct in Thornton Wood which is part of the Poulton Hall Estate. New this year was 'have a go at making a woven hurdle'. This hurdle was a small one, but the WCV realised a miniature one would be an even better activity for youngsters. It could be put on a table, would be easily to complete and make a take-home souvenir of the day.

The mock hedge

There was a taster archery session laid on by Wirral Archers; their coaches were good and coached complete novices until they could shoot arrows to hit the golden area in the centre of the target. Butterfly related crafts for children raised awareness of New Ferry Butterfly Park and Wirral Wildlife. It was possible to learn about honeybees, local archaeology, buy some plants sold to support the Samaritans, listen to stories, be greeted by a witch and just enjoy the main feature, the enchanting gardens followed by a cream tea. It is very much a personal and family garden - charming, quirky, full of humour and literary associations. It is a memorial to Roger Lancelyn-Green, the biographer and writer of children’s fiction.

Anyone for a cream tea?

Two volunteers were going round with a tea pot to bring tea and cake for the volunteers on stalls and parking duties, but guests hailed us for a top up of tea - not really our job, but as we had the means to hand, we were happy to oblige!

Thanks to Caroline and Scirard Lancelyn-Green, the Poulton Hall Estate Team and the twenty-two volunteers who supported this event on the day, those who worked behind the scenes transporting gazebos and woody materials, baking cakes for the volunteers and those who came tidying up on the Monday.


Paul Loughnane

(Photographs by Paul Loughnane and Ben Hart)