Port Sunlight River Park
Click on pictures to enlarge.
Port Sunlight River Park is a vibrant, stunning green space formed on the site of the former landfill at Bromborough Docks. It has transformed a closed area giving access to the Mersey waterfront with unrivalled views not only of the Liverpool skyline and waterfront, but also across Wirral and North Wales. There are woodlands and an ecologically important wetland and the site has excellent views of the Shorefields mudflats and wildfowl, which is part of the Mersey SSSI.
Port Sunlight River Park is a vibrant, stunning green space formed on the site of the former landfill at Bromborough Docks. It has transformed a closed area giving access to the Mersey waterfront with unrivalled views not only of the Liverpool skyline and waterfront, but also across Wirral and North Wales. There are woodlands and an ecologically important wetland and the site has excellent views of the Shorefields mudflats and wildfowl, which is part of the Mersey SSSI.
River View.
Funding for the transformation and long term management has been made possible through the Newlands 2 programme, led by the Forestry Commission and supported by Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Biffa and Unilever have donated land and funds.
The River Park opened to the public on 12th August 2014 and is managed by Autism Together (formerly Wirral Autistic Society) on behalf of the open space management charity the Land Trust. The regular park users include the dog walkers, running groups and individual runners, cyclists and cycle groups and bird watchers. Families come to watch the ships, admire the view and let off steam at the weekends. Visitors, whilst enjoying the views, should not walk or let their dogs walk off the surfaced paths as the land is still settling and objects may move to the surface. Also between March and August ground nesting birds use the grassland so no access is permitted on these areas.
The River Park opened to the public on 12th August 2014 and is managed by Autism Together (formerly Wirral Autistic Society) on behalf of the open space management charity the Land Trust. The regular park users include the dog walkers, running groups and individual runners, cyclists and cycle groups and bird watchers. Families come to watch the ships, admire the view and let off steam at the weekends. Visitors, whilst enjoying the views, should not walk or let their dogs walk off the surfaced paths as the land is still settling and objects may move to the surface. Also between March and August ground nesting birds use the grassland so no access is permitted on these areas.
Opening Day - 12th August 2014
The River Park is a unique venture for Autism Together (AT) as service users help to maintain the park during their weekly visits. Tasks undertaken include cutting the grass, clearing leaves, weeding, patrolling and litter picking. It is also good to see other members of AT using the park to walk with groups or with family and friends. The weekly Step into Work group have improved the mini beast hotel and cleared barrow loads of litter and hazards from the wood near the United Utilities works. This woodland was planted in 1997 but the tree guards were still in place and as well as looking unsightly were choking the trees.
Due to the steep slopes and uneven ground on site, winter maintenance depends upon volunteers rather than service users and one of the great bonuses for PSRP is the number of people who want to help. Volunteers meet every Saturday and Wednesday for outdoor tasks but additional opportunities exist to help with events, reception, walks and wildlife identification and with the Friends of Port Sunlight River Park. The priority for the winter months will be removal of hazards as objects make their way to the surface and control of buddleia. The views need maintaining so work will be done on the Mersey front to remove buddleia and willow. In the summer the path edges need almost continual maintenance!
In 2014 lapwings and skylarks nested in the rough grassland overlooking the Mersey. As the park only opened to the public in August disturbance was limited that year, as the park is now busy, there is a need to protect these areas, especially from dogs. While signage can help inform it is hoped that new volunteers will patrol these areas to engage with the public in a similar way to the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens but over the spring and summer months. Over 100 species of birds had been recorded up to the end of November 2016, including the transient hen harrier, wheatear and whimbrel. Pheasants and kestrels are seen daily. Birds, such as black-tailed godwits and redshanks, use the lake for resting, especially at high tides.
Due to the steep slopes and uneven ground on site, winter maintenance depends upon volunteers rather than service users and one of the great bonuses for PSRP is the number of people who want to help. Volunteers meet every Saturday and Wednesday for outdoor tasks but additional opportunities exist to help with events, reception, walks and wildlife identification and with the Friends of Port Sunlight River Park. The priority for the winter months will be removal of hazards as objects make their way to the surface and control of buddleia. The views need maintaining so work will be done on the Mersey front to remove buddleia and willow. In the summer the path edges need almost continual maintenance!
In 2014 lapwings and skylarks nested in the rough grassland overlooking the Mersey. As the park only opened to the public in August disturbance was limited that year, as the park is now busy, there is a need to protect these areas, especially from dogs. While signage can help inform it is hoped that new volunteers will patrol these areas to engage with the public in a similar way to the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens but over the spring and summer months. Over 100 species of birds had been recorded up to the end of November 2016, including the transient hen harrier, wheatear and whimbrel. Pheasants and kestrels are seen daily. Birds, such as black-tailed godwits and redshanks, use the lake for resting, especially at high tides.
The lake and reed bed are both important habitats.
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Bird watching from the view point.
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Wirral Wildlife survey the site annually and have recorded 50 species of spider and a variety of butterfly and bee species. It is early days for this site and both flora and fauna will change though time. There is a Bioblitz planned for 26th and 27th May to enable us to record more species and get the public enthused about the wildlife here. The species rich but unusual grassland flora with many legumes is reflective of low fertility soils. The abundance of banks of yellow melilot in October is an example. Path edges around the site have colonies of a rare but non-native species, wallflower cabbage (Coincya monensis ssp cheiranthos), a close relative of the endemic Isle of Man Cabbage which grows on the Wirral sand dunes. Nearly 16,000 trees have been planted: field maple, silver birch, sessile oak, rowan, grey willow, sweet cherry, wych elm together with dog rose, blackthorn, hawthorn, gorse and gueldar rose. Maritime pine has been planted for future climate change reliance. In addition there are areas of wildflower plantings: a perennial downland mix plus cornfield annuals.
A regular programme of events is established including weekly health walks, new monthly 5k runs and activities for families in the school holidays. We take part in the Wirral Walking Festival in May and Heritage Open Daysin September with guided walks planned around both PSRP and Bromborough Pool village.
Future plans include cycle and footpath access through a new bridge to Bromborough Pool. This will be completed in 2017. Also we have applied for Heritage Lottery Funding for a new Heritage Centre, based on the current site office, which will interpret local history, including the Old Courthouse. The Courthouse site will be further investigated through archaeological digs and will eventually be open to the public and linked to the River Park site via footpaths through the new housing developments on the River Dibbin.
A regular programme of events is established including weekly health walks, new monthly 5k runs and activities for families in the school holidays. We take part in the Wirral Walking Festival in May and Heritage Open Daysin September with guided walks planned around both PSRP and Bromborough Pool village.
Future plans include cycle and footpath access through a new bridge to Bromborough Pool. This will be completed in 2017. Also we have applied for Heritage Lottery Funding for a new Heritage Centre, based on the current site office, which will interpret local history, including the Old Courthouse. The Courthouse site will be further investigated through archaeological digs and will eventually be open to the public and linked to the River Park site via footpaths through the new housing developments on the River Dibbin.
We are delighted to have won the 3rd Sector Care Award for Community Engagement in December 2016.
If you want to find out more about events, visits or volunteering please look on the website:
www.portsunlightriverpark or contact me by email anne.litherland@autismtogether.co.uk or phone 07587550060
Parking is available in the small car park on Dock Road North but for anyone with a disability parking can be arranged at Mersey View car park. Please use the contact details above to book in advance.
www.portsunlightriverpark or contact me by email anne.litherland@autismtogether.co.uk or phone 07587550060
Parking is available in the small car park on Dock Road North but for anyone with a disability parking can be arranged at Mersey View car park. Please use the contact details above to book in advance.
Panoramic view of the Liverpool skyline. (photo C. Cockbain)
The Mersey Estuary Conservation Group have provided a pair of binoculars for use at the river park.There was a great celebration on 16th August for the first anniversary of the opening of the river park and a video was made of the event. It features Adele and Elliot on the bird watching stand, using the binoculars.
Follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMtMiTm6LXA
Land Trust video, which includes the river park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKg3L-4exUw
Another Land Trust video, featuring the health walkers at Port Sunlight River Park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqOgUe7YIck&feature=youtu.be
Follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMtMiTm6LXA
Land Trust video, which includes the river park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKg3L-4exUw
Another Land Trust video, featuring the health walkers at Port Sunlight River Park:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqOgUe7YIck&feature=youtu.be
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