Wirral Country Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wirral Country Park is a country park on the Wirral Peninsula, England, lying both in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral and the county of Cheshire. It was the first designated country park in Britain, opening in 1973.[1] [2]
The park is based around the Wirral Way which follows the track bed of the former Chester and Birkenhead Railway route from West Kirby to Hooton. The old line, which closed in 1962, follows the estuary of the River Dee for 7 miles (11 km) between West Kirby and Parkgate, then heads across the south of the Wirral to Hooton.
There are visitor centres at Thurstaston and Willaston, and around 250,000 people visit the park each year.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Work began on the park in 1969, and the park was formally opened in 1973 by Lord Leverhulme. The park's creation followed a successful campaign by Captain Lawrence Beswick DSM which prompted the necessary investment from the Countryside Commission.
Construction of the park required the removal of 30 miles (48 km) of rail track and accompanying sleepers, the digging and forming of drainage channels, leveling and consolidation of thousands of tons of gravel or ballast, and the removal of some brick built road bridges. Of the original railway line very little remains: the old station platform at Thurstaston, the preserved 1950s era railway station at Hadlow Road, Willaston, and the occasional railway incline signs which indicate a degree of climb or decent.
[edit] Leisure pursuits
[edit] Wildlife
The park is home to badgers and foxes and to ten species of butterfly identified among the local wildlife.[1] The estuary along which the park is located is home to populations of ragworm, lugworm, and cockles which support various species of bird wildlife in the area, including redshanks, shelducks, lapwings, skylarks, meadow pipits and terns. During high spring tides visitors may also catch a glimpse of certain birds of prey such as peregrines, hen harriers and the daytime hunting short eared owl.
[edit] Sports
Wirral Country Park is popular not only for its wildlife and country walking, but also cycling, horse riding, kite flying, and paragliding. The 13-mile (21 km) Wirral Way is very popular with cyclists, especially at weekends.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Wirral Country Park. Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Retrieved on 13 June 2007.
- ^ Wirral Country Park & The Wirral Way. Wirral Country Park Friends Group. Retrieved on 29 March 2008.
