For the future
As you will know the Wirral way dissects at least two golf clubs one at Caldy plus one at Gayton/Heswall.
Wirral Borough Council are in the process of the further creation of another golf course, and the whole of the coast line from North Wales round to Cheshire and the Wirral. Then extending to the river Mersey and on up to Southport is becoming known as the “Golf Coast”.
This massive major future development is seen as being instrumental to bringing many more people into the greater Merseyside locality as the way forward to regenerate the economy and improve the leisure facilities.
Parks and open spaces will not only come under increasing pressure for development, but must be protected for the health and well being of a huge proportion of the population.
It is of vital importance that you the local people of the Wirral Leisure Peninsular take a leading role in determining just what you want or expect in the areas you choose to live.
Wirral Country Park and the Wirral Way is a special vital open healthy facility that needs your support.
The friends group and its many supporters want to improve and enhance various aspect of the country park and the Wirral Way to ensure that this very special leisure facility remains a beautiful off road accessible part of the countryside for generations to come.
In no other part of the Wirral Countryside can people just sit and appreciate rolling countryside, manicured golf courses, magnificent views across the River Dee, secluded woodlands, ponds, and grass play areas in complete off road safety, no traffic, just serenity and peaceful surroundings in all different seasons of the year. What's more absolutely free of charge what a bargain.
Wirral Country Park Friends Group was formed to assist the rangers in promoting and managing Wirral Country Park, not only as a first class leisure facility, but also as one of the most important conservation areas within Wirral. Wirral Country Park Friends Group has a key role in raising awareness of the park and supporting the work of the rangers, assisting with a variety of conservation tasks. These tasks include footpath maintenance, hedge and shrub planting, litter clearance, heathland restoration and important pond maintenance work.
WCPFG Members carrying out path maintenance work
The friends group also helps to organise events, lead guided walks and raise funds to ensure that the park is maintained to the highest standard. Wirral Country Park Friends Group meets once every two months on a Monday evening at the Thurstaston Visitor Centre. If you would like more information about becoming a friend, either contact the Visitor Centre or fill out the form on the back page.
Wirral Country Park A brief history
This park was set up by Cheshire County Council and is based on the old West Kirby to Hooton branch line, which was opened in 1866 and later extended in 1886. The line stretched for 12 miles and ran through several small towns and villages including West Kirby, Caldy, Thurstaston, Gayton, Parkgate, Neston, Willaston and Hooton.
The old railway platform at Thurstaston
Shortly after the First World War in 1918, the railway line became uneconomical. When Neston Colliery closed down in 1922 the fate of the line was all but sealed. However, the line remained open through the Second World War and beyond, serving a largely agricultural community and the many day-trippers visiting the seaside towns of Parkgate and West Kirby. It was closed to passengers in 1956, but remained open for freight right up to 1963, when the line finally closed down.
Between the line closing down and the council taking an interest in 1967, much of the land remained derelict. Then plans to convert the abandoned railway were put before the Countryside Commission and under the new 1968 Countryside Act the scheme was grant aided, making Wirral Country Park the first Country Park in Great Britain. The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire Lord Leverhulme officially opened the park in 1973. Today the park is a well-established part of the landscape of West Wirral and is visited by over 250,000 people every year.
The Wirral Way forms the backbone of the park with its 12 mile long footpath/cycle way and a 10 mile long separate horse ride, both running parallel to each other and in places affording spectacular views across the mud flats to Wales.
Today both Wirral Council and Cheshire County Council, jointly manage the country park. With Cheshire looking after the section from Hooton to Gayton and Wirral Council looking after the section from Gayton to West Kirby.
Thurstaston is the main hub of the park and the base for the Wirral Rangers. There is free all-weather parking for over 200 cars, with an additional 600 spaces available during the spring and summer months.
The Thurstaston Visitor Centre
The Thurstaston Visitor Centre is open every day of the year from 10am until 5pm except for Christmas Day. The Centre has a range of facilities for visitors. There are toilets and a refreshment kiosk to buy drinks and snacks. There is an information desk, where staff are on hand to answer enquires, or to discuss safe crossing times to Hilbre Island. Staff will also help arrange your bookings for the many ranger or friends-led activities that take place in the park. There is a green shop selling a wide range of wild bird care products and other supplies to attract wildlife into your garden.
The shop also has a selection of books and leaflets, to inform visitors about the park or what to look for in the area. There is also a bird hide enabling you to watch wild birds feeding at close quarters or take photographs. Thurstaston is the ideal place to start any visit to the park as there are many self-guided circular walks starting from here and there is also good access to the beach, via the steps at the bottom of station road.
The green shop within the visitor centre
The Wirral Way is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely stroll or an easy bike ride. As the park is based on an old railway line, there are no steep gradients to navigate. The Wirral Way with its miles of Hawthorn or Blackthorn hedges is widely regarded as one of the best venues for bird watching in the area. The old Railway embankments can also offer a dazzling display of wild flowers during the spring and summer months and the site is particularly good for butterflies.
Wild flower meadow at Thurstaston
During the late summer months, dragonflies can be seen flying over many of the old marl pits that have been abandoned to nature and now form some of the most important wild life ponds in Wirral and Cheshire. The Dee Estuary is also one of the most important ecological sites in the country and provides a habitat throughout the year for thousands of wading birds, many of which have come to winter over from as far north as Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and the artic. The Dee Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Wirral Country Park Friends Group Care of
The Visitor Centre Station Road, Thurstaston, Wirral, CH61 0HN
0151 648 4371/3884
E-mail wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk
Or fill in the form (Block Capitols Please)
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£5.00 annual membership
Send this form with a crossed cheque or postal order (no money) payable to
WCP Friends Group
C/O, Country Park Visitors Centre
Station Road, Thurstaston
Wirral
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