Wirral Country Park
Template:Short description Template:DMCA
Page Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.
| Wirral Country Park | |
|---|---|
| Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found. The site of Kirby Park railway station, now given over to the Wirral Way. | |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 526: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/Merseyside" does not exist. | |
| Script error: No such module "Infobox mapframe". | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Station Road Thurstaston Merseyside CH61 0HN |
| Coordinates | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. |
| Created | 1973 |
| Operator | Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Cheshire West & Chester |
| Open | All year |
| Status | Open |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
Wirral Country Park lies on the Wirral Peninsula, England; it is split between the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in the county of Merseyside and in the borough of Cheshire West & Chester in Cheshire. It was the first designated country park in Britain, opening in 1973.[1][2]
The park lies along the Wirral Way, which follows the trackbed of part of the former Birkenhead Railway route from West Kirby[nb 1] to Hooton.[nb 2] 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 inland, across the Wirral peninsula, to Hooton.
There are two visitor centres along the Wirral Way: one near the site of Thurstaston railway station, at Thurstaston, and the other at the preserved Hadlow Road railway station, in Willaston.
History
Work began on the park in 1969 and the park was opened formally by Lord Leverhulme in 1973. 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 railway track and accompanying sleepers, the digging and forming of drainage channels, levelling and consolidation of thousands of tons of gravel or ballast, and the removal of some brick-built road bridges. Some of the few remains of the original railway line are the old platforms at Thurstaston, the preserved 1950s-era station at Hadlow Road, a number of bridges and occasional railway incline signs indicating the degree of climb or descent.
Wildlife
The park is home to badgers, foxes and ten species of butterfly. The Dee estuary is home to populations of ragworm, lugworm and cockles, which support various species of bird in the area, including common redshanks, common shelducks, northern lapwings, skylarks, meadow pipits and common terns. During high spring tides, visitors may also catch a glimpse of certain birds of prey such as peregrines, hen harriers and day-hunting short-eared owls.
Sport and recreation
Wirral Country Park is popular with ramblers and offers numerous walks; three are of particular note:
- The stretch of shoreline running a couple of miles from Thurstaston beach to Heswall beach, a popular route for horse riders.
- The Wirral Way, a 12-mile (19 km) shared-use path from West Kirby to Hooton. The country park itself lies along the Wirral Way towards the middle of this route.[3]
- A 3.5-mile (5.6 km) circular Heswall Dales and fields walk,[4] via a small valley known as The Dungeon.
The Wirral Coastal Walk is a well-known route within Merseyside, passing through Wirral Country Park and encompassing some of the aforementioned walks.[5] It is organised as an annual event by the Rotary Club, with over 5,000 taking part in 2008. The walk follows the Wirral coastline from Seacombe Ferry on the River Mersey to Thurstaston Country Park on the River Dee, a distance of 15 miles (24 km). The annual event has become a popular way for local charities and organisations to raise money for their cause.
Wirral Country Park is popular not only for its wildlife and country walking, but also cycling, horse riding, kite flying, quad biking and paragliding. Part of the Wirral Endurance Ride, a horse-riding event in the Endurance GB National Championship, is held along the Wirral Way.[6]
Gallery
-
The pond at Thurstaston Visitor Centre
-
Inside Thurstaston Visitor Centre
-
The former Thurstaston railway station
-
Wirral Country Park at Station Road in Parkgate
See also
Notes
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ The Wirral Way entrance lies just to the east of the station on the A540; location: Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
- ^ The Wirral Way entrance is on the B5133 bridge, which crosses over the railway line; location: Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Wirral Country Park". Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."About the park". Wirral Country Park Friends Group. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.The Wirral Way: Wirral, Visiting Thurstaston, retrieved 9 February 2009
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Heswall Fields and Dales Walk: Wirral". AllertonOak Mersey Walks. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Wirral Coastal Walk: Wirral". The Rotary Club of North Wirral. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ride Schedule Details: Wirral, Endurance GB, retrieved 9 February 2009
Further reading
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Merseyside Railway History Group (1982). The Hooton to West Kirby Branch Line. Metropolitan Borough of Wirral. ISBN 9780904582048. OCLC 60074290.
External links
Page Module:Side box/styles.css has no content.Page Template:Sister project/styles.css has no content.
- Metropolitan Borough of Wirral: Wirral Country Park
- Wirral Footpaths and Open Spaces Preservation Society
- The Wirral Coastal Walk
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found.
