The Wirral - part III

This is the third part of my introduction to the Wirral; a set of postings to show you where I live. Part I was a general introduction; part II showed some of the buildings; and this section is devoted to Wirral’s countryside.


Birkenhead Park contains a number of specimen trees as well as open ground and a large lake. It has recently been renovated and the lake has been dredged.


On the banks of the Mersey is Eastham Country Park, an area of woodland where the Grey Squirrels happily feed out of one’s hand.


This is a good place to find fungi in the Autumn.



In the centre of the Wirral is a red sandstone hill – Bidston Hill. Covered in a mixture of pines, birches and heath it is a lovely place to wander on an autumn day as the Birch trees change colour.


Caldy Hill on the western side of the peninsula gives a splendid view over Caldy and West Kirby and out to Hilbre Island in the River Dee. The hills of N Wales can be seen quite easily on a clear day.


This is the view from Hilbre Island back to the shore of Wirral at West Kirby with Little Hilbre in the foreground.


Hilbre is a Mecca for birdwatchers and when the tide comes in a host of birds like Grey Plover, Knot and Dunlin crowd around its sandstone shore.


The gardens of Liverpool University at Ness are beautiful and have a fine collection of heathers.


Royden Park has a beautiful pool and a walled garden.


In the walled garden there is a splendid herb garden and a miniature cornfield with all the old cornfield flowers.


Thurstaston is a wonderful area of mixed woodland and heath in which wildlife abounds.



It is adjacent too Royden Country Park and one can walk from Greasby village to the shore at Thurstaston without leaving countryside and only needing to cross one main road.


Thurstaston has a number of sandstone outcrops which are ideal scrambling grounds for children. This one is known as Thor's Rock.

From Thurstaston there is a walk in either direction along the old railway line which now forms the Wirral Way country park.


There are lots of footpaths and a few quiet lanes on the Wirral. The hedgerows in some parts are a mass of Blackthorn in early Spring.

This is a just a taste of the Wirral countryside and parkland, I hope you enjoyed it.