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Parks and outdoor spaces
In summertime, Wirral’s parks and open spaces are in full bloom. Here we have pulled together some interesting resources to help you make the most of your time outdoors in these different places, from their intriguing history through to seasonal flowers and plants that you may spot in each location. At the bottom of this page, you can also find some handy information to identify other flora which you may come across at this time of year.
We strongly advise that you follow the government guidelines on social distancing and stay alert when exploring your local surroundings. Here is Wirral Council’s latest statement on its public parks and open spaces.
For more outdoor inspiration, check out our Wirral Walking Guides.
Birkenhead Park
Birkenhead Park was the world’s first publicly funded park. It was opened in 1847 by Joseph Paxton with the aim of creating a ‘park for the people’. It was also a major influence on Frederick Law Olmsted’s design of Central Park, New York.
The Arno, Oxton
This park is a natural area of gorse and woodland, as well as boasting a rose garden.
Victoria Park, Rock Ferry
Victoria Park is a popular park with fantastic views across the Mersey towards Liverpool. A visit to the park in springtime provides displays of daffodils and crocuses. Avenues of European lime provide habitats for birds such a blue tits, chaffinches, greenfinches, thrushes and blackbirds.
Bidston Hill
With views across to Liverpool and as far as North Wales, Bidston Hill is a designated site of biological importance and features iconic Wirral landmarks including Bidston Windmill and Tam O’Shanter’s Cottage. Please note that these attractions remain closed currently. The area comprises of woods, heath and grassland together with a stunning rhododendron collection in Park Wood.
Hamilton Square Gardens
Set just off Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square and adjacent to Birkenhead Town Hall, the gardens are a historical and architecturally important location representing the town’s civic heritage. Surrounded by fine examples of late Georgian and early Victorian architecture, the gardens are home to the Queen Victoria monument, a war memorial and a bronze statue of local historical figure John Laird.
Flaybrick Memorial Gardens
A Grade 2 historic landscape designed by Edward Kemp, Flaybrick contains many memorials of notable people.
Walker Park, Prenton
Walker Park is situated in a residential area of Prenton and consists of open land, woodland area and mature trees.
Mersey Park
Mersey Park is a popular park with fantastic views across the Mersey towards Liverpool. It has a mix of mature trees with European Lime, Laburnum, Sweet chestnut, Black Walnut, beech and sweet chestnut provide habitat for birds such as blue tits, chaffinches, greenfinches, thrushes and blackbirds.
Central Park, Wallasey
The largest area of parkland in Wallasey, Central Park is a great place to enjoy a relaxing woodland walk.
North Wirral Coastal Park
North Wirral Coastal Park is abundant in natural heritage, including the Isle of Man cabbage. Eagle-eyed visitors may also spot Grayling butterflies and Vernal Mining bees.
Harrison Park, Wallasey
Visitors to Harrison Park can enjoy dune walks with fantastic views across Liverpool Bay.
The Breck, Wallasey
The Breck sits on a ridge 80 feet above sea level, giving commanding views of north Wirral, the sea and the distant Welsh hills. An area of beautiful semi-natural woodland, The Breck is a haven for wildlife with an abundance of bird species, including long-tailed tits and sparrowhawks. Ravens are frequently spotted soaring over the ridge.
Vale Park
Vale Park is a Green Flag park that enjoys views across the River Mersey. It has stunning displays of bedding throughout the summer and there is a fairy village within its grounds.
What else?
In addition to the above, you may also be able to see the following across Wirral’s parks and open spaces at this time of year. Information courtesy of The Wildlife Trusts.
Common laburnum is recognisable for its impressive displays of hanging bunches of bright yellow flowers; these turn into shiny, black peapods.
Common hawthorn has shiny leaves, divided into three to seven pairs of lobes, and five-petalled, sweet-smelling flowers. It can be distinguished from the similar Midland hawthorn by its more deeply lobed leaves and the fact that it only has a single seed in each fruit.
The horse chestnut has hand-shaped, palmate leaves with five to seven toothed leaflets. It displays large, pinky-white flower spikes, and its spiny-shelled fruits contain the seeds, or 'conkers'.
Elder has strong-smelling, compound leaves; each leaf is divided into five to seven leaflets. It displays white umbels (umbrella-like clusters) of flowers in summer, and glossy, black-purple berries in autumn.
Meadow buttercup has yellow flowers, about 2cm across, that comprise five, shiny petals. It has rounded leaves, divided into three to seven lobes, and does not possess the runners of Creeping Buttercup.
The Cowslip displays a rosette of green, crinkly, tongue-like leaves, low to the ground. Its tube-like, egg-yolk-yellow flowers are clustered together at the ends of its upright, green stems.
If you’re feeling inspired by what you’ve seen, check out the Royal Horticulture Society’s Grow At Home guide here.
