Wirral Country Park

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.citeweb|url=http://www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100006/200073/670/content_0001012.html|title=Wirral Country Park|work=Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|n.d.|accessdate=13 June|accessyear=2007] citeweb|url=http://www.wcpfg.co.uk/index.html|title=Wirral Country Park & The Wirral Way|work=Wirral Country Park Friends Group|accessdate=29 March|accessyear=2008]

The park is based around the Wirral Way which follows the track bed of part of the former Birkenhead Railway route from West Kirby to Hooton. The old line, which closed in 1962, follows the estuary of the River Dee for convert|7|mi 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.

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 convert|30|mi 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.

Leisure pursuits

Wildlife

The park is home to badgers and foxes and to ten species of butterfly identified among the local wildlife. 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.

ports

"For the Endurance ride, please see Wirral Endurance Ride"

Wirral Country Park is popular not only for its wildlife and country walking, but also cycling, horse riding, kite flying, and paragliding. The convert|13|mi|adj=on Wirral Way is very popular with cyclists, especially at weekends. It is also a venue on the Endurance GB National Championship every April in the calendar year.

See also

* List of rail trails

References

External links

* [http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/countryside/OutandAbout/country_parks/wirral_country_park.htm Cheshire County Council: Wirral Country Park]
* [http://www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100006/200073/670/content_0001012.html Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council: Wirral Country Park]
* [http://www.wirralfootpaths.org.uk/ Wirral Footpaths and Open Spaces Preservation Society]
* [http://www.wcpfg.co.uk/index.html Wirral Country Park Friends Group]