EVENTS
Sunday 2nd February
Cleaver Heath Workday
Meet Oldfield Road, Heswall at 10 a.m.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended, and volunteers should bring a packed lunch if staying for the whole session, which ends between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Map of location.
Further details from Alan Irving, email or telephone 0151 342 2641.
Sunday 9th February
New Ferry Butterfly Park Workday
9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Hedgelaying
Hedgelaying further down the park and transplanting hazel shrubs from within the park to extend the coppice areas. Planting red campion and primroses into hedge banks and coppice areas. Planting sheep’s sorrel into the acid grassland areas.
Free volunteering event, bring stout footwear. Tools, training and tea provided.
Car and cycle parking available on reserve. Good public transport links available.
Map of location.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Friday 14th February
'Damsels and Dragons'
Room B, Heswall Hall, Heswall
7.30 p.m.
A talk by Dave Hollis.
Explore the wealth of our dragon and damselflies in this watery excursion. A wild and murderous ride below the water's surface followed by the elegance and wild beauty of adult dragons as they hunt and patrol a beat alongside our rivers and ponds. This talk also looks at the other inhabitants of the dragonflies’ world and explores how they all interact with each other to create the most amazing of wildlife habitats.
Admission £4. All welcome.
Sunday 1st March
Cleaver Heath Workday
Meet Oldfield Road, Heswall at 10 a.m.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended, and volunteers should bring a packed lunch if staying for the whole session, which ends between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Map of location.
Further details from Alan Irving, email or telephone 0151 342 2641.
Sunday 8th March
New Ferry Butterfly Park Workday
9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Hedgelaying and Apple Grafting Workshop
The last hedgelaying of the season. Removal of birch and turf from over the railway ballast area to restart natural succession to benefit bird’s-foot trefoil a key butterfly plant. Removal of encroaching vegetation on the road.
Running alongside there will be an apple grafting workshop. Let Paul know if you want to graft some apples a fortnight before so that the appropriate number of root stock can be purchased.
Apple grafting will be done in one hour sessions with six participants at each session. They will be at 10, 11, 12 and 2pm if necessary.
Suggested £5 donation for an apple tree to take home.
Free volunteering event, bring stout footwear. Tools, training and tea provided.
Car and cycle parking available on reserve. Good public transport links available.
Map of location.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Friday 13th March
'Port Sunlight River Park'
Room B, Heswall Hall, Heswall
7.30 p.m.
A talk by Andrew Jennings-Giles about the creation and management of Port Sunlight River Park and its value for local wildlife.
Admission £4. All welcome.
Saturday 21st March
Thornton Wood Workday
9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cheshire Wildlife Trust are renewing the bridge to Lamperloons Coppice.
We will have a follow up task to improve access to the bridge and around the wood in general so we can access the wood for a spring walk in April and to access himalayan balsam in the summer.
We will also be planting oak saplings raised from the wood.
Meet by the bridge where Thornton Common Road crosses over the M53.
Sunday 5th April
New Ferry Butterfly Park Workday
9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Continued removal of encroaching vegetation on the road. Clearing space for stalls for the Open Day and a general spruce up of the park and its pathways.
Free volunteering event, bring stout footwear. Tools, training and tea provided.
Car and cycle parking available on reserve. Good public transport links available.
Map of location.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Friday 17th April
‘Long Term Monitoring of Albatross and Other Stories from the Antarctic’
Room B, Heswall Hall, Heswall
7.30 p.m.
A talk by Jess Walkup, now Operations Manager at Cheshire Wildlife Trust but lately researcher in the Antarctic.
Admission £4. All welcome.
Saturday 25th April
Woodland Spring Flowers
2 – 4 p.m.
A walk around three CWT reserves (Tom’s Paddock, Foxes and Thornton Wood), all ancient woodlands of the upper Dibbinsdale.
We will look at the carpet of spring flowers and the ancient woodland indicator plants that can be found there and look at an active hazel coppice system.
Steep terrain in parts and no formal paths. Suitable for adults only. Sorry no wheelchair access and no dogs. Wear walking or wellington boots.
Meet where Thornton Common Road crosses the M53 just south of the M53 Clatterbridge junction.
Sunday 26th April
Volunteer Warden Session
New Ferry Butterfly Park
2 – 4 p.m.
Could you spare 2 hours a month to help at the Park? Come along and meet our band of volunteer wardens.
See how you can engage with members of the public and visiting groups. Training provided about the Park and various butterfly crafts and games developed by our own creative wardens.
Car and cycle parking available on reserve. Good public transport links available.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Friday 1st May
Bluebell Walk at Dibbinsdale
2 – 4 p.m.
We will walk through some of the lesser-known parts of Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve to admire the displays of spring flowers in this ancient woodland. Bluebells, wood anemones, celandines and many more. Also explore some local history, birds and bees. Length of walk about 2 miles.
Free walk, but donations welcome.
Meet outside Bromborough Rake Station, CH62 7AL.
Sunday 3rd May
Dawn Chorus Walk at Cleaver Heath Nature Reserve
4.30 - 7 a.m.
A walk through Cleaver Heath and Heswall Dales listening to the Dawn Chorus.
We should hear a wide range of both our resident birds and returning migrants, and there should be plenty to interest those who can already identify birds by call and song, as well as those absolute beginners who want to make a start.
Suitable for adults and families with children aged 6 or over. Some narrow paths and steps. Sorry, the reserve is not currently wheelchair accessible and no dogs are allowed.
Warm waterproof clothing and stout footwear are recommended.
Bring binoculars if available (not essential).
Booking through Cheshire Wildlife Trust www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Cost: £5 adults, accompanied children free.
Sunday 3rd May
New Ferry Butterfly Park Open Day
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
A celebration of the 25th open season of the park.
A new art feature to be unveiled plus interactive environmental stalls, maypole dancing, BBQ, plant sale, homemade cakes. Delightful grasslands full of spring flowers. Most of the site is wheelchair-accessible.
Facilities: composting toilet (disabled accessible).
Sorry no dogs.
No Parking on site except Blue Badge holders but parking is available nearby. The park is also adjacent to Bebington railway station (Merseyrail) and close to local bus stops. Cycle parking is available.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Sunday 12th July
New Ferry Butterfly Park Silver Jubilee
12 - 4 p.m.
A celebration of the 25th open season of the park with a community BBQ and displays about the park.
No Parking on site except Blue Badge holders but parking is available nearby. The park is also adjacent to Bebington railway station (Merseyrail) and close to local bus stops. Cycle parking is available.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Sunday 9th August
The Beauty of Heswall’s Heathland
2 - 4 p.m.
We will enjoy a walk through Cleaver Heath and the Heswall Dales, where the heather will be in flower, and discuss the flora and fauna of lowland heaths, as well as their management. All the while, we will be enjoying spectacular views across the Dee Estuary. Cleaver Heath nature reserve is owned and managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust, while Heswall Dales Local Nature Reserve is managed by Wirral Borough Council, both with the help of volunteers.
Suitable for adults and families with children aged 5 or over.
Stout footwear is recommended. Please bring waterproof clothing or sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sun-glasses) as appropriate. Bring binoculars if available (not essential).
Sorry, neither reserve is currently wheelchair accessible and no dogs are allowed.
Booking is required via the Cheshire Wildlife Trust events page www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Cost: £5 adults, accompanied children free.
Sunday 6th September
Cleaver Heath Workday
Meet Oldfield Road, Heswall at 10 a.m.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended, and volunteers should bring a packed lunch if staying for the whole session, which ends between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Map of location.
Further details from Alan Irving, email or telephone 0151 342 2641.
Friday 11th September
'Save the Grayling’
Room B, Heswall Hall, Heswall
7.30 p.m.
A talk by David Costello , Butterfly Conservation Society.
Admission £4. All welcome.
Sunday 13th September
New Ferry Butterfly Park Workday
9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Free volunteering event, bring stout footwear. Tools, training and tea provided.
Car and cycle parking available on reserve. Good public transport links available.
Map of location.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Sunday 13th September
Heritage Walk - New Ferry Butterfly Park: From an Industrial Legacy to Bee and Butterfly Haven
2 - 4 p.m.
The tour will explore the industrial history of this former railway goods yard (brick-making and railway operations), and how this has contributed to the wildlife diversity of the park. Short walk of only about 600m, but much to see. The lower half of the Park is disabled-accessible.
Pond-dipping and other children’s activities will be available.There will be an industrial display to enjoy and a Scything demonstration as part of the Park’s ongoing management.
Facilities: composting toilet (disabled accessible).
Sorry no dogs.
No Parking on site except Blue Badge holders but parking is available nearby. The park is also adjacent to Bebington railway station (Merseyrail) and close to local bus stops. Cycle parking is available.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Sunday 27th September
Apple Day at Eastham Country Park
1.30 - 4 p.m.
See and taste apples from local orchards. Our wooden apple press produces delicious juice for you to taste. Children’s activities and dancing by Mersey Morris Men.
Sunday 4th October
Cleaver Heath Workday
Meet Oldfield Road, Heswall at 10 a.m.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended, and volunteers should bring a packed lunch if staying for the whole session, which ends between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Map of location.
Further details from Alan Irving, email or telephone 0151 342 2641.
Friday 9th October
AGM followed by ‘Beaver Reintroduction programme in Cheshire’
Room B, Heswall Hall, Heswall
7.30 p.m.
A talk by by Martin Varley, Director of Conservation, Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
Beavers are returning to Britain. Several reintroductions are now underway across the UK and a growing body of evidence suggests that they have a key role to play in restoring nature in our countryside. Join Director of Operations Martin Varley to hear more about the beaver's recovery and the Trust plans for reintroduction in Cheshire.
All welcome.
Saturday 10th October
2 - 4 p.m.
Sunday 11th October
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Apple Pressing at New Ferry Butterfly Park
Wirral Pomona started five or so years ago, partly in reaction to the frequent comments that there were too many apple trees with fruit going to waste on the ground. Wirral Pomona invite you to bring all your spare apples, cookers, eaters, windfalls and crab-apples to make tasty juice to take away and the remainder gets turned into Pomona cider.
Facilities: composting toilet (disabled accessible).
Sorry no dogs.
No Parking on site except Blue Badge holders but parking is available nearby. The park is also adjacent to Bebington railway station (Merseyrail) and close to local bus stops. Cycle parking is available.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Sunday 1st November
Cleaver Heath Workday
Meet Oldfield Road, Heswall at 10 a.m.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended, and volunteers should bring a packed lunch if staying for the whole session, which ends between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Map of location.
Further details from Alan Irving, email or telephone 0151 342 2641.
Sunday 8th November
New Ferry Butterfly Park Workday
9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Free volunteering event, bring stout footwear. Tools, training and tea provided.
Car and cycle parking available on reserve. Good public transport links available.
Map of location.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.
Friday 13th November
'Natterjack Toads around the Dee Estuary’
Room B, Heswall Hall, Heswall
7.30 p.m.
A talk by Sarah Bennett, Area Manager, Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
Admission £4. All welcome.
Sunday 6th December
Cleaver Heath Workday
Meet Oldfield Road, Heswall at 10 a.m.
Stout footwear and waterproofs recommended, and volunteers should bring a packed lunch if staying for the whole session, which ends between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Map of location.
Further details from Alan Irving, email or telephone 0151 342 2641.
Sunday 13th December
New Ferry Butterfly Park Workday
9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Free volunteering event, bring stout footwear. Tools, training and tea provided.
Car and cycle parking available on reserve. Good public transport links available.
Map of location.
Contact: Paul Loughnane by email or telephone 0151 645 8937.