North Wirral Coastal Park

The North Wirral Coastal Park, on the Wirral Peninsula in England, is a coastal park including public open space, common land, natural foreshore and sand-dunes. Created in 1986, it lies between Dove Point in Meols and the Kings Parade in New Brighton.^[2]

North Wirral Foreshore

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location within Merseyside
Location	Merseyside
Grid reference	SJ250920
Coordinates	53.419°N 3.118°W / 53.419; -3.118
Interest	Biological
Area	2109.9 hectares, 5,213.6 acres (21,099,000 m2)
Notification	1979 / 1983
Natural England website

Designations
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	The Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore
Designated	7 May 2013
Reference no.	2202[1]

Description

The park is managed by the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral ranger service, from their offices in the Leasowe Lighthouse. It occupies some 200 acres (81 ha) of land in a four-mile stretch along the coastline, making it Wirral's largest park.^[2]

Although the park in its current form is relatively new, the history of the site goes back at least 5,000 years to when the area, including the foreshore, was heavily forested. The remains of this coastal forestland are known as the submerged forest and can be seen at Dove Point, Meols, between the slipway and the groyne.^[3]

Leisure pursuits

Wildlife

Mallard ducks at Leasowe Common

The park, which has been granted Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status, is one of the country's premier sites for wading bird populations. Among the species which can be found in the area are: Eurasian oystercatcher, common redshank, dunlin, sanderling, ruddy turnstone, northern lapwing, bar-tailed godwit and Eurasian curlew.

The large population of fish, worms and crustaceans in the foreshore region sustains the bird wildlife; species include: shore crabs, shrimps, prawns, lugworm, ragworm, cockles, tellin, peppery furrow shell, gobies, blennies, sole, plaice, flounder, dab and pipefish.

Sport

The park is a popular site for sailing, angling, swimming, cycling, walking, jogging, ball games and horse riding.^[2]