Nature conservation in Liverpool
The wildlife of Liverpool is probably more wealthy and diverse than many people think. Although the city does not have large areas of wilderness, it does have many areas, both large and small, that act as wildlife corridors and breeding or foraging sites.
Liverpool has a good resource of public parks which are now managed with environmental conservation as a key priority, run by the Parks and Environment Division. We have over 70 parks which are of great benefit to wildlife. Whilst the large amount of public parks support common and notable wildlife species, there are many important sites that have developed on post-industrial or previously unmanaged land that support a wonderful range of plants and animals. There are many areas distributed over the whole of the city that provide the resources needed to support healthy wildlife communities. There are special areas in many Parks that are specifically managed to improve wildlife and biodiversity. For instance this can be achieved through wildflower meadow areas, such as at Canalside Park or the new Holocaust Memorial Wildflower Area at Everton Park.
Several areas in the City are particularly valuable for their wildlife and are Local Nature Reserves. These are:
- Croxteth Country Park Local Nature Reserve (leaflet download
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) - Millwood Local Nature Reserve (leaflet download)
- Eric Hardy Local Nature Reserve
- Childwall Woods and Fields Local Nature Reserve (leaflet download)
You can help improve Liverpool's wild environment by helping at our Nature Reserves and other sites. Liverpool Local Nature Reserves Conservation Volunteers run events throughout the City (see the programme details on the Rangers page) or contact us.
Events in our Nature Reserves are run by the Ranger Interpretation Service and their partners. A full list of Park events is available on the Events page, with events in Nature Reserves from April to September 2009 listed below.
Eric Hardy Local Nature Reserve
July
Mon 27
1:00 PM
Woodland Wander
Get active and informed at the same time as we take a sedate walk through the wonderful Clarke Gardens and enjoy an informal talk on its history, conservation and the environmental impact of Climate change
ClarkeGardensand Eric Hardy Local Nature Reserve
August
Fri 14
1:00 PM
Trees and our Environment
Discover our long time relationship with trees and how by understanding our woodlands we can increase our wildlife populations
ClarkeGardensand Eric Hardy Local Nature Reserve
September
Fri 11
1:00 PM
Environmental Aspects of Trees
Discover our long time relationship with trees and how by understanding our woodlands we can increase our wildlife populations
ClarkeGardensand Eric Hardy Local Nature Reserve
Childwall Woods and Fields
August
Mon 17
1:00 PM
Conservation Conversation
Join us in this 'Year of the Environment' as we enjoy a walk through our beautiful woodlands and discuss woodland history and the implications of climate change in the future on the woods and its inhabitants
Childwall Woods and Fields
Corner of Aldbourne Avenue and Woolton Road
September
Mon 28
1:00 PM
Our Woodland Environment
Join us in this 'Year of the Environment' as we enjoy a walk through our beautiful woodlands and discuss woodland history and the implications of climate change in the future of the woods and its inhabitants
Childwall Woods and Fields
Corner of Aldbourne Avenue and Woolton Road
The combination of Liverpool being a relatively green city and the pressures wildlife face due to the intense agricultural management of rural area means that Liverpool plays an important role in providing for the county's wildlife.
Gardens in Liverpool can be a marvellous place for wildlife. Many people enjoy seeing birds and butterflies in their garden. Advice to gardeners on encouraging wildlife to your garden can be viewed on the Natural England website.
Red squirrels are somewhat surprisingly present in the north of the city, water vole are well established to the east, peregrine falcon and even raven have bred in the west and birds such as linnet, skylark and golden plover are present at sites in the south.
In order to manage the wildlife of the city in a co-ordinated way, a number of national and local plans and strategies have been implemented that provide the way forward for wildlife conservation in the city.
Some of the bodies responsible for protecting and enhancing the city's natural resources include, Liverpool City Council, the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, English Nature, Landlife, Merseyside Environmental Trust, the Mersey Forest, the RSPB and the three city universities. Recording the habitats and species in Liverpool is the job of Merseyside Biobank, the Local Records Centre for North Merseyside.
Also important are the vast number of amateur naturalists, charities and community groups that support these organisations and provide them with the necessary information to help conserve Liverpool's wildlife.
The initiatives that are currently being delivered to provide for the city's wildlife include the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan, the Liverpool Nature Conservation Strategy and the Liverpool Local Nature Reserve Project. These projects are run as partnerships involving some or all the above bodies and seek to develop a better understanding of wildlife management in the city through education, monitoring, land management and protection.
The links listed below will be useful for those interested in finding about the activities of wildlife organisations relevant to Liverpool.
RSPB Liverpool: contains information about the birds of Liverpool and where they can be found, together will details of how to get involved.
Liverpool Hope University College: has been involved in the production and launch of the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan.
National Museums Liverpool: run many projects and have an excellent natural history department.
The Mersey Forest: the largest of the country's community forests and co-ordinate site enhancement funding, community involvement and have links with a wide range of other organisations.
Merseyside Environmental Trust: are involved in all aspects of nature conservation and sustainability and provide a link with community groups and on the ground action.
Tel: 0151 794 3137
Merseyside Naturalists Association: founded in 1938 by the renowned local naturalist Eric Hary (after whom our Local Nature Reserve in Clarke Gardens is named). The Association meets regularly and organises meetings and trips.
Landlife: now a nationally renowned organisation which started and still operates in Liverpool. Fundamental in the establishment of the National Wildflower Centre.
English Nature: The statutory agency for nature conservation in this country. Responsible for protection of European and nationally protected species, habitats and sites.
Sustrans: look after the Liverpool Loopline, one of the most significant wildlife areas in the City, forming a linear wildlife corridor along the old railway line, now a cycle track and footpath.
UK Biodiversity Action Plan: the current mechanism for multi-agency and community backed action to preserve and enhance targeted species and habitats.