West Kirby Merseyside hotels:

Royden Park and Thurstaston Common comprise almost 250 acres of both semi-natural and planted woodland, heathland and open parkland. The ownership of the area is divided between the National Trust and the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, with Wardens from the National Trust working alongside Rangers from the local authority Department of Education and Cultural Services. The parkland around Hillbark offers a range of wildlife habitats with its deciduous and coniferous woodland, grass meadow and fresh water. The two rhododendron-lined meres are particularly beautiful in spring and offer nesting sites for Moorhen, Little Grebe, and occasionally for Mallard. Roodee Mere holds water all year, but Frankby Mere dries out during the summer months, offering a suitable habitat for colonising plants such as Goat Willow, Reedmace and Yellow Flag. The uncontrolled spread of invasive species such as willow and birch would lead eventually to the loss of the open water area. Some regular vegetation management is therefore necessary in order to maintain the existing habitat which is important for dragonflies, newts and bank voles. In front of Hillbark the meadow areas abound in early summer with flowers such as Heath Bedstraw, Bird's-foot Trefoil and the Common Spotted Orchid. These are rewarding areas for those interested in butterflies, with species such as Common Blue, Large Skipper and Small Heath. Birds which regularly occur around the Mere and meadow areas include Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Green Woodpecker. Around the meres and meadows are woodland plantations of Scots and Corsican Pine, Turkey Oak, Birch and rhododendron. A large area of Scots Pine wood has also developed in the north-east corner of Thurstaston Common. Although the wildlife value of these pine areas is relatively limited they do support numbers of Grey Squirrels, Goldcrests and occasionally Crossbills. The deciduous woodland areas are dominated by Silver and Downy Birch, Sessile and Turkey Oaks, Sycamore and Rowan. In Royden Park these have developed from plantations which also include Beech, Ash, Sweet Chestnut and Norway Maple. The woodland areas of Thurstaston Common and Irby Hill on the other hand have developed as part of the natural succession from heathland to birch woodland. The mature birch then help to create the conditions for Rowan and Oak to become established, a succession which would eventually lead to mature oak woodland. Woodland areas abound in wildlife and will reward those with a patient eye. Even dead and decaying wood is extremely important, for as it is broken down by fungi and insects, nutrients are returned to the soil. Insects in their turn become food for Shrews, Badgers and woodland birds such as the Chaffinch which in its turn may fall prey to a Sparrowhawk.