New Ferry Butterfly Park

The park is an urban nature reserve developed on a former railway coal yard, goods yard & water softening plant. There are acidic, calcareous, nutrient poor & nutrient rich grasslands reflecting the different industrial substrates of the past. In addition there are two ponds, hedgerows, scrub, hazel coppice, artefacts of the brick-making and railway eras.

A local committee runs the park. We are always looking for help in managing the park every second Sunday in the month 10 am till 4pm in the winter, September–April and wardening every Sunday in the summer May- August. See contact below for details.

Location
The park lies off Howell Road, which lies of Bebington Road. The Park is situated adjacent to Bebington Station car park (O.S.Grid Ref: SJ 333852)

Access
The Park is locked and is accessible on Sundays when wardened May till August 11am-4pm Other times accessible by arrangement. Please contact Paul Loughnane. Groups welcome by appointment

The best way to arrive is by Merseyrail train alighting at Bebington station.

By car leave the M53 at junction 4, take the B5137 sign posted to Bebington, turn left at the first set of traffic lights and follow this road for a 1/2 mile, take second exit the mini roundabout, carry on 1/2 mile to next set of lights, go straight on under the railway bridge and immediately turn left by the Aldi supermarket up to the station car park. Ample car parking is available inside the reserve.

Status
The reserve occupies 4.94 acres (2 Ha). The park is a Site of biological Importance; it is much used for education.

Topography
Mainly flat though some steep railway embankment especially to the northern end of the park. The path in lower half of the park is suitable for pushchairs & wheel chairs.

Vegetation
40 % of the park is scrub, species rich hedgerows or hazel coppice blocks with the rest being made up of distinct grassland types. Acidic grasslands developed on the coal dust areas, these are dominated by common bent, sheep's sorrel & bird's-foot- trefoil. Calcareous grasslands developed from lime waste of water softening plant these provide species rich flora with plenty of nectar sources. On thin nutrient- poor soils, which overlie old railway track beds, carpets of bird's-foot-trefoil dominate along with wild carrot & occasional bee orchids. On damper grasslands surrounding the lower pond cowslip, ladies smock & ragged robin occur.

Fauna
26 species of butterfly have been recorded here with 16 species breeding on site. Other interest is in the lower pond with smooth newts, water scorpions, and dragonfly nymphs. As the park is wardened there is often a chance to dip a net in the pond and investigate what lives there. Thick-legged flower beetle, a rare red data book species has been recorded. Yellow meadow ants are present on undisturbed grassland areas where they can build their nests. The park is rich in many other invertebrates with large populations of grasshoppers, bees and shield bugs.