The annual Knowsley Flower Show is held in Court Hey Park, which was once a landed estate developed since 1836 by Robertson Gladstone, local businessman, property developer, politician, and brother of Prime Minister-to-be William Ewart Gladstone. Robertson Gladstone was also a Director of the world’s first regular passenger railway, the Liverpool to Manchester Railway which opened in 1830. It is believed that the stones lining the driveway in the park were the original stone sleepers over which the famous steam engine “Rocket” once travelled. That’s one for the railway enthusiasts!
The park is edged on the eastern side by Court Hey Brook, which used to flood occasionally, so in 2021 they created a wetland by digging out pools and rivulets beside the brook. Now there is much-improved water quality downstream and a huge benefit for wildlife. They have a sign up listing Frogs, Herons, Dragonflies and Damselflies, water invertebrates and sightings of the protected Great Crested Newt. There is no way we could explore it, it is guarded by an impenetrable stand of Purple Loosestrife, Sorrel, Reeds and Wild Carrot.
Although there were occasional spots of rain we wandered through the stalls and displays of local charities and businesses. There were also commercial offerings from local plant nurseries. We were happy to see S & R Birds, a rescue sanctuary for birds of prey, who bring their raptors to events like this to solicit donations. We have seen them before, and know their Barn Owl and Eagle Owl well, but today they had a new bird, a Gyrfalcon, a magnificent male. I have never seen one of those before.
We saw two local mayors walking about, the Mayor of Knowsley, who had come to open the show, and the Mayor of Whiston browsing around the floral marquee, looking at the winning vegetables and craft items. Here are some which caught my eye.
Public transport details: Bus 61 rom Queen Square at 10.25, arriving Roby Road opp. Grangewood at 10.48. Returned on the 61 from Roby Road / Court Hey Road at 1.50, arriving city centre at 2.20.