How can I have walked with the Sunday group for over 20 year and never been to Wallasey Central Park? We think our former leader Bob Hughes once took the group to a small, derelict area nearby, said that was it, and spoiled the idea for ever. Central Park is lovely, with a lake, a walled garden, café and toilets. It is the former estate of Sir John Tobin, who commanded ships in the slave trade and was later Lord Mayor of Liverpool. The Hall and 57 acres of land were bought by Wallasey Local Board after the death of Tobin’s nephew and opened to the public in 1891.
After a week of sunshine, it’s the autumn equinox and summer seems to be over. Fungi are popping up everywhere, including this huge group of little balls at the bottom of the old park wall, just by the bus stop where we arrived. Some are even emerging from the wall. Common Puffballs?
In the corner of the park by the disused old Egremont St John church there were several rows of tiny new trees, perhaps destined for other parts of the park when they grow larger, or perhaps intended to form a small forest walk right there. They were native species such as Hazel, Oak, Rowan, Hawthorn, Horse Chestnut, Scots Pine and there was even a baby Sycamore with prominent Tar Spot fungus.
We saw lots of Grey Squirrels, several Wood Pigeon and Crows, a Collared Dove and a Jay, which was scolding loudly from deep inside a tree canopy then flew off in a flash. There is a pair of small duck ponds on the southern edge, containing only multiple Mallards, one Moorhen and plenty of feral Pigeons on the banks.
The walled garden in the centre of the park was lovely, with a café run by the Friends, picnic tables, neat flower beds, a small orchard and a very clean and functioning loo block. 10 out of 10 for that.
It started to rain as we ate our lunch, but we carried on, determined to see all of the park. The main lake was full of Mallards, a handful of Canada Geese, just a couple of Coots, a few juvenile Herring Gulls and one Cormorant waiting out the rain.
Just as I was thinking how much bread it would take to support so many ducks I spotted this Canada Goose with the wing deformity called Angel Wing. It is generally thought to be caused by eating too much bread, and little else, and although the connection isn’t definitely proven, many park lakes display warning signs. No such signs here.
The path around the lake was full of fishermen, many sheltering under big umbrellas. One had his wife and two small glum children tucked in with him. Not much fun for them. We spotted one small fish being caught and returned. A Mirror Carp, he said.
There is so much fishing that the council have erected special litter bins with a place for recycling unwanted hooks and lines. We have never seen that before. The attached sign instructs “Do not steal fish” and “No fishing for food”.
Then there was a sudden commotion. An unfamiliar-looking white parrot-like bird was flying about, squawking and screaming in alarm, pursued aerobatically by one of the young Herring Gulls. The frightened prey escaped into one of the large Plane trees surrounding the lake and I was able to take a photo. It looks like a Cockatiel, probably an escaped caged bird.
Public transport details: Bus 433 from Sir Thomas Street at 10.20, arriving Liscard Road opposite Chatsworth Avenue at 10.41. Returned from Liscard Road / Martin’s Lane on the 433 bus at 1.51, arriving Liverpool 2.15.
Next week we plan to go to Otterspool Park, meeting Elliot Street at 10 am for the 82 bus, or at the gates at the junction of Jericho Lane and Aigburth Road.