Sherdley Park was once the private estate of a copper industrialist called Michael Hughes, who died in 1825. The estate fell into disrepair until it was bought by the local council in 1949. Now it is a huge open space, with a golf course occupying the western half. We approached it from the Lea Green end, at the south east corner of the park. One of the best trees of the day was a tall Swamp Cypress next to the path between the lake and the children’s play area, towering over the skateboard ramp.
The park lake is nestled in a small woodland. We noted only Mallards, Black-headed Gulls and a couple of skulking Little Grebes.
Out in the open grassland we saw only the boldest birds – Crows, Wood Pigeons and Magpies. We walked as far as the “Park Bar and Kitchen” next to the golf course, to use their facilities (open to all park users), then lunched in a fenced-off garden area called (by Google maps) the “Arboretum”. It definitely isn’t one of those, but appears to be the old formal garden of the ruined big house, a maze-like area of paths and tall trees, a few lawns, and lots of benches.
There seemed to be a lot more wildlife in that quiet and sheltered nook. There were lots of Grey Squirrels, a Great Tit, a Collared Dove and possibly a Nuthatch. Someone spotted our binoculars and told us he had seen a Long-eared Owl in the woods beyond the western edge of the paths. We went to look, saw nothing and felt doubtful. The trees in the so-called Arboretum were mostly unremarkable, but we noted some lovely old Cherry trees, which will be glorious when they flower.
One Cherry in a sheltered corner appeared to be blooming already. It didn’t look like a winter-flowering type, and may have been deeply confused by this mild autumn.
There was also a tall and shapely Larch, lovely Beech hedges and a droopy conifer of the Cypress type, which may have been a Weeping Nootka Cypress, also known as the Afghan Hound tree.
Then it was time to find our way home. Permit me a grumble about the service of Northern Rail (the local trains out of Lime Street). They are very unreliable, especially at weekends. At Lime Street our train was listed on the departure boards but without a platform number, so we had to wait, wondering if it was to be cancelled. When the platform number was announced, there was a mad scramble to board and it left 5 minutes late. At Lea Green we saw that trains back to Liverpool were only hourly, and one had already been cancelled. We decided not to risk returning by train and went home a roundabout way on two buses via St Helens bus station.
And just a note about Rimrose Valley Country Park, long-threatened by a road-building scheme for the docks. This week’s Budget Statement has cancelled the proposed road, so Rimrose is saved. Great news. The Chancellor’s statement said “As part of the government’s commitment to growth, it will take difficult decisions where there is not a clear value for money case to invest. After a review the Transport Secretary has decided not to progress with the following unfunded and unaffordable road schemes on the strategic road network: A5036 Princess Way…”
Public transport details: Train from Lime Street at 10.30 (actually 10.35), arriving Lea Green at 11.05. Returned on the 29 bus from Marshall’s Cross Road / opp Eaves Lane at 2.10, arriving St Helens bus station at 2.15, then bus 10 at 2.25 arriving Liverpool at 3.20.
Next week we plan to go to Kirkdale Cemetery, meeting at Queen Square at 10am.