It was an unexpectedly bright and sunny day, with long views from Hoylake’s North Parade, over what used to be their beach, to Hilbre Island in the Dee estuary and the North Wales mountains in the distance.
We started from Manor Road station, down Manor Road, then north along Birkenhead Road to Queen’s Park. Along that road there are small ornamental trees planted along the verges, and one was this exquisitely lovely pale-pink Hawthorn.
Thinking I might buy one one day, I later tried to find out what variety it was, but had no luck. There are plenty of pictures of similar pink blossom online, but none leading to an identification. I found a blog by the Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve near Trowbridge, saying they had some of these pink ones and appealing for a name, but there was no obvious follow-up. The RHS in their write-up of ordinary Common Hawthorn illustrates its page with a picture of a pale pink one like this, without comment. I am forced to conclude that it is an un-named and occasional genetic variation.
Queen’s Park had Starlings and Goldfinches in the hedge, fleeting Red Admiral and Holly Blue butterflies and a very well-signed Nature Corner for the kids. Then we crossed the road to Meols Parade Gardens on the edge of the promenade. They are a little sun trap, protected from the onshore winds by a strong fence. Someone is having fun with the planting, taking advantage of the hot conditions. The shrubby layer was the heat-loving Hibiscus, and towering over them were the exotic tall flower spikes of Giant Viper’s Bugloss Echium pininana, growing to well over 10 ft high. They are native to the Canary Islands. They bear masses of flowers all over the stem, which were just coming out and were very attractive to bees.
One basking Red Admiral rested on the fence between them.
Then out on the promenade with its views out to sea. There used to be a sandy beach here, but nature took its course and Spartina grass moved in. The local residents were NOT amused and have been fighting get their beach back. Recently the local authority has bowed to their demands and is doing some selective beach scraping. Some areas are being fully cleared while others have only a path, parallel to the promenade.
As we were looking around outside the Lifeboat Station, the staff member on duty chatted to us and invited us in to see the Lifeboat and all the other kit. It was quite a thrill to stand under the huge boat’s bow, looking out along the launch ramp to the sands.
There were several birds on the beach, spotted as we continued southwards along the prom. Carrion Crows were inspecting the vegetation, a Pied Wagtail ran across the open sand. House Martins were swooping about and some had found a small mud puddle and were scooping it up to make their nests with. After lunch in a seaside shelter we carried on towards King’s Gap. There were no wading birds about at this time of year, and the tide was way out, anyway. But there were interesting specialist seaside plants, moving in to the vegetated areas. We identified Sea Beet Beta vulgaris and Sea Radish Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus. There were probably many more, and it would be a good place for a botanist’s outing, I think.
As we turned up King’s Gap, another specialist plant clung to a recess in a wall. There was a huge patch further on, on the pavement on the corner of King’s Court. I think it was Seaside Daisy Erigeron glaucus.
Hoylake makes a feature of its seabirds, and much of its street furniture makes punning reference to Knots. On the main roundabout is a sculpture of a flock of them, whirling around.
Public transport details: West Kirby train from Central at 10.05, arriving Manor Road station at 10.30. Returned from Hoylake on the train at 1.34, arriving Liverpool at 2.10.
There is no Sunday Group walk next week, 17th May. On 24th May we plan to go to Birkenhead Park. Meet at Central Station at 10 am (or even a bit earlier), for the 10.05 West Kirby train.
Anyone is welcome to come out with the Sunday Group. It is not strictly part of the MNA, although it has several overlapping members. We go out by public transport to local parks, woods and nature reserves all over Merseyside, and occasionally further afield. We are mostly pensioners, so the day is free on our bus passes, and we enjoy fresh air, a laugh and a joke, a slow amble in pleasant surroundings and sometimes we even look at the wildlife!
If you want to join a Sunday Group walk, pack lunch, a flask, waterproofs, binoculars if you have them, a waterproof pad to sit on if we have to have lunch on the grass or a wet bench (A garden kneeler? A newspaper in a plastic bag?), and wear stout shoes or walking boots. We are usually back in Liverpool City Centre by 3pm at the latest.
If you are interested in the wildlife of the north-west of England and would like to join the walks and coach trips run by the Merseyside Naturalists’ Association, see the main MNA website www.mnapage.info for details of our programme and how to join us.