Pickerings Pasture Walk

Pickerings Pasture

Local Nature Reserve

What is a Green Flag Park?

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Green Flag Advisory Board.

Members of the Board include CABE Space and the Big Lottery Fund.This national standard for parks and green spaces is a key component of the Government's commitment to create cleaner, safer and greener communities.

There are eight criteria which Green Flag Award judges assess - a welcoming place; healthy, safe and secure; well maintained and clean; sustainability; conservation and heritage; community involvement; marketing; and management. Award holders have to submit applications annually to retain the prestigious Green Flag.

Parks and Countryside 1. Hale Park

10. Spike Island

2. Hale Duck Decoy

11. Victoria Promenade

3. Pickerings Pasture LNR

12. Runcorn Hill Park and LNR

4. Clincton Wood

13. Town Hall Park

5. Hough Green Park

14. Rock Park

6. Birchfield Gardens

15. Wigg Island Community Park

7. Victoria Park

16. Phoenix Park

8. Crow Wood Park

17. Town Park

9. Sunnybank

www.halton.gov.uk

Leisure Activities The site has a network of paths allowing you to stroll through wildflower meadows or alongside the river where you are also able to link up with Trans Pennine Trail which takes you to Hale Village or Spike Island and beyond. Pickerings Pasture is also very popular with birdwatchers and the starting point for guided tours to Hale Duck Decoy.

Ranger Centre The ranger centre has a full range of facilities as well as information on the wildlife interest of the reserve and local area and a large conference room, which is available for bookings. The Rangers can also provide education and training programmes suitable for schools, colleges and natural history groups.

Dog Owners ‘It’s YOUR Business’

Friends of Pickerings Pasture

Parks are enjoyed by everyone.

It’s an offence to let your dog foul in parks.

Clean up. Use dog bins or take it home.

Keep a poop scoop in your pocket.

The group holds regular meetings to address issues, identify potential improvements and seek funding for the park.

Group members can also help the rangers with practical conservation and events on the reserve.

Check posters for details of the next meeting. http://www.thefriendsofpickeringspasture.org.uk/

Infection from faeces damages health.

Train your dog to go at home.

Uncontrolled dogs can be frightening.

Please be a responsible dog owner.

Pickerings Pasture Pickerings Pasture is about wildflowers, woodlands and wildlife and scenic views across the River Mersey. It is a peaceful place where you can immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature, enjoy a leisurely picnic or take a quiet stroll along the riverbank.

But it was not always this way, for hundreds of years this part of Hale marsh was a place where horse and cattle grazed and thousands of duck and wading birds would come into feed or roost at high tide. But in the 1940's and for the next 20 years all that changed when this section of the marsh was taken over and used for disposal of domestic and industrial waste.

In 1982, Halton Borough Council and Cheshire County Council under took to restore the land and in the process created the unique wildflower meadows you see today. The site was opened to the public in 1986 and designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1991.

Today, Pickerings Pasture is not only a haven for wildlife but a place where people can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the countryside without ever really leaving town, it has also grown into a unique and successful conservation and educational experience which has achieved local, national and international recognition.

Natural History The reserve supports a wide range of birds, animals and insects but is particularly noted for its wildflower meadows (Spring, Summer, Wet, Cornfield and Control) where over 200 species of plants have been recorded to date. Plants range from the common to the unusual and include Cowslips, Cornflowers, Ox eye Daisies and Orchids to name a few. In summer the colourful meadows hum with the activity of the bees and butterflies whilst the woodlands support hidden gems such as Nettle Leaved Bellflower, Wild Garlic and Summer Snowflake and various migrant birds such as Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff.

In winter, focus shifts to the River Mersey where huge numbers of ducks and waders gather, including Lapwing, Curlew and Golden Plover whilst birds of prey such as the Peregrine Falcon patrol the skies overhead. A bird hide overlooks Hale marsh giving splendid views across the River Mersey and beyond.

Pickerings Pasture

What to look for‌ Spring Spring meadows burst into colour, a few early butterflies begin to appear and bird migration gets underway. Seasonal highlights include plants such as Cowslip; Star of Bethlehem;Yellow Rattle; Ox-eye daisy; Snakes Head Fritillary and Dandelion and flitting amongst them butterflies such as Peacock; Brimstone; Orange Tip and Comma and an early Speckled Wood.

Birds passing through can include Wheatear; Whimbrel; Sedge Warbler; White Wagtails and Marsh Harrier whilst Chiffchaff; Swallow; House Martin; Swift and Willow Warbler remain with us.

Local Nature Reserve

Summer The Cornfield, summer meadows and grass verges are at their most colourful with displays of Corncockle; Poppy; Corn Marigold; Wild Carrot; Meadow Cranesbill;Vipers Bugloss and Marsh Orchids.

Butterflies include Common Blue; Skippers; Meadow Brown; Small Copper and Gatekeepers with the possibility of migrant Silver Y and Humming Bird Hawkmoths.

Trans Pennine Trail West HALE

Mersey View Road

Wet Meadow

Surfaced path Unsurfaced path Summer Meadow

Woodland

Cornfield

Spring Meadow

Road Treatment Works

Steps

Car Park

Control Meadow Spring Meadow

Ranger Centre

Birds are busy feeding young; the Kestrel can be seen hunting over the Reserve and Hale Marsh. Swifts, Swallows and House Martins hawk low over the meadows whilst Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers sing strongly. On warm evenings Pipistrelle and Noctule bats fly over the meadows and around the trees. On the river, post breeding flocks of Cormorants; Lapwing and Curlew gather whilst Canada Geese numbers increase dramatically resulting in large, noisy flocks dropping onto estuary and marsh. Common Darter, Brown and Migrant Hawker dragonflies can also be seen flying around woodland edges and over the bird hide pool

Autumn Look out for Jay flying back and forth as they collect and hoard acorns and flocks of Goldfinch, Redwing, and Fieldfare feeding in the hedgerows. At the bird hide Kingfisher, Greenshank, Common Snipe and Little Egret can be seen on occasions. On warm sunny days Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral and a late Brimstone butterfly might still appear. Out on the marsh, Golden Plover, Redshank,Turnstone and Lapwing appear almost daily whilst increasing numbers of Starlings can be seen swirling around the Silver Jubilee bridge at dusk.

Winter Flocks of Long Tailed Tits and possibly Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Blackcap move around the area whilst Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow and occasionally Great Spotted Woodpecker and Siskin can be seen on the bird feeders at the ranger centre and bird hide. Birds of prey such as Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and possibly Hen Harrier or Short Eared Owl might be seen hunting over Hale marsh.

On the River Mersey, Wigeon, Mallard and Pintail often appear on the incoming tide along with an occasional Great Crested Grebe whilst waders such as Redshank, Dunlin Ringed Plover, Curlew and Lapwing will be seen probing in the mud as the tide ebbs.

Spring Meadow

Summer Meadow

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Spring Meadow Summer Meadow Bird Hide Scrape

NO ACCESS

STEEP DROP

River Mersey Source to Sea 110km / 70 miles Pennines to Irish Sea

Obelisk

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Ditton Brook Bridge

Trans Pennine Trail East SPIKE ISLAND HIGH STEPS

WATER SAFETY INFORMATION - STAY SAFE - STAY OUT OF THE WATER On the river, the tide comes in very quickly twice a day.

The river has strong powerful currents, deep cold water, mud and hidden objects that can trap you No Swimming

In case of emergency dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.

Strong Currents