WIRRAL WILDLIFE / NEW FERRY BUTTERFLY PARK Talks 2025-26
Dibbinsdales very good friends at Wirral Wildlife run a series of excellent talks & Events. Everybody is very welcome.
Friday 13th February
7.30pm Thornton Hough W.I. Hall, Thornton Hough, CH63 1JL
Talk: Creation of New Lowland Heath to Save a Population of Silver-studded Blue Butterfly at Prees Heath Common Reserve
A talk by Phil Putwain, Honorary Research Fellow at Liverpool University
The Silver‐studded blue butterfly (Plebejus argus) is a species of conservation priority in the UK due to severe declines over the past 100 years through loss of habitat extent and quality. Prees Heath Common in Shropshire has supported the last population of the butterfly in the Midlands and the North of England on very small areas of relict heathland. Butterfly Conservation purchased half of the Common in 2006 to safeguard the relict population and to undertake re‐creation of former lowland heathland on areas of arable land and thus attempt to ensure the long-term persistence of the butterfly population. This is the story of how heathland creation was achieved and consequences for the butterfly over the past 19 years.
Phil is a former academic (Senior lecturer at Liverpool University in Environmental Biology) with a research focus on ecological restoration. At University and during 20 years of retirement he has delivered a wide range of habitat creation and ecosystem restoration projects focusing on soils and habitat creation in rural, post-industrial, urban and active mineral extraction settings with a focus on heathland.
The talk will be followed by complimentary tea/coffee and homemade cake, with an opportunity to meet like-minded people.
some past events
Helen and Angie of Sunlight bees. Helen set out some great educational materials including materials. Lots of interest from visiting families. Kids taken off on a mini bee safari in bee suits and adults having some beefun! We really appreciate Helen taking time out of her busy week to come along join us
Sat, 12 Jul 2025 10:00 Rod Dillon. Supported by Liverpool Independents Biennial 2025
Come join us for a unique experience. Meet outside the wonderful Nettle Cafe where we will embark on a journey to explore the artistic wonders of Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve. Our regal Lady Liverwort is there for you to See her. This in-person event promises to be a delightful blend of creativity and nature, so don’t miss out!
The walk is along a cycle pathway past Unilever. We will pass St Patrick’s Well to collect the sacred water and then stop at the quarry to view Our Lady Liverwort. We invite you to join us in a ritual to celebrate the site of Our Lady.
Nettle Cafe 98 Greendale Rd, Port Sunlight Wirral CH62 4XE
See Wirral Environment Networks newsletters for more details. News – Wirral Environmental Network
February 2025 Woodslee Arboretum
The Friends working with Ste The Ranger are creating an arboretum in the area where Woodslee house once stood, together with an area of Brotherton Park.
There is a saying “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now” We are very fortunate that we are planting some trees now, some were planted about 20 years ago and an number planted almost 200 years ago. We are placing simple labels in front of some of the trees. Later we hope to produce a downloadable guide.
There is already a guide to other trees in Dibbinsdale but this is now a bit out of date.https://www.dibbinsdale.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Tree-Trail.pdf
February 2025 Tree Nursery
Wirral Tree Wardens working with The Friends of Dibbinsdale have established a tree nursery in a part of the walled garden. We have collected seeds from Dibbinsdale and also Arrowe Park and are in the process of stratifying them over winter and we will grow them on. This process will provide trees genetically suited to local conditions. It also reduces the possibility of importing pests and disease from outside the area.
In the mean time we are looking after “tree whips” ready for planting out in the next month or so. These are young bare root stock and are sensitive to their roots drying out, so they are healed in until needed.
January 2025 Wassail
Wassailing is a way of awaking and blessing the fruit trees of an orchard, in the hope of a good harvest. This year the celebrations were lead by Charlie from Wirral Councils Tree Team. We were joined by Bexi who played and sang for us.
