I can honestly say not one of my favourite mammals but everyone to there own.As I carried on walking I noticed early signs of spring as Snowdrops were in full flower in the wooded areas by the river. ^ " ^ . My (September-November) can be exciting and frustrating in equal measures. To build your own Itinerary, click to add an item to your Itinerary basket. Hale Icehouse Woods has a mixture of mature trees and has three small The local farmers have preserved a lot 207076, Scotland no. We return to our starting point via main roads and a short section of cycleway through Halewood Park, Enter date in the format dd/mm/yyyy (eg. Visits have been made by emperor dragonflies, broad-bodied chasers and four-spot chasers. The path to Hale follows the edge of farmland, skirting fields of barley, potatoes and carrots. The Jubilee Bridge and Mersey Gateway Bridge along with Ethelfleda, the railway bridge, spanned the river where it narrowed further upstream. (June-August) provides good wader roosts, especially as returning birds start From the bottom of Withins Way an outcrop of rocks at the edge of the salt marsh attracts various waders and ducks and is always worth checking out. I grew up in Moore on the other side of the River between Warrington and Runcorn and was born in Warrington. There are safety reasons for closure but there are no reasons why it cant be realigned. There is a hide at the far western end of Pickerings Pasture which overlooks a scrape and Hale Marsh. I was always able to take my bike and in five minutes Id be in quite deep countryside. Spike 45. The Version table provides details related to the release that this issue/RFE will be addressed. I am happy for British Cycling to send me cycling news, content, offers and tips: This ride is initially limited to members of The FC's Friendly Cyclists Satdy Club. Always remember, we will never leave anyone behind! The walk ends at Hale lighthouse (top) which stands at Hale Head. No public dicussion or debate has taken place regarding the closure and non realignment of Dungeon Lane, Ashtons Lane. At low tide large expanses of mud Credit: Mary Hines. Trip Report Hale Lighthouse and Pickerings Pasture 20th November 2022. excellent descriptive guide to the area. Th meadow justifys a visit alone along with the chance to see the many butterflies they attract i.e skippers, coppers, blues, meadow brown, gatekeepers, tortoiseshell, orange tip, peacock, speckled wood and comma. numbers of, Spring (September-November) can be an exciting time for visible migration, although open parkland which is bordered by a mix of mature trees, with plenty of fruiting (LogOut/ Pickerings Pasture: Chillaxing Place - See 104 traveler reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Widnes, UK, at Tripadvisor. There will be cafe stop at the Zena's Marina Caf at West Bank Boat Club, Spike Island, Widnes so remember to bring along some money for a coffee and cake. Puddington Cattle Egret-S till in field on Puddington Lane Leasowe Lighthouse Wheatear (male)-Ke Feb 25th Merlin,2 Peregrine,2 Hen Harrier (male and ringtail) and 2 Great Egret- Old Baths, Parkgate . Oak, elm, alder, wild cherry and sycamore are common species. I remember the tank traps and also the sand (there was sand in the 1960s!). Pasture is a parkland area along the banks of the River Mersey. It ceased operation in 1958, since there was no longer any shipping on this side of the river. of wintering ducks which normally include good numbers of. All riders will be required to wear a helmet and carry spare inner tubes and the means to be able to repair a puncture (assistance will be provided if required). So, I ran wild. Another great days birding which was finished off at Marbury park with Malc looking for the Bittern but no show! Birds of prey seen hunting over the estuary/marsh, peregrine, merlin, sparrowhawk, buzzard, kestrel, marsh harrier and the rarer hen harrier. Incredibly we never met up. by a mix of mature deciduous trees and a moat. (September-November) can be very productive with often good numbers of. Historically, Pickerings Pasture, as part of Hale Marsh, was for hundreds of years, a place where cattle and horses grazed and ducks and wading birds would feed and roost, at high tide. be viewed from Town Lane, along Within Way and from Pickerings Pasture. 2.07 ha (5.11 acres) Halton Borough Council Wood. When we reached the The Green at the village centre we headed along Town Lane and later Hale Gate Road until we turned right towards the nature reserve. The name Dungeon derives from the Anglo-Saxon dunge or denge, meaning marshland, or land that adjoins a marsh (think of Dungeness in Kent), rather than having any association with castles or imprisonment. . Pickerings Pasture: A walk on the bank of mersey - See 104 traveler reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Widnes, UK, at Tripadvisor. You are here: Things To Do > Pickerings Pasture Local Nature Reserve. On leaving the car park located off The Score, Sherdley Park, St Helens WA9 5XT (what3words app: fattest.demotion.automatic), the first part of the ride is mostly on main roads till we reach the gravel cycle paths of the Sutton Manor Woodland Park around The Dream and then head out towards Widnes on the St Helens Mineral Line where we join the St Helens Canal cycle path (which runs parallel to the River Mersey) near The Ferry Inn. At this point we met a man walking his Staffy puppy. tide, about two hours prior to high tide produces the best opportunity to see south-easterly and bright conditions, when up to 20,000 birds can be seen Ambassador to the United Nations. Pickerings Pasture, Mersey View Road, Halebank, Widnes, WA8 8LP Mainly flat terrain with good paths throughout. Welcome to my birding blog.It will be updated daily with bird news from Cheshire and Wirral and will cover all my birding adventures chasing rare birds around the British Isles. However the paddocks can still often produce small numbers of. " Scenic " species. Cheshire. Ramsbrook. Pickerings Pasture: Pleasant walk on banks of the Mersey - See 105 traveler reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Widnes, UK, at Tripadvisor. Educational facilities/plaques are in place and guided tours are conducted by a member of the parks an countryside staff. Details: Hale Park is Hybrid year tick anyone? It was a pleasant, genteel interlude, a touch of quality before they walked back to their very different life among the new grey houses and hard concrete roads of the housing estate. Although the scrape is largely fresh water, it occasionally suffers with dog walkers ,families and all ages we have even took a packed breakfast with us on Xmas morning ! Pipits moving through, although most are. On a glorious winters morning like this we just had to be outdoors. The footpath heads south and skirts the woodland for 300 yards until it meets the footpath along the northern bank of the river. pickerings pasture to hale lighthouse. I met up with Malc curtin this morning and we headed to Pickerings pasture for high tide. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. (December-February) is generally a good time on Hale Marsh, with sizable moving south. Further south along Carr Lane (towards Hale I have many happy memories of walking and playing at oglet and hale shore as a boy during and after the war. In 1799, after America had gained its independence, the fort was named Fort Pickering after Colonel Timothy Pickering, a Salem native who served as Secretary of State under President Washington. Unfortunately building work was interrupted by the Second World War and, though more homes were built in the postwar years, the gardens, stadium and pleasure beach never materialised. A distant Grey Partridge was seen by an observant member. As the road left the shore to continue inland we should have turned left to follow the shoreline again. Change). There is a hide at the far western end of Pickerings Pasture which overlooks a scrape and Hale Marsh. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Pickerings Pasture, Widnes: , , Pickerings Pasture, Widnes, Tripadvisor Moore Nature Reserve 40. Given the size of the numbers can be variable throughout, and passage wader numbers will tail off by Salmon are probably breeding in the Mersey river system since juveniles were found in the river Goyt. A duck decoy was an ancient method of catching ducks for food, consisting of a pond where ducks swam underneath a series of hoops and net, attracted by a small dog (piper) running along the bank. close. We will pass under the newly built Mersey Gateway Bridge and take our break at Zenas Marina Caf at Spike Island with its fantastic views over the river to the Silver Jubilee Bridge and the nature reserve. Pools is the name given to a set of shallow flooded fresh water scrapes Planes taxiing along the runway attracted a couple of plane spotters who were ready with their cameras. It is thought the ducks regard the small dog as a predator such as a fox, and swim towards it as a method of drawing attention away from nesting or resting areas. Pickerings Pasture: Pleasant walk on banks of the Mersey - See 104 traveller reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Widnes, UK, at Tripadvisor. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Pickerings Pasture 4 105 #4 of 22 things to do in Widnes National Parks Nature & Wildlife Areas Parks Closed now 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Lovely walk " Jul 2022 Nice area for a short walk, free parking, plenty of grassed areas to explore and see the lovely wild flowers and birds. But this place does have some significance in Liverpools economic history, because it was here, after the discovery of rock salt in Cheshire in the 17th century, that a salt refinery was established, the remains of which are still visible in the crumbling stone work and overgrown sandstone jetty. From Dungeon I turned to follow the broad sweep of the bay southeast towards Hale Point. A small feeding station is situated by the scrape hide. majority of activity on the Mersey. Vice President Dan Quayle stands at left center. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. Lighthouse is situated at the end of Lighthouse Lane, and has a small enclosed From this junction we followed the muddy Mersey Way along the shore towards Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Clamley Park Plantation. Cheshire. Flocks of up to several hundred Canada geese roost on the marsh during high tides with Black tailed Godwit & little egrets an increasing sight. A few of us braved the approaching storm to wander further up the river, and were rewarded with a fishing Little Egret and a couple more Wigeon. It was not without danger. Instead, social and community facilities and services were overlooked or inadequate. The influence of Liverpools greatness and wealth as a port is seen floating across the whole of Lancashire, Oer Mersey mud and Mersey flood, to pervade everything it touches, While near and far and far and near/ Is Liverpool baroque. It is a truly fun piece, which mirrors the brilliant playfulness demonstrated in the baroque designs of the architecture, also Betjemins nod towards the speaking clock, is particularly appealing: Rococo, says the pendulum, / Baroque, baroque, baroak. looked relatively interesting (which turned out to be Carr Lane Pools) - in V- ^ ,v . We had the place to ourselves. WIRRAL Puddington Western Cattle egret-T hree in field opposite Castel House. Youll be strapped in your very own Bubble Armour. I love this place.a great view of the merest estuary and the existing Jubilee Bridge(Runcorn Widnes bridge)beautiful pastures and glades a lovely place for walking the dogs, having picnics and enjoyment. However if considering a walk extension, there is a Series of a zig-zagging shallow steps which ascend to cross the bridge over Ditton Brook, cycle path leads onto Runcorn Bridge. provides good views of the pools especially in the afternoon and evening when Hale Lighthouse was built in 1906 to replace a much shorter structure protecting shipping on this dangerous headland. Attend the public meeting at Runcorn Town Hall on 11th Feb at 6.30. Well even though I dipped the Firecrest I was glad I had visited this site and willdefinitelybe visiting again. Upcoming events NEXT OUTDOOR MEETING 5th March. I parked the car and set off down to the Dungeon. crops throughout the year, but there is also often set-aside on a rotational Bridge 47. Mill Farm, with numbers of passage migrants relatively low compared to spring From here there are superb views of the hills at Frodsham and Helsby on the opposite bank. Paul would often cycle the two and a half miles along the shoreline to the lighthouse at Hale Head, where the river makes a 90-degree turn, giving a panoramic view across the mud and navigation channels to the industrial complex of Runcorn on the far side. Here so I don't forget. The first on Carr Lane itself, which Post-breeding species often congregate around the Lighthouse and surrounding Backpacking, hiking and town walks with my human dad. Joe the Cocker here again. John Betjemins poem, The Manor House, Hale, near Liverpool describes the grandeur of the architecture in this region. On the right hand bend go straight on into Hale Park. It also Sign the petition. We Have visited Pickering's Pasture on a regular basis now for some years .its great for walking as its next to the River Mersey ,it constantly changes as the seasons change the wildflowers and bird life are fantastic ,if your an avid walker you can do so for miles or just take a gentle stroll , its popular. Born in 1943 and lived at Hale Road until 1960. Speke was originally planned in 1936 as a complete town for 22,000 people, with an industrial estate, schools, a civic centre, a cinema, an open-air music garden and a stadium and pleasure beach on the banks of the River Mersey. On the right were fields of young Brussels Sprouts and on our left, uninterrupted views across the estuary towards Ellesmere Port. Hale Marsh and Decoy can from saltwater breaches from high Spring tides. Map Of Area Walking down the Mersey towards Runcorn bridge I like to hike and backpack with my human dad. Enjoy reading them and don't forget to and comment. Hale Marsh is largely Good numbers of warblers and crests feed in the area, and can draw in. Plenty of things to see and photo opportunities on this ride! There Rather than drive an hour or more to Snowdonia, the Lakes or the Peak District we thought that we would explore our local area again. (June-August) can be quiet, but from early August return wader passage starts weather conditions and an early start are a necessity. If in any doubt please ask and we will provide all relevant British Cycling guidance. Could see it from my bedroom window! Transporter Bridge 37. Patch birding in and around Hale and Pickerings Pasture, currently classed as north Cheshire. Pickering's Pasture Nature Reserve. bushes. Unfortunately, my freedom came to an abrupt ending as we neared the lighthouse when my dad spotted the dreaded Dogs must be on lead sign. However if considering a walk extension, there is a Series of a zig-zagging shallow steps which ascend to cross the bridge over Ditton Brook, cycle path leads onto Runcorn Bridge. Walking the Mersey: Dungeon to HalePoint, Malick Sidib at Somerset House: the photographer who captured a youthful, joyous Mali, How the light gets in: an imperfect introduction, Paul Nash and World War One: 'I am no longer an artist, I am a messenger to those who want the war to go on for ever and may it burn their lousy souls', Only in England: photos by Tony Ray-Jones and Martin Parr, David Hare's Page Eight: classy television, Leonard Cohen's 'Anthem': That's how the light gets in, At Manchester Art Gallery: The Sensory War 1914-2014, Walking the ancient sandstone cliffs of the Mersey, Richard Thompson: windswept in NewBrighton, 2012: Friday Walks, Hedgerows and Broomsticks | a sense of place. Plenty of photo opportunities on this ride! Salem Harbor, the second deepest harbor in Massachusetts, reached . In the early fifties the McCartneys moved to another new house, surrounded by a muddy building site, at 12 Ardwick Road in the expanding eastern extension of the estate. enclosed by Carr Lane, Town Lane and a narrow tributary of the Mersey, Pickerings Pasture is a stretch of small nature reserve on the banks of the Mersey estuary with views of the turbid river and the Runcorn bridge glinting faraway in the sun, even at night. A feature of the marsh is the duck decoy one of a small number still in existence in the U.K. Access is restricted. It is essential that everybody enjoys the ride so it will be at a gentle pace (average 8-10mph) but the average speed will be determined by the overall pace of the group. Wigg Island 36. Pickerings Pasture 4 105 #4 of 22 things to do in Widnes National Parks Nature & Wildlife Areas Parks Open now 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Lovely walk " Jul. In the village itself, a bird friendly garden gave us good views of Goldcrest and Redwing . He would take his Observer Book of Birds and wander down Dungeon Lane to the lighthouse on a nature ramble or climb over the fence and go walking in the fields: This is what I was writing about in Mother Natures Son, it was basically a heart-felt song about my child-of-nature leanings. Overview Church End Farm Bed And Breakfast Hale is set 2.5 km from Pickering Pasture Park and a 15-minute drive away from Mersey Gateway Bridge. Intend to continue this Mersey Path when the new bridge is completed. The Mersey Way closely follows the north bank of the river, heading to Hale Point before veering inland through Hale village in order to avoid Decoy Marsh, then rejoining the river at Pickerings Pasture for the stretch up to Runcorn and Warrington. You cant forget that the airport is nearby on this stretch you walk parallel to the approach which aircraft make on their descent to the runway. basis. that the Pools are on private land and can only be viewed from the road. Lovely walks but too many inconsiderate dog owners who allow their dogs to foul footpaths and grass verges. Then again, it is (June-August) is generally quiet, with most breeding species keeping a low Near Widnes, between Ditton and Hale Village. I think that my relatives are buried in the church of St Marys in Hale whihc you took a very nice photo of, Hope that you are well : I am well into Mersey Flats and Flatmen as this was referred to as being James senior profession and there was a Thomas Houghton also described who could have been James uncle (Williams elder brother) The Dungeon Salt Works are just on the Mersey close to Hale and it was that that triggered the rise of the Mersey flats ie the salt trade seemingly. Couple of benches along paths. There were muddy puddles lined with hedgerows where small birds were hiding from me. visits can produce, Summer 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. Fourteen of us met up in Hale village for a morning walk past the agricultural fields to the Mersey estuary around Hale Lighthouse, and it proved to be a very relaxing few hours. (Please note the cafe stop is approximately 12 miles into our 30 mile route). the meadows will often hold a good selection of, Summer Good luck with the campaign. Along the cliff top and down on the foreshore there are dense reed beds: I imagine that in the past villagers would have harvested the reeds for thatching (in fact, there are still a few thatched cottages in Hale village). However depending on the crops in the field it can occasionally produce, Autumn and sandbars are revealed, along with small areas of rocky shore. The airport are again threatening the closure of Dungeon Lane and demolishing of Oglet Farm and surrounding buildings. of the main scrape, and is usually the most productive for viewing passage He was, allegedly, nine foot three inches tall and a life-sized statue of him can be found in Church Lane. Benches & picnic tables on site.No Tiolet facilities. From July post-breeding dispersal of finches can often be found around On the mud left by the receding tide, small numbers of Redshank were busy feeding, and 6 Common Scoter could be seen distantly. Hale Road Woods. WIRRAL Parkgate 3 Short-eared Owl. Further along a Great White Egret was busy feeding, and above it a small flock of Pink Footed Geese were winking as they flew. 31/12/2016). . Seals, too, are regularly seen in the estuary, the most unusual and rarest being a Hooded Seal a Greenland species which hauled itself on the mud banks at Spike Island in 1997. It is essential that everybody enjoys the ride which will be at an average pace of 10-12 mph but the average speed will be determined by the overall pace of the group. which have previously produced. (December-February) around Burnt Mill Farm can be productive for winter Bunting Just a short drive away is Pickerings Pasture Nature Reserve where we enjoyed lunch overlooking the Mersey, and with the tide going out, we noticed a small sand bank held at least 2 Shag mingling with the Cormorants. But the noise levels are not intrusive, apart from the brief roar of the reverse thrust engines as the planes touch down; for most of the time the only sounds are of rooks in the copse leading up to Hale village, or the calls of gulls and waders out on the mudbanks of the river. This blog is very good below not only did Macca used to visit there but also Sir John Betjemen wrote a poem about Hale Manor which is where Isabel Houghton widow of Hugh lived for many years in the 1600s. The shoreline has some retained saltmarsh With guelder rose, alder buckthorn, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and dog rose providing lookouts and hiding place for smaller birds. Wild Poppies Sandstone Quarry 41. Hale Decoy is inaccessible to the public, but guided walks are occasionally The Hale Duck Decoy is an important Scheduled Ancient Monument, is the only surviving one in the North West.The Decoy is in the shape of an irregular pentagon, five arms known as decoy pipes, about 20 metres long radiate from the pond into the woodland. August 23, 2022 Halton is an artificial coupling, created in 1974, of two English County Boroughs - Widnes and Runcorn. The rangers and friends of the pasture have put up to nestboxes to encourage breeding on site. CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS POSTED DAILY,TWITCHES AND MORE! Once a filthy industrial wasteland, the estuary is now designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because the intertidal flats and saltmarshes provide feeding and roosting sites for large populations of waterbirds. Follow the path along the front and then through the woods and up the lane to Hale Gate Road / Town Lane and turn left. Lovely views and wetland area great for wildlife. Hale Lighthouse and Shore Pickerings Pasture (Local Nature Reserve) Spike Island / Widnes Warth The South Shore New Brighton New Ferry Eastham Country Park The Weaver Bend and Estuary Wigg Island (Local Nature Reserve) Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. The first lighthouse was built here in 1838, but the present building dates from 1906. As the river continues to recover from industrial pollution, the range of fish species in the estuary has increased to over 50. Winter (December-February) President George H.W. Pickerings Pasture: See how it is - See 104 traveller reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Widnes, UK, at Tripadvisor. The second viewing area is from a small gated area on Fourteen of us met up in Hale village for a morning walk past the agricultural fields to the Mersey estuary around Hale Lighthouse, and it proved to be a very relaxing few hours. It wasent that long before Malc picked up a Little stint with the Dunlin flock,we managed to get on the bird a few times as the tide flooded the field. Mainly flat terrain with good paths throughout. CLICK ON LINK. Unbelievably, the man was whistling, quite loudly, Jingle Bells. Clincton Wood. As we neared the airport the engine roar as aeroplanes came in to land was deafening. I thought that we had only been away for a few hours! Pickerings Pasture Nature Halebank 35. CLICK ON LINK. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours. On a clear day you could see beyond the Wirral all the way to Wales. During spring tides it is often flooded, but Every cloud.. An open horse paddock to the north of Burnt Mill Farm is grazed throughout the Glad the pics and post can be of use. . Location Hale centre can be reached within 5 minutes' walk. Walking down the lane I connected with Skylark,7 Yellowhammers,Grey Partridge,Reed bunting,Linnets and a stonking female Merlin that perched up on a hale bale.Curlews were feeding in the fields and a Great white egret flying over the Mersey was a good addition to the daylist.