New Ferry Butterfly Park

Wirral, United Kingdom

City population: 319680

Duration: 1993 – ongoing

Implementation status: Ongoing

Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)

Project area: 20234.3 m²

Type of area: Previous derelict area, Other

Last updated: October 2021

Situated next to Bebington railway station, the site is of biological importance within Wirral. This urban nature reserve was developed on a former railway sidings and is now an oasis of green tranquility in densely populated urban area; its industrial past has been put to good use as a home for wildlife (e.g. on the thin, nutrient there are now carpets of wild flowers, including wild carrot & occasional bee orchids). Up to 26 species of butterfly have been recorded here, with 18 species breeding on site - giving the park its rather apt name. (Ref. 1, 2) New Ferry Butterfly Park has been awarded a Green Flag for the seventh year, which signifies that the space boasts the "highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities". (Ref. 12)

New Ferry Butterfly Park Map (2006)

Created by: Vicky Hose, retrieved 08/24/2018 from Paul Loughnane

Overview

Nature-based solution

Parks and urban forests
Botanical gardens
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds

Key challenges

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Soil quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Conversion of former industrial areas
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Project objectives

Turning abandoned railway sidings (including former railway coal yard, goods yard and water softening plant) into "home for wildlife". (Ref. 1) The site had been disused since the 1960s (attracting fly-tipping and other problems) "before the local community transformed it into an urban wildlife oasis". (Ref. 2) Objectives include: commitments to encourage and increase pollinator-friendly habitats and food sources throughout the year. (Ref. 3)

Implementation activities

"On the thin, nutrient- poor soils which overlie old railway track beds, there are now carpets of wild flowers, including wild carrot & occasional bee orchids. The lime waste from a water softening plant has been used to create a calcareous grassland, with all the specialist wildflowers which depend in this habitat, while drifts of coal dust have transformed into acidic grassland dominated by common bent, sheep's sorrel & bird's-foot trefoil. Up to 26 species of butterfly have been recorded here, with 18 species breeding on site - giving the park its rather apt name." (Ref. 1) Also, the park was awarded a 'Bees Needs' Special Award for innovation from the Green Flag Award panel (with regards to their commitment to encourage/increase pollinator-friendly habitats and food sources. (Ref. 3) Also, the pond at New Ferry Butterfly Park was repaired, replanted and restored. (Ref. 5) The formerly derelict area around Bebington Railway station, the park has attracted 50,000 visitors since opening in 1993 and supports at least 397 species. Most of the work is done by 50 or so community volunteers, helped by corporate workdays and visiting groups. (Ref 13, 14) We provide guides for school groups, uniformed organisations and adult groups during the week, and families on Sunday afternoon. Pond dipping is always popular, as are mini-beast walks and insect themed crafts. We run various training courses, from bee identification to coppicing. (Ref 14)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Create new habitats
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Means for conservation governance
Public engagement
Capacity building

Biodiversity restoration:

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species

Main beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality
Non-government organisation/Civil Society
Citizens or community groups
Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Co-management/Joint management

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The park is managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. (Ref. 1, 3) The site was transformed by the local community. (Ref. 2) “Following a determined campaign and a petition signed by 3,600 residents and others, Wirral Council agreed to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order in 2010” (Ref. 2) although the decision was never carried out because of the legal complexities.

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown

... a national policy or strategy? Unknown

... a local policy or strategy? Unknown (The derelict site was transformed by the local community (backed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust). (Ref. 2, 6) Although, during the 1990s some limited redevelopment took place in New Ferry (leading to the 2008 New Ferry Regeneration Plan, where the park is included amongst the achievements). (Ref. 6) )

Financing

Total cost

€10,000 - €50,000

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget
Private Foundation/Trust
Other

Type of funding

Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Donations

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of land
Provision of goods
Provision of labour

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Private sector (businesses, financial institution)
Other

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Environmental quality
Improved soil quality
Green space and habitat
Increased number of protection areas
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Increased number of species present
Increased protection of threatened species
Enhanced support of pollination
Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Restoration of derelict areas
Other

Economic impacts

Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

References

Ref. 1. Cheshire Wildlife Trust (n.d.) New Ferry Butterfly Park. The Wildlife Trusts. Information obtained: 2017-07-25. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 2. Horticulture Week (2016) Volunteer who made 'outstanding contribution' to park scoops Green Flag Award. Information obtained: 2017-07-25. Source: Source link [ Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 3. Wirral Globe (2015) Flying the green flag across Wirral. Information obtained: 2017-07-25. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 4. Green Flag Award (n.d.) New Ferry Butterfly park celebrates 20 years. Information obtained: 2017-07-25. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 5. Cheshire Wildlife Trust (2017) Go Wild Winter 2017. The Wildlife Trusts. Source: Source link [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 6. NFRAG (2008) New Ferry Regeneration Action Plan 2008. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 7. Wirral Council (2015) Wirral's leisure strategy. The Wirral Plan: a 2020 vision. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 8. Echo (2012) New Ferry Butterfly Park wins £2,500 development grant. Information obtained: 2017-07-25. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 9. Green Flag Award (2016/2017) Celebrating amazing spaces. Green Flag Award. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 10. Wirral Wildlife (2015/2016) Wirral Wildlife annual report 2015 to 2016. Cheshire Wildlife Source link unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 11. Wirral Wildlife (2015) Wirral Wildlife Newsletter: New Ferry Butterfly Park: 2015 Season. [Website unavailable in 2020]
Ref. 12. Wirral Globe (2019) Seventh Green Flag honour for New Ferry Butterfly Park. Source: Source link [Accessed 25 August 2020]
Ref. 13. Prime Minister's Office 10 Downing Street (n.d.) Points of Light. New Ferry Butterfly Park. 791. Hillary Ash. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 14. Wirral Parks Forum (2020) New Ferry Butterfly Park. Source: Source link [Accessed on 25 August 2020]
Ref. 15. Cheshire Wildlife Trust. About us. Source: Source link [Accessed on 8 September 2020]

Nature trails at New Ferry Butterly Park

https://wirralparksforum.org.uk/new-ferry-butterfly-park/

Volunteers at New Ferry Butterly Park

https://wirralparksforum.org.uk/new-ferry-butterfly-park/

Butterfly species at New Ferry Butterly Park

https://wirralparksforum.org.uk/new-ferry-butterfly-park/