From petals to pedals in Wirral Country Park

02 June 2023

Paper wildflower art at Wirral Country Park

Schoolchildren have helped create a wildflower art exhibition at Wirral Country Park to celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary.

The project saw Wirral’s Eco-Schools team and local artist Ling Warlow team up with children from 25 schools and community groups across Wirral to create hundreds of paper wildflowers during Wildflower Warrior workshops. The programme also educated young people about why wildflowers are important to the environment.

As a result of their creative floral endeavours, everything from life-like delicate hedgerow flowers, to giant nettles and large scale replicas of foxgloves can be found at the park throughout June.

Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of Wirral Council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, said: “This is an exciting project and one which chimes completely with our aim of encouraging more local wildflowers, which are essential for pollinators, to develop across the borough.

“It is fitting that the paper flowers being crafted by local young people will be on display at Wirral Country Park as that park is home to some of the council’s most significant conservation work. It was only last year that the efforts of park staff and local volunteers led to the return of a very rare species of wildflower, the Dyer’s Greenwood, and the park has also been bestowed with a ‘Bees’ Needs Award’ for their work in supporting the development of pollinators.”

Mayor launches the Wildflower Art Exhibition — The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Jerry Williams, launches the Wildflower Art Exhibition

The project will culminate in a month long exhibition, The Paper Meadow, at Thurstaston Visitors Centre and Birkenhead Park Gallery.

Participating schools were:

Well Lane Primary School, Tranmere
Wirral Hospitals’ School, JPC, Birkenhead
Cathcart Street Primary, Birkenhead
Woodlands Primary, Birkenhead
Church Drive Primary School, Port Sunlight
Hoylake Holy Trinity C of E Primary School
Barnston Primary School, Heswall
Woodchurch High School
Christ Church CE Primary, Birkenhead
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Moreton
Mersey Park Primary School, Tranmere
St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey
Gayton Primary School, Heswall
Pensby High School
The Oldershaw School, Wallasey
Christ Church C of E Aided Primary School, Moreton
St George’s Primary School, Wallasey
Park Primary School, Wallasey
Clare Mount Specialist Sports College, Moreton
Our Lady and St Edward’s Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead
Castleway Primary School, Moreton
Brookhurst Primary School, Bromborough
Ladymount Catholic Primary School, Pensby

Brookhurst Primary students with their paper wildflowers — Pupils from Brookhurst Primary with their paper wildflowers

Enjoy a bike ride this Sunday

Wirral Country Park will be marking National Bicycle Day on Saturday 3 June with a series of rides for beginners and experienced cyclists along the Wirral Way. Cycling enthusiasts can also learn about bike maintenance, road safety or get their bike checked, at Thurstaston Visitor Centre from 10.30am - 2.30pm, as well as meet local cycling clubs. If you would like to take part in a ride, book ahead (www.letsride.co.uk)

For a full list of events taking place at Wirral Country Park this year, visit wirral.gov.uk.

#WCP50