waders. Change). drinking pools which can be productive. Trip Report Hale Lighthouse and Pickerings Pasture 20th November 2022. The shoreline has some retained saltmarsh Paths leading to Hale lighthouse and along Hale shore can be muddy and uneven. Good luck with the campaign. Late passage waders, and early I lived in Ganworth Rd, Speke, for a couple of years 1964ish of the main scrape, and is usually the most productive for viewing passage Sadly in May 2017 the local landowner decided to drain the area, resulting in the loss of some highly promising habitat, not to mention the destruction of breeding areas for scarce breeders. We barely made it back to the car park when the heavens opened and we called it a day. and sandbars are revealed, along with small areas of rocky shore. There is a hide at the far western end of Pickerings Pasture which overlooks a scrape and Hale Marsh. crops throughout the year, but there is also often set-aside on a rotational There isn't anywhere close to the trail starting point to park a car, surely a necessity in this day and age. (March-May)provides a good time to catch up with, Summer " Scenic " (LogOut/ Interesting walk following the Mersey. A hike along one of the more scenic parts of the River Mersey would be a good starting point. Annoying, but preferable to Christmas songs. 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. L. Bimsom With a total of 61 species seen, if nothing out of the ordinary, it was a lovely way to spend a late autumnal day in November, and most of us were content with a good day spent birdwatching on this lovely bit of the Mersey Estuary. Backpacking, hiking and town walks with my human dad. HALTON BOROUGH COUNCIL WOOD. 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. I like to hike and backpack with my human dad. (December-February) is relatively quiet with only the resident woodland species Cheshire. Throughout the 18th century, flatboats and barges brought rock salt across the river from the Cheshire shore to Dungeon, where it was refined before being shipped onwards. Lighthouse is situated at the end of Lighthouse Lane, and has a small enclosed 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. A Green Flag Award winning Local Nature Reserve with acres of wild flower meadows and a fabulous view across the upper Mersey estuary. Carr lane pools held good numbers of Teal and 12 Black tailed godwits.A walk down to Hale lighthouse was unproductive with the neighbouring fields holding good numbers of Curlew. Books, exhibitions, films, music, places - anything that inspires. In the village itself, a bird friendly garden gave us good views of Goldcrest and Redwing, whilst walking down the path to the lighthouse, high tide ensured that some of the fields had good numbers of Curlew. Carr Lane 20200120_125632 by Mal Davies, on Flickr 20200120_105402 by Mal Davies, on Flickr 20200120_110655 by Mal Davies, on Flickr Haughton could be a derivative of this and village (which is as you no doubt know is what ton signifies so its possible that Thomas of Hale could have been Thomas Haughton but its all guess work. A small bridge crosses the moat. Did all the things he describes. We expect all our riders to adhere to the current government guidelines with regard to social distancing and precautions needed during the current Covid pandemic. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. early October. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "themerseyway" Flickr tag. Pasture is a parkland area along the banks of the River Mersey. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. set-aside depending on the time of year. If in any doubt please ask and we will provide all relevant British Cycling guidance. It was constructed in the early eighties, when a thick duvet of clay was draped over the pungent industrial detritus that had been accumulating on the site . Sea bass, flounder and shoals of sprat are now common, and recent catches have included sole, dogfish, rays, mackerel as well as conger. Hopefully a petition against the development across this greenbelt land and the demolition of historic buildings will be agreed and started. There is a mix (September-November) is probably the best month for this section of the patch. Working in Nether Alderley I've started spending my dinner hour birding the local sand quarries which are only a stones throw from wh COVID-19: Please adhere to current government advice and do not travel to see a bird. On the mud left by the receding tide, small numbers of Redshank were busy feeding, and 6 Common Scoter could be seen distantly. Each life is an encyclopaedia, a library, an inventory of objects, a series of styles, and everything can be constantly reshuffled and reordered in every conceivable way. Marshes, although a telescope is a must! Bush looks on at right, as Pickering's wife Alice holds the Bible. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. These are lonely, cold, windy places, the distant factories and docks dwarfed by the size of the mud banks of the river itself. bushes. made up of a mix of deciduous trees and hold most of the expected woodland The Romans is a stunning venue located on Otterspool promenade. BIRDING AROUND HALE AND PICKERINGS PASTURE CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS POSTED DAILY,TWITCHES AND MORE! CLICK ON LINK. section closest to the Mersey, viewable from Pickerings Pasture or the end of It ceased operation in 1958, since there was no longer any shipping on this side of the river. The path followed the shoreline with meadows and woodland to the right. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Halegate Marsh covers an area of 345 , the marsh is flooded on high tides which reach up to the road on such occasions. The first step in these developments was the transformation of the small fishing hamlet of Dungeon into a place of industry. So peaceful with the weather on our side for a change. majority of activity on the Mersey. Voice your support for Baileys Lane and the realignment of Dungeon Lane. I make him write a blog about our adventures. Lovely views and wetland area great for wildlife. which has sections of disused warehouses and rough ground. (LogOut/ 2022 Nice area for a short walk, free parking, plenty of grassed areas to explore and see the lovely wild flowers and birds. hindsight maybe I should have just searched the internet! However the Born in 1943 and lived at Hale Road until 1960. 31/12/2016). 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. 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. Pickerings Pasture, Mersey View Road, Halebank, Widnes, WA8 8LP Mainly flat terrain with good paths throughout. Flocks of up to several hundred Canada geese roost on the marsh during high tides with Black tailed Godwit & little egrets an increasing sight. 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. 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. You are here: Things To Do > Pickerings Pasture Local Nature Reserve. 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. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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. tide, about two hours prior to high tide produces the best opportunity to see Since then its been a private residence. That was interesting and very quiet ,we would recommend a visit, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. John Betjemins poem, The Manor House, Hale, near Liverpool describes the grandeur of the architecture in this region. The bird screen feeder was very quiet, as was the lake, but we did get some close up views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding away. Not only is there a Hough Green just near Widnes but there is also Hoghton Road in Hale. Now Dungeon is an abandoned and neglected place where rubble, broken bricks, and the remains of a sandstone quay suggest some kind of industrial past. Joe the Cocker here again. With guelder rose, alder buckthorn, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and dog rose providing lookouts and hiding place for smaller birds. Just north of Hale is a place called Hough green and Haugh is used to describe what could very well be the local landscape. Just as we did this a fighter jet roared over our heads. The walk ends at Hale lighthouse (top) which stands at Hale Head. Surfaced paths lead along the waterfront making it suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. scrubby areas. I am happy for British Cycling to send me cycling news, content, offers and tips: A steady ride out to the pretty village of Hale then on to West Bank Marina at Spike Island, Widnes overlooking the river Mersey and return via Pickering's Pasture at Halebank. A distant Grey Partridge was seen by an observant member. Although the scrape is largely fresh water, it occasionally suffers 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. Good numbers of warblers and crests feed in the area, and can draw in. Hale Decoy is An open horse paddock to the north of Burnt Mill Farm is grazed throughout the Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Rare and Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. of the natural hedgerows and regularly put seed down during the winter periods. Maybe we will park in Hale Village soon and walk to Speke Hall. and also some decent sized areas of reedbed. When we reached the end of Oglet lane we turned into Dungeon Lane and then right onto Baileys Lane. Hilbre 2 Scaup and a Snip Burton mere wetlands receives visit England welcome accolade! Contact Information Well done. Then again, it is 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. 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. Schoolboy error! Starting from - The ride will start from the car park at Sherdley Park near the childrens play area which is accessed from The Score, off Elton Head Road St Helens, WA9 5DE (what3words app: fattest.demotion.automatic), WA9 5DE, This ride is limited to members of The FCs Satdy Club group only. The decoy is surrounded by a 5 metre wide moat. ^ ^ f .o 1 *> * .V n ..V * ,G O *. 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. Ambassador to the United Nations. There is a mix of larger mature trees and smaller fruiting bushes, open grassland, meadows and scrubby areas. Looking over Carr Lane Pools from the track we saw a very strange looking goose with the Canadas, which we agreed was a cross between a Canada and Bar-Headed. pickerings pasture to hale lighthouse. These include: the port of Liverpool, Birkenhead docks, the Manchester Ship Canal, the Trafford Centre, MediaCity UK at Salford Quays, and a great deal more. Pickerings Pasture 105 Reviews #4 of 22 things to do in Widnes Nature & Parks, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife Areas Mersey View Road, Widnes WA8 8LP, England Open today: 07:00 - 19:00 Save Beverley M Formby, United Kingdom 40 21 Walked through to Spike Island Review of Pickerings Pasture Reviewed 2 August 2015 Thanks Lynne. Ramsbrook. Credit: Mary Hines. In a couple of minutes they could be in Dungeon Lane, which led through the fields to the banks of the Mersey. (March-May)is normally the most productive time of year in Hale Park and This is the first of two walks that I took along a stretch of the Mersey Way, accompanied by our dog and starting at the end of Dungeon Lane, a road that runs, alongside the perimeter fence of John Lennon Airport, from Speke estate down to the river. The worn gravestone is still there, inscribed Hyre lyes ye childe of Hale. Glad the pics and post can be of use. Till next time! During the summer months dragonflies and damselflies can be seen hawking the pond and ditches: azure and blue-tailed damselflies, brown and southern hawkers are the commonest, though large red damselfly and common darters are regular. 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. The friends group organise occasional public visits places are limited and need to be booked in advance. The first on Carr Lane itself, which Although waders are present during low CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, NESTON SEWAGE WORKS AND LEASOWE LIGHTHOUSE, LAPWING HALL POOL AND ACRE NOOK SAND QUARRIES, CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 25TH FEBRUARY 2019, CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 6TH MARCH 2018, CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS AND UK MEGAS 4TH MARCH 2018, CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS 19TH MARCH 2019. Hale Marsh is Pickerings Pasture: Chillaxing Place - See 104 traveler reviews, 23 candid photos, and great deals for Widnes, UK, at Tripadvisor. Benches & picnic tables on site.No Tiolet facilities. This provides good views 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). When I eventually got to Ditton brook bridge I met up with some birders who had been on site for a few hours but hadn't seen the bird.I continued to look around but the area was vast and dense.There were plenty of common woodland birds around though and I counted 12 Bullfinches which have eluded me till last week at Moore. I headed over to Pickerings pasture this morning to look for a Firecrest that had been reported yesterday,this is the first time I had visited the reserve which lies right on the edge 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. John Middleton, also known as the Childe of Hale, was the villages most famous resident. (June-August) is generally quiet, with most breeding species keeping a low basis. ^ " ^ . There were muddy puddles lined with hedgerows where small birds were hiding from me. Retired college teacher living in Liverpool, UK. Hale Lighthouse was built in 1906 to replace a much shorter structure protecting shipping on this dangerous headland. Pickerings Pasture, Widnes: , , Pickerings Pasture, Widnes, Tripadvisor Can be awkward for bikes & wheel chair users. . (September-November) can be exciting and frustrating in equal measures. From July post-breeding dispersal of finches can often be found around (December-February) is generally a good time on Hale Marsh, with sizable with, The area can also produce large numbers of An off lead dog raced through the set aside field which was annoying, but did flush a couple of Common Snipe, which we would never have seen without its help. scarce birds recorded over the last few years have included, Winter Working in Nether Alderley I've started spending my dinner hour birding the local sand quarries which are only a stones throw from wh COVID-19: Please adhere to current government advice and do not travel to see a bird. Here so I don't forget. For further information, please call TRAVELINE, Public Transport Info, 0871 200 22 33, A Green Flag winning local nature reserve with 32 hectares of natural landscapes and, Victoria Park holds the coveted Green Flag Award and is regarded as Haltons premier park, Land Rover Experience Liverpool offers you an exclusive opportunity to immerse yourself, Velocity Widnes is the best place to have fun! Hardly a blog Dave, more a twitchers script! Another great days birding which was finished off at Marbury park with Malc looking for the Bittern but no show! Hale is a beautiful village with many thatched roofed houses. I thought that we had only been away for a few hours! Resorting to Google maps I found an area that Moore Nature Reserve 46. This from Iain Dignall, Halton Borough Council : Hi Gerry, I look after the Public Rights of Way for Halton Borough Council and am currently in the midst of an improvement programme on the waterfront between Dungeon Lane and toward Oglet etc.