Mill Wood LNR

Adam Graham
Liverpool LNR Officer
The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside
Seaforth Nature Reserve
Port of Liverpool Merseyside
L21 1JD

Established in 2003, the Liverpool Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) Project is a partnership between Liverpool City Council and the Wildlife Trust. Four LNRs have been designated. All are owned by the City Council which manages them for their wildlife and as a local community resource.

Croxteth LNR

Car park at SJ400943.

Previously the Country Estate of Lord Sefton, Croxteth Country Park is now Liverpool's largest public open space. The LNR comprises 50ha of woodland, rough grassland and pasture with several ponds and is bordered by the River Alt.

Mull Wood, the largest woodland block, is mainly English Oak and Sycamore. It holds a good variety of breeding birds, including Nuthatch and occasionally Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. The ponds support an interesting collection of plants, including Tubular Water-dropwort, and a range of common dragonfly species.

Childwall Woods & Fields

Entrance from Childwall Abbey Road at SJ411890

Originally part of the estate grounds of Childwall Hall, the 24ha site is a mixture of plantation woodland and rough grassland. The wood is ornamental in origin with a mix of species including English Oak, Sweet Chestnut and Beech. It is noteworthy for its extensive native Bluebell population. The grasslands put on a spectacular show of Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids in early June. Sixteen species of butterfly have been recorded on the Fields.

Within Childwall Woods, the old carriage drive is designated as a Regionally Important Geological Site (RIGS) for its exposed sandstone faces.

Mill Wood & Alder Wood, Speke

Entrance from Alderfield Drive (by heavy green steel access gate) at SJ454837

On the edge of Speke estate and adjoining open countryside, the 22ha Mill Wood is owned by Liverpool City Council but sits mostly within the neighbouring districts of Halton and Knowsley. An ancient woodland dominated by oak and birch, it holds one of only three populations of the Purple Hairstreak butterfly in North Merseyside. The rich woodland ground flora includes Bluebell, Dog's Mercury, Wood Sorrel and Yellow Pimpernel.

The adjoining meadows are some of Liverpool's best grasslands, supporting Common Centaury, Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Ragged Robin and various vetches.