Brook Vale Local Nature Reserve
_Taken from the Sefton Council website:
Brook Vale is an 8.2 ha Local Nature Reserve (LNR) situated at the southern tip of Rimrose Valley Country Park. From the 1920's up until the mid 80's the area was designated for allotment use. Interest in managing the site for wildlife came only after many of the allotments were abandoned due to persistent chronic flooding.Over the years that followed much of the site was re-colonised by Phragmites reed which led to its recognition in 1991 as a Site of Local Biological Interest (SLBI) and to it more recently gaining LNR status.
As Sefton's only non-coastal reserve, Brook Vale provides a valuable and unique green oasis amongst what is otherwise a heavily populated and industrialised area. With its interesting network of pathways and raised boardwalks, Brook Vale and Rimrose Valley as a whole provides opportunities for quiet informal countryside recreation in an area where such activities are scarce. The site now boasts a mosaic of several habitats including Reed-bed swamp, Rimrose Brook and a man-made pond system as well as smaller peripheral areas of damp meadow, dry grassland and Willow-Carr woodland.
Brookvale LNR is home to a flora and fauna community typical of an established wetland.There is diverse plant life within the site with aquatic species including Marsh Marigold, Greater Spearwort and Water Mint occurring in and around the open water and damp meadow species such as Marsh Willowherb, Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil and Purple Loosestrife in the periphery.In the dryer grassland areas it's not uncommon to find Southern Marsh and Spotted Orchids along with more coastal species like Evening Primrose and Bugloss.
An abundance of bird life can also be found with good numbers of Snipe, Water Rail, Woodcock, Dunnock, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap along with breeding pairs of Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Reed Bunting.Summertime reveals an array of insect life including Southern Hawker, Broad-bodied Chaser and Common Darter dragonflies along with familiar butterflies like the Gatekeeper, Peacock and Speckled Wood.Several Water Vole territories have also been identified along Rimrose Brook.
Brook Vale is an 8.2 ha Local Nature Reserve (LNR) situated at the southern tip of Rimrose Valley Country Park. From the 1920's up until the mid 80's the area was designated for allotment use. Interest in managing the site for wildlife came only after many of the allotments were abandoned due to persistent chronic flooding.Over the years that followed much of the site was re-colonised by Phragmites reed which led to its recognition in 1991 as a Site of Local Biological Interest (SLBI) and to it more recently gaining LNR status.
As Sefton's only non-coastal reserve, Brook Vale provides a valuable and unique green oasis amongst what is otherwise a heavily populated and industrialised area. With its interesting network of pathways and raised boardwalks, Brook Vale and Rimrose Valley as a whole provides opportunities for quiet informal countryside recreation in an area where such activities are scarce. The site now boasts a mosaic of several habitats including Reed-bed swamp, Rimrose Brook and a man-made pond system as well as smaller peripheral areas of damp meadow, dry grassland and Willow-Carr woodland.
Brookvale LNR is home to a flora and fauna community typical of an established wetland.There is diverse plant life within the site with aquatic species including Marsh Marigold, Greater Spearwort and Water Mint occurring in and around the open water and damp meadow species such as Marsh Willowherb, Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil and Purple Loosestrife in the periphery.In the dryer grassland areas it's not uncommon to find Southern Marsh and Spotted Orchids along with more coastal species like Evening Primrose and Bugloss.
An abundance of bird life can also be found with good numbers of Snipe, Water Rail, Woodcock, Dunnock, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap along with breeding pairs of Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Reed Bunting.Summertime reveals an array of insect life including Southern Hawker, Broad-bodied Chaser and Common Darter dragonflies along with familiar butterflies like the Gatekeeper, Peacock and Speckled Wood.Several Water Vole territories have also been identified along Rimrose Brook.
_Since Rimrose Ringers have begun working at Brook Vale, we have
contributed to the ongoing habitat management work that is is crucial in
to maintain the reedbed habitat. This work has involved the
removal of sections of Willow-Carr woodland that encroach upon the
reedbed and dry out the substrate, reducing the extent of the reedbed
that is vital for breeding Reed Warblers and wintering Water Rail. We
have also caught the first Cetti's Warbler ever to be caught by SWLRG as
well as significant numbers of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and
Greenfinch. The results of ringing sessions can be found here.
Moving forward, Rimrose Ringers are committed to continuing the ongoing habitat management of the site in line with the reserve management plan. By assisting the Coast & Countryside Rangers in this vital work, we hope to maintain the biodiversity of this important wetland.
Moving forward, Rimrose Ringers are committed to continuing the ongoing habitat management of the site in line with the reserve management plan. By assisting the Coast & Countryside Rangers in this vital work, we hope to maintain the biodiversity of this important wetland.
Fulwood Marsh
Fulwood Marsh is a wetland found at the northeastern end of Rimrose Valley. Surrounded by housing estates to the North and East, the Leeds-Liverpool Canal to the South and the rest of the Country Park to the West, Fulwood is an oasis for wetland birds, insects and small mammals. Fed by Rimrose Brook, Fulwood Marsh remains wet for the majority of the year and in recent years, Rangers from the Coast & Countryside Service have created a number of scrapes to retain water in the drier months.
Being surrounded by so much human habitation, Fulwood is vulnerable to vandalism and disturbance however, during the summer, it is an excellent place to watch Reed and Sedge Warblers, as well as Reed Bunting. The surrounding grasslands and elder scrub provide excellent breeding habitat for Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Chiffchaff and Linnet.
Ringing sessions at Fulwood Marsh are largely centered around the breeding season and the autumn migration, during which times it is possible to catch large numbers of Blackcap and other migratory warblers. Recoveries of Reed Warblers include birds ringed in Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Warrington and the Isle of White, highlighting the significance of this wetland not only for breeding birds, but for migrating birds as well.
Being surrounded by so much human habitation, Fulwood is vulnerable to vandalism and disturbance however, during the summer, it is an excellent place to watch Reed and Sedge Warblers, as well as Reed Bunting. The surrounding grasslands and elder scrub provide excellent breeding habitat for Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Chiffchaff and Linnet.
Ringing sessions at Fulwood Marsh are largely centered around the breeding season and the autumn migration, during which times it is possible to catch large numbers of Blackcap and other migratory warblers. Recoveries of Reed Warblers include birds ringed in Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Warrington and the Isle of White, highlighting the significance of this wetland not only for breeding birds, but for migrating birds as well.
Fulwood is also an excellent place to watch other types of wildlife. Red Fox is a common sighting during early-morning ringing sessions, whilst weasel and stoat have also both been observed by the group. The wetland and surrounding grasslands provide an excellent habitat for insects. Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker (right), Broad-bodied Chaser and Common Darter are common sightings and there is an abundance of butterflies such as the Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Green-veined White and Peacock.