Milner Institute

Rixton Claypits Local Nature Reserve

Hollins Green · 7.5 miles

The former clay-extraction site at Rixton, close to the village of Hollins Green in Warrington, has reverted to a mosaic of ponds, scrub, woodland and damp grassland. Work on the boulder-clay began in the 1920s to supply a nearby brickworks and stopped in 1965; since then natural regeneration has created a range of habitats that are now managed as a local amenity by Warrington Borough Council. Two sections covering a total of 15 hectares are designated both as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, recognised for their calcareous grassland and for supporting the largest breeding population of great crested newts in Cheshire. The reserve, formally created in 1996, offers waymarked paths that guide visitors around the water bodies and grassland, and a small visitor centre provides information about the site’s ecology. Angling is allowed on the lake that lies between the two protected sections, with the Warrington Anglers Association overseeing the activity; the principal fish species are tench, bream and roach, while carp and pike are also present. Access is via the surrounding countryside, and the reserve is under the care of the local council, which maintains the facilities for public use.

Croxteth Hall

Deysbrook · 12 miles

Set within the West Derby suburb of Liverpool, Croxteth Hall stands as a Grade II* listed country estate that once formed the ancestral seat of the Molyneux family, Earls of Sefton. The core of the house dates from around 1575 and later acquired Tudor, Georgian and Queen Anne elements, with the principal west façade erected in 1702 and a visitor wing added in 1874. After the death of the seventh Earl in 1972 the property transferred to Liverpool City Council; roughly half of the original grounds were sold, while the remaining 500 acres now operate as Croxteth Park, a public country park that retains play facilities for children. The hall itself welcomes visitors for a modest charge and is not wheelchair-accessible, although opening times are published on the council’s listing. The surrounding park offers a range of attractions. A Victorian walled garden houses the historic Liverpool Botanics collection, including national collections of dracaena, codiaeum, coleus and a variety of orchids and bromeliads. Adjacent to the hall is a working farm and Mull Wood, part of the 85-hectare Croxteth Local Nature Reserve, where a wild-flower meadow has been established near the old kennels. Regular activities include a free 5 km parkrun each Saturday at 09:00, events organised by the Friends of Croxteth Hall, and occasional concerts, fairs and markets managed by the council. Part of the hall also accommodates the Liverpool campus of Myerscough College, teaching around 350 full-time students. The historic kennels, designed by John Douglas in the 1870s, remain in use and are maintained by the Croxteth Park Volunteer Group.

Greenbank Park

Wavertree · 12 miles

The park lies in the Mossley Hill suburb of south Liverpool, close to the well-known Penny Lane and adjacent to Sefton Park. Although the nearest town listed on mapping data is Wavertree, the site is set within a residential neighbourhood and is bounded by mature trees that frame a small central lake. The water feature dominates the middle of the grounds and provides a visual focus for visitors strolling along the perimeter paths. The land that now forms the park was part of the Greenbank estate owned by the Rathbone family from the late eighteenth century until the mid-twentieth century. In 1897 the city corporation reached an agreement with the Rathbones to acquire a portion of the property, and the resulting public space retains the walled garden as the sole surviving element of the original house grounds. Within the garden an artwork by Lulu Quinn commemorates Eleanor Rathbone, linking the site to its historic owners. Facilities include a children’s playground, football pitches and a fishing pond where anglers may try their luck while observing nesting waterfowl and herons. A bridge spans the northern end of the lake, and the surrounding open grassland is designated as a conservation area. Managed by Liverpool City Council, the park is open to the public without charge and can be accessed on foot from the surrounding streets. Information about the site is available through the council’s official web page.

The Duckeries

Parr · 6.8 miles

Lyme and Wood Pits Country Park

New Boston · 7.5 miles

The Miner

St Helens · 7.5 miles