Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Merseyside |
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| Coordinates | 53°19′52″N 2°59′42″W / 53.331°N 2.995°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 53.2 hectares, 131.5 acres (532,000 m2) |
| Notification | 1979 / 1983 |
Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve, often called Dibbinsdale, is a special place in Bromborough, Merseyside, England. It's a mix of a park and a nature reserve. The local council, the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, looks after it.
Contents
Discovering Dibbinsdale's Past
Dibbinsdale gets its name from the River Dibbin. This river flows right through the area. Long ago, around the 900s and 1000s, this river was an important border. It separated the land of the Vikings in Wirral from the Anglo-Saxons in Mercia.
After the Normans took over England, the whole area became part of Wirral. Later, in the 1800s, the land where Brotherton Park is now was part of a large estate called 'Woodslee'.
The Story of Woodslee Estate
In 1866, a wealthy merchant from Liverpool named Robert Rankin bought the Woodslee estate. He built a big house called 'Woodslee' as a wedding gift for his daughter. The estate was huge! It had the main house, cottages for servants, a lake, stables, and even a special coach house. There were also beautiful formal gardens with a walled garden and a rockery.
Later, in 1919, a very important person named Lord Brotherton bought the estate. He was a successful businessman and a Member of Parliament. In the 1930s, Lord Brotherton generously gave the estate to the local council. By the 1940s, the house was old and falling apart, so it was taken down.
Becoming a Nature Reserve
In 1978, Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale officially became a Local Nature Reserve. This happened because of its amazing ancient woodland. Much of the Dibbinsdale area was given by the Lancelyn Green family. Now, the park and the nature reserve are looked after as one big, important place.
What is Brotherton Park?
Brotherton Park is a friendly urban park. It has open grassy areas perfect for many activities. You can enjoy walking your dog, having a picnic with friends or family, or just relaxing outdoors.
Exploring Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve
Dibbinsdale is a special Local Nature Reserve. It features a beautiful woodland valley. This woodland is a great example of ancient woodland in the Merseyside area. Ancient woodland means the forest has been there for a very, very long time.
Dibbinsdale is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a nationally important area for its wildlife, plants, or geology. It's protected to keep its special features safe.
Things to Do and See
Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale offer many things for visitors to enjoy:
- Woodland Walks: Explore many paths through the beautiful woods.
- Nature Trails: Follow special trails to learn about the plants and animals.
- Meadow: Discover open meadow areas.
- Historic Woodland: Walk through ancient trees that have stood for centuries.
- Wetland Habitats: See areas where water collects, providing homes for different creatures.
- Visitor Centre: There's a small visitor centre, though it's not always staffed.
- Rangers Office: The park rangers, who look after the reserve, have an office here.
- Toilets: Facilities are available for visitors.
- Free Car Park: You can park your car for free when you visit.
