Rimrose Valley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rimrose Valley |
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Entrance to Park
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| Location | Between Crosby and Litherland |
| Nearest city | Liverpool |
| Operated by | Sefton Council |
| Open | Open all year round |
Rimrose Valley is a long, green country park in Merseyside, England. It stretches for about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles). The park acts as a natural boundary between the towns of Crosby and Litherland. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs along its eastern side.
A small stream flows through the park. This stream often floods, which is why houses were not built there. Instead, the area was used as a rubbish tip until 1978. Work to clean up and restore the land began in 1993. The name "Rimrose" comes from old words. "Rim" means 'border' and "ros" means 'moor' or 'heath'.
In 2015, police took action against young people riding scrambler bikes in the park. This was because there had been serious accidents.
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How Rimrose Valley Was Formed
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The valley we see today was shaped over a very long time. This process took more than 1.6 million years. During this time, layers of sand, peat, and clay built up. The valley itself formed as the softer sandstone rock wore away.
The edges of the valley were once used for farming. This was especially true on higher ground, where flooding was less common. However, by the 20th century, most of the farmland was only in the northern part of the valley.
What Makes Rimrose Valley Special?
Rimrose Valley is an important part of the Mersey Forest. It is also the most southern part of the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. The southern end of the valley has the Brookvale Nature Reserve. This is the only nature reserve in Sefton that is not on the coast. Both Brookvale and Fulwood Way (in the north) are special places for local wildlife.
Exploring the Park: Zones and Paths
The park is quite large, so it has been divided into five different zones. Each zone has a special color. These colors help people know exactly where they are. This is very helpful if they need to call for help in an emergency.
You can walk from one end of the park to the other. This walk is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. It's considered a moderate walk and usually takes about 90 minutes.
Plans for a New Road
Since 2013, there have been discussions about building a new road through Rimrose Valley. This road would help connect the Port of Liverpool to major highways. The port has been growing, leading to more traffic on local roads.
- Early Ideas: In 2014, different ideas for the road were looked at. These included building a road online (along existing roads) or offline (a new route). Building a tunnel was also considered, but it was thought to be too expensive.
- The Chosen Route: In 2016, plans were announced for a new £200 million road. This road would go right through Rimrose Valley. It was meant to reduce traffic on the A5036 Dunnings Bridge Road.
- Local Opposition: Sefton Council did not agree with this plan in 2017. They wanted a tunnel instead. Highways England, the group in charge of major roads, said a tunnel would be too costly and cause too much disruption.
- Legal Challenges: In 2018, Sefton Council took legal action against Highways England. They felt a tunnel option should have been properly considered. The court sided with Highways England, but the project was delayed. Highways England later apologized for incorrectly saying the judge had supported their road plan.
The "Save Rimrose Valley" Campaign
A local group called "Save Rimrose Valley" was formed. They are against the road plans. They want to find other ways to move goods from the Port of Liverpool that don't involve building a new road.
- Growing Support: This campaign has gained many supporters. In 2018, they appeared on a BBC Radio 2 show to discuss the issue.
- Big Protest: In September 2018, they held a large protest called "Hands Across the Valley." More than 700 people attended. They formed a giant heart shape and linked arms across the park. This event was shown on local news. Local politicians and environmental groups like Friends of the Earth also joined.
- Continued Efforts: The campaign group has met with government officials. They also got support from the CEO of Friends of the Earth in 2019. He visited the park and spoke with local children and people. He called for the road plan to be stopped.
- Project Delay: In September 2020, Highways England announced that the road project would be delayed. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now not expected to be finished until at least 2025.
