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 beautiful country park and valley in Merseyside, England. It stretches for about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles). This green space acts as a natural border between the towns of Crosby and Litherland. The famous Leeds and Liverpool Canal runs along its eastern side.
A small brook flows through the park. Because this brook often floods, the land was not built on. This is why it remained open while houses grew up around it. For many years, until 1978, the middle part of the valley was used as a rubbish tip. But in 1993, work began to clean it up and bring it back to life. The name "Rimrose" comes from old words. "Hrim" is an Old English word meaning 'border'. "Ros" is a Celtic word meaning 'moor' or 'heath'. So, it means "border moorland".
In 2015, people were worried about young people riding scrambler bikes in the park. This led to some serious accidents. The police started to take action. This also led to the creation of Rimrose Valley Friends. This is a charity that works to protect and improve the park. They organize fun activities and events. These events help people stay healthy, bring the community together, and protect nature.
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Exploring Rimrose Valley's Past
How Rimrose Valley Was Formed
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The valley we see today has been shaped over a very long time. This process happened over the last 1.6 million years. During this time, layers of sand, peat, and clay built up. The valley itself was formed as the soft sandstone rock slowly wore away. The edges of the valley, especially on higher ground, were used as farmland. This was because these areas were less likely to flood. However, during the 1900s, most of the farmland became limited to the very northern parts of the valley.
Rimrose Valley in the 20th Century
In January 1991, the valley was mostly a wasteland and a rubbish dump. But there were plans to turn it into a country park and a place for fun activities. By October 1992, ideas for a top-notch leisure park were being prepared for the local council to consider. These plans included changing the landscape to create areas for different sports. As mentioned, the central part of the valley was a rubbish tip until 1978. The big cleanup and restoration project started in 1993.
Nature and Wildlife in Rimrose Valley
Rimrose Valley is now an important part of the Mersey Forest. It is also the most southern part of the West Lancashire Coastal Plain. In the southern area of the valley, you'll find 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. They are known as Sites of Special Local Biological Interest because of their important plants and animals.
The park is quite large, so it has been divided into five different color-coded zones. These zones help people know exactly where they are. This is very useful if they ever need to contact emergency services. If you walk from the north to the south of the park, it's about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles). This walk is considered "moderate" and takes about 90 minutes.
Plans for a New Road Through the Valley
Early Road Ideas
Ideas for building a road through Rimrose Valley first came up in 1990. Reports suggested plans for a dual carriageway, even though the area was already marked for wildlife. In March 1993, the Liverpool Echo newspaper reported that local people suggested a road could be built. They wanted it to have limits on large commercial vehicles. The council seemed to be thinking about it. By January 1994, a 70mph dual carriageway through the valley was a popular idea. It was meant to ease traffic and connect to another planned road, called the 'Blue Route'.
Modern Road Proposals and Public Opposition
In 2013, local leaders started working with Highways England and Peel Ports. They wanted to find a "permanent highways solution" because the nearby port was getting bigger. A study was done in 2014 to look at different road options. These options included building a road online (along existing routes) or offline (a new route). They also looked at tunnels, but these were too expensive.
In 2016, plans for a new £200 million road through Rimrose Valley were announced. This road would connect the Port of Liverpool to the A5758 Broom's Cross Road. The goal was to reduce heavy traffic on the A5036 Dunnings Bridge Road. However, the local council rejected this idea in March 2017. They preferred a tunnel to solve the traffic problems instead.
Despite the council's view and public opinion, a dual carriageway through Rimrose Valley was chosen in August 2017. This was called Option B. Highways England argued that a tunnel would cost six times more and cause too much disruption.
The "Save Rimrose Valley" Campaign
In 2017, a local group called "Save Rimrose Valley" was formed. They strongly opposed Highways England's plans. They demanded that other, more environmentally friendly ways to move goods from the Port of Liverpool be explored. This campaign quickly gained a lot of support.
The group appeared on Jeremy Vine's BBC Radio 2 show in 2018 to discuss the road plans. In September 2018, they organized a huge protest called "Hands Across the Valley." More than 700 people attended. It was described as "the biggest anti-road demonstration in recent memory" by the Campaign for Better Transport. The event was covered by local news channels. Local Members of Parliament, Friends of the Earth, and the Campaign for Better Transport also attended. People formed a giant heart on the parkland and linked arms along its central path.
In 2019, members of the campaign group met with a Shadow Transport Minister to raise their concerns. In March 2019, the CEO of Friends of the Earth visited the park. He spoke with local schoolchildren and residents. He also called for Highways England to stop the road project.
In September 2020, Highways England announced that the project was delayed. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of July 2025, the project is still significantly behind schedule.
