3.054 mile pushchair friendly walk.

The walk this weekend was a revisit to Clockface and Sutton Manor. In part, because we had company.
Emily was staying with Grandma and Granddad so pushchair friendly paths were very important.

Look Granddad...

The route can be accessed at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=5988726.

Use URL above this image to access route

If you have not been here before, this is an ideal time of the year to visit. The wild-flowers  and a few cultivated ones that have been brought in with top-soil for tree planting, are stunning. Take a look.
The Orchids in particular...

Orchids

Wildflowers grow in abundance on this former colliery site with the woodlands and meadows displaying colourful species such as purple loosestrife, early marsh / spotted orchid and ragged robin. There’s a rich variety of flora and fauna and the deciduous woodland includes wild cherry (ripe in the next 2 weeks or so), oak, ash and silver birch.

Flowers, poems, works of art, iron works and "The Dream"

The images below provide a taste of some of the artwork you will see...

There is also an audio trail which, those who want to use it, can be accessed via QR codes posted on the routes.
The App is also available at http://digital.dreamsthelens.info/ 
Chris and Iplan to revisit soon (if only for the cherries)

National Wildflower Centre

Chris had spotted the National Wildflower Centre in the Friday Paper; so it was decided to look for a walk nearby. Nothing available we decided to use the large A-Z map of the area and to work out a walk of our own!
Was that the first mistake, I can hear you ask! No it wasn't! our walk took us from the National Wildflower Centre, resisting the call to call there first, through the Victorian Court Hey Park, along the Liverpool Loop Line, through Childwall and Black Wood, into Calderstones Park, along the edge of Allerton Park Golf Course, through Reynolds Park (including a visit to what Chris thought was the best walled garden she had seen), back onto the Liverpool Loop Line and finally returning to the National Wildflower Centre at Court Hey Park. If you were worn out by that then imagine how we felt having completed the 8.45 miles (You can see where we went by going to http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1816966.
Last year was the 10th birthday of the centre (Plans were drawn up in 1997) but it wasn't opened to the public until 2001. Set in the 35 acre Victorian Court Hey Park, they provide information and raise awareness about the importance of wild flowers to our environment and encourage people to learn about the creation and management of new wild flower habitats - creative conservation. I particularly liked the wild flower bed made up from recycled CDs. Chris had a go on the Traverse Wall (no comments) and I had a play on the large wooden xylophone. (Abide with me!)

There were a number of sculptures made from scrap metal...

...that were rusting among the flowers.
A more colourful fish was in the water near the entrance...

If I get time I may add him/her to the moblog!
An interesting walk with lots of contrasts and how nice to see parks returning to their former glory!

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