Sefton Park, the Hyde Park of Liverpool is teeming with wildlife. The park, with it's large fields, wooded areas, lakes and ponds acts as a haven for wildlife. 

The streams, ponds and lake in Sefton Park are home to a wide variety of water birds. Graceful Swans swim alongside flocks of Canada Geese in the main lake. While around the numerous islands and in the smaller ponds found throughout the park, several varieties of Ducks can be found such as Mallard as well as Moorhens and Coots.  Herons, Crested Grebe's and even Cormorant have  been seen in the park.

Other birds that have made their home in the park include, the House Martin which can be seen swooping over the main lake and the surrounding embankments hunting for insects, numerous song birds, such as Robins, Sparrows, Black Birds, Blue Tits and Finches, as well as larger birds such as Magpies, Jackdaws, Crows, Jays, Wood Pigeons, various Gulls and Woodpeckers.

The Grey Squirrel has also found the park to be an ideal home and can often be seen around the wooded areas, while the Water Vole, often confused with the Rat, can be seen scurrying around the banks of the streams.

Popular with local fisherman, the lake also contains a variety of fish as well as an abundance of Terrapins that can often be found basking in the morning sun.

Completed in 1896, the Palm House with it's 70ft  glass domed roof was a gift to the City by Henry Yates Thompson. The Palm House was designed in the tradition of Paxton's glass houses and was stocked originally with a magnificent collection of  exotic plants. Liverpool's Botanical Collection was brought to the city from all over the world through its maritime trade. It is one of the largest municipal collections in the country, There are 9 marble statues on display inside together with a marble bench. On plinths around the outside there were a further 8 bronze/marble statues by Chavailiaud (1858-1921) of famous explorers and naturalists, such as Darwin, Captain Cook, Columbus and Linnaeus. In1941 during the May Blitz a bomb fell nearby and the Palm House had all it's windows blown out,  fortunately the structure of the building remained sound .The Palm House  in recent years has been  restored to its former glory through lottery funding. .

Peter Pan back in Sefton Park

Peter Pan is brought back home to Sefton Park for young and old to enjoy once more. Commissioned by the author JM Barrie, sculptor George Frampton created Peter Pan as a gift to the public. The original was made for Kensington Gardens in 1912 and a replica made for Sefton Park in 1928.

For more information on the parks or details of walks and talks in the parks contact the Liverpool rangers on :-

LIVERPOOL RANGER SERVICE EVENTS
 in Liverpool's parks and open spaces.
 For more information on these events contact the rangers on : - 0151 233 3007  

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Registered charity no. 207076
Unless otherwise stated,  copyright Laura Bimson/RSPB.)