Upton Meadow Millennium Wood - Wirral, Merseyside

Site Description

Upton Meadow lies on the north western tip of the Wirral peninsula close to the town of Birkenhead. The site was acquired and planted in 1997 and is part of the Woodland Trusts "Woodlands On Your Doorstep Project". A wide and varied mixture of native broadleaf trees and shrubs were planted which included Oak, Ash, Birch, Holly, Hawthorn and Blackthorn.

The site was leased to the Trust from Wirral Borough Council on a 99 year lease (from 1997). Although incorporated as a single management area the limitations of the Millennium Commission funding meant that the site was acquired and planted under two separate budgets.

Upton Meadow Millennium Wood (cost code 4940) 20 acres.

Upton Meadow (Non Woyd, cost code 4763) 16 Acres.

Upton Bridge Wood: This woodland is an example of semi natural lowland mixed woodland, this is reflected in the sites designation as a grade C Site of Biological Importance (SBI).

Southern Meadow: This grassland area is again designated as a Grade C SBI.

Pond: The pond can be found in the northern half of the site in compartment 1B. Aquatic surveys have shown the presence of a wide range of invertebrates and some amphibians including a healthy population of common toad. The water quality of the pond is reasonably good.

Arrowe Brook: Arrowe Brook forms the western boundary to the site. The brook is considered an excellent wildlife corridor due to its high diversity of plants, shrubs and trees along its bank. It also provides an important green link to Arrowe Park and to the open countryside beyond.

Upton Meadow is located within an intensely urban area. However it contains a network of ecologically important habitats, which the Woodland Trust will strive to conserve and enhance. The area of new planting will only serve to strengthen the sites importance as an oasis for wildlife in an otherwise urban area. The site also provides valuable informal recreational opportunities for local people. A network of over 1.5Km of footpaths exists along with a public bridle path running along the entire western boundary of the site. The site is well used and much loved by the general public.