The Speke and Garston Coastal Reserve in Liverpool is witnessing a shift in seasons, with fresh meadow cranesbill and snow-white blackthorn flowers marking the arrival of spring. The 70-acre site was once Liverpool airport before it moved to a new location a few miles away to become Liverpool John Lennon airport. Now, the reserve’s rich and diverse mosaic of habitats is sandwiched between the River Mersey and the Estuary Business Park.
Visitors to the reserve are met with a barrage of signs warning of “No Parking” and private land, as new buildings and car parks continue to encroach ever nearer the reserve. Despite the threat, the area still has a rich birdlife. Birdwatchers can spot kestrels and peregrines perched on the cliff faces of industrial buildings despite the continual construction in the area.
Walking down a former runway, visitors will find that no longer are the only aircraft present the Argonaut, Dakota or Viscount. In their place, dunnocks, blackbirds, magpies, robins, and skylarks can be seen. Greenery merges with reedbeds, saltmarsh, and the tidal mudflats of the Mersey. Even on a quiet winter’s day, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of wildlife. Kestrels hover close to the runway while the sound of aircraft from the adjacent airport occasionally interrupts the bird soundscape.
Although it’s apparent that seasons are changing, the Speke and Garston Coastal Reserve remains rich in diversity and defiance. Visitors can enjoy the birdlife and greenery now, with the knowledge that the land may redesign itself over time
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