Wirral Council urged to protect ‘forgotten’ Heswall Dales

Jul 16 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

heswall dales

WIRRAL Council is being urged to protect “forgotten” Heswall Dales.

Residents and councillors fear the area’s beauty is under threat because of arson attempts, littering and neglect.

The dry lowland heathland is dominated by heather and other heathland species such as bilberry and western gorse.

The Dales also has developing birch-oak woodland and areas of acidic marshy grassland along the natural valleys, while a number of unusual species have been recorded in its damp areas.

However residents believe its charm and precious wildlife is coming under threat from a mixture of thoughtlessness and vandalism.

Richard Brown, of Heswall, went walking with his family at the weekend and told the News he was disgusted by what he saw.

He said: “The state of Heswall Dales is of concern to me due to the actions of hooligans throwing litter and lighting bonfires.

“This is one of only two areas of natural heathland in Wirral, and home to species such as the common lizard, which will be quickly wiped out by any large scale fires.

“All Wirral people should value and look after this natural resource.

“My daughter collected a pile of rubbish in just three minutes over a five mile radius.”

Heswall councillor and member of Wirral Council’s environment overview and scrutiny committee, Peter Johnson said: “Really the Dales appear to be a forgotten part of Wirral regarding the clearing and picking up of litter by the council.

“Many youngsters who use the Dales do pick up their rubbish - they're pretty good.

“But there are always one or two - and it's not always the youngsters - who do not clear up after themselves.”

Wirral Council was unable to supply a comment at the time of going to press.