This weekend, Port Sunlight River Park is celebrating five years since it first opened with a free, family-friendly, summer event… and you’re invited!
Guest of honour at the event, on Sunday, August 11, will be Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Tony Smith, who is cutting a special birthday cake at 1pm.
The event runs from 12 noon to 4pm and offers over 25 activities to choose from, with wildlife lovers well catered for with stalls manned by the RSPB, Wirral & West Lancashire Bat Group, and even a stall telling visitors about the wonderful world of bees.
There’s a dog-friendly stall, beautiful rescued Birds of Prey will be on display, while Wirral Animal Sanctuary will be there to advise on their work.
A wildlife viewing hub will be set up near the lake, near the local biological recording centre ‘Record’, so children and adults can develop their wildlife recognition with spotter sheets to explore the plants and animals found in the park, plus an RSPB expert will be on hand to point out some of the 130+ species of birds found in the area.
The new Heritage Centre and café will be open, burgers and hotdogs will be on sale at the Friends’ Burger Bar and an ice cream van will be present too.
Autism Together’s own band ‘The Beathovens’, made up of some of the talented musicians we support, will be providing live musical entertainment.
Children’s activities include face painting, a Play Zone with play leaders, craft activities and a scavenger hunt, where guests can collect clues and solve questions for a prize. Visitors can also make their own smoothie using the SUSTRANS smoothie bike, hop aboard a fire engine, or have a go at being a town crier.
Alison Kelly, the Friends Event Organiser, said: “The event provides a great opportunity to introduce new people to the Park, and our regular programme of activities, including health walks, bat walks and school holiday activities. I am extremely grateful to all the volunteers, local businesses and organisations who are supporting this event to make it, hopefully, the biggest and best yet!”
The event is run by Friends of the River Park, in partnership with Autism Together, as we manage the park on behalf of The Land Trust.
Local landscape artists are invited to come along on the day and set up their easels to capture some of the best views in Wirral. There will also be a Tai Chi Taster sessions near the park’s summit at 2.30pm – complete beginners welcome.
The event is kindly supported by St John’s Ambulance and Soroptimist International, who will be providing volunteers. It’s free to attend, with a request to make a small donation for some activities. There will be no card payment facilities.
For further information, please contact Anne Litherland (Park Ranger) on 07587 550060, or email anne.litherland1@autismtogether.org, or get in touch with the event organiser, Alison Kelly, at mail@friendsopsrp.org
