Saturday wildlife walk from Thurstaston to Heswall marks 50th anniversary of Wirral Country Park

A fascinating wildlife walk along the banks of the River Dee is the first of many events planned this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Wirral Country Park.

The 2.5 mile walk on Saturday 4 February will allow participants to see some of the many birds that winter on the shore between Heswall and Thurstaston.

Wirral Council Ranger Matt Thomas said: "The Dee is one of the most important wetlands in Europe for wintering birds, a haven for waders and wildfowl, and this walk is a real opportunity to celebrate them. Hopefully we will see pintail, redshank, knot, black-tailed godwits and oystercatchers."

This walk is free but booking is essential. The walk begins at 11am at Thurstaston Visitors Centre but please bring boots and warm waterproofs as it will be muddy.

Volunteer to help conservation at Wirral Country Park

On Thursday, World Wetlands Day, there will be an opportunity for nature lovers to get involved in the conservation of the ponds at the Thurstaston Centre.

Volunteers are needed to help remove vegetation from the banks to encourage more aquatic plants and make space for invertebrates. The event takes place from 10am to 3pm and volunteers should email to register.

Wirral's parks, coast and countryside areas rely on the hard work and dedication of volunteers to ensure they are looked after all year round. If you would like to be a volunteer, go to the Wirral Council website for volunteering opportunities