A number of projects at Wirral Country Park have been completed in preparation for next year's 50th anniversary, marking the official opening of the park in 1973.

Three sections of the Wirral Way, totalling 1800 meters in length, have been widened and resurfaced. This will improve visitor safety on the shared pedestrian cycle route and improve biodiversity where woody vegetation along the verges had resulted in loss of wildflowers and wildlife species. The work at West Kirby, Caldy and Heswall will also improve drainage, an important consideration with climate change expected to result in more periods of heavy rainfall.

The clifftop path and the Visitor Centre pond path at Thurstaston have also been widened and resurfaced due to high levels of usage. Hundreds of schoolchildren visit the pond each year to pond dip with the Rangers as part of their curriculum studies and the new path now has a safer surface.

Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee at Wirral Council, said: "Next year's anniversary promises to be a wonderful celebration of what has been one of Wirral's most loved assets for more than 50 years. The improvements that have been carried out will help people enjoy Wirral Country Park for many, many more years to come."

Other work carried out includes:

• rotting support posts have been repaired at the bridge at the Visitor Centre
• Riverbank Road picnic area has been refurbished with new tables
• lighting columns have been installed between the Visitor Centre at Thurstaston and the car park.
• The brick barbecue stands at Thurstaston have been refurbished.

In addition to these improvements, 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 Wirral Council's website for volunteering opportunities.

Three sections of the Wirral Way, totalling 1800 meters in length, have been widened and resurfaced