Wyre Estuary Country Park
| Wyre Estuary Country Park | |
|---|---|
 A footpath leading south, running parallel to a riverside path to the east | |
  Wyre Estuary Country Park Location within the Borough of Wyre  Wyre Estuary Country Park Location within Lancashire  Wyre Estuary Country Park Wyre Estuary Country Park (England) | |
| Type | Country park |
| Location | River Road, Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, England |
| Coordinates | 53°52′48″N 2°58′47″W / 53.8799°N 2.9796°W |
| Area | 0.79 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Created | 1991 |
| Operated by | Wyre Council |
| Open | Open all year |
Wyre Estuary Country Park is located in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, England. Established in 1991[1] and covering 0.79 acres (0.32 ha),[2] it is situated on the western banks of the 28-mile (45 km) long River Wyre, near its mouth at the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. The Wyre estuary forms part of the southern boundary of Morecambe Bay.
From the park's car park, Fleetwood can be viewed to the north, and there are also vistas across the river to South Lakeland to the northeast, Over Wyre to the east and, beyond, the Bowland Fells.[2]
The park has received a Green Flag Award and a VisitEngland Award.[3] It is a starting point on the Wyre Way.
Cockle Hall, the former site of a cottage occupied by a family of thirteen, is located a short distance along the path. The ferryman who took people to and brought people from Wardleys Creek,[4] on the opposite side of the river, also lived there.[5]
Views
Looking northeast to the mouth of the River Wyre at Fleetwood
East to Over Wyre
And southwest to the former Wardleys Pub at Wardleys Creek, Hambleton
Facilities
The park's main feature is its network of footpaths that either follow the course of the river to the east, eventually leading to Skippool Creek, or an inland route over grassland.[6]
A café is situated just inside the main gates, at the end of River Road,[6][7] while a boat ramp at the end of the car park on the left.
Wildlife
The park is a popular destination for ornithologists and botanists.[8]
The following birds have been seen in the park's vicinity:[8]
And the below wildflowers have been observed:[8]
- Bee orchid
- Birdsfoot trefoil
- Bluebells
- Comfrey
- Frosted orache
- Glasswort
- Herb Robert
- Northern marsh orchid
- Ramsons
- Red campion
- Scurvy-grass
- Sea arrowgrass
- Sea aster
- Sea lavender
- Sea milkwort
- Sea plantain
- Sea purslane
- Seablite
- Yellow-wort
Hillylaid Pool
Hillylaid Pool empties into the river after its 4.55 miles (7.32 km) journey.[9]
References
- ^ A History of Blackpool, the Fylde and South Wyre – Nick Moore (2018), p. 1003
- ^ a b Wyre Estuary Country Park – Woodland Trust
- ^ Wyre Estuary Country Park – Wyre Council
- ^ Clarke, Allen (1918). Windmill Land: Rambles in a Rural Old-fashioned Country, with a Chat about Its History and Romance. Dent. p. 401.
- ^ "Geograph:: Cockle Hall Picnic Area © Bob Jenkins". www.geograph.org.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b Facilities at Wyre Estuary Country Park – Wyre Council
- ^ Find/contact us – Wyre Council
- ^ a b c Wildlife – Wyre Council
- ^ "Hillylaid Pool - Main Dyke is a river in Lancashire" – LandscapeBritain.co.uk