Dock Branch Park
This consultation has now concluded. Reports of the findings from the Ideas Board and other consultation events are published in the Documents section of this page.
We are developing a brand-new public park on the former Dock Branch railway line in Birkenhead, which is no longer used. Inspired by The High Line in New York, it aims to bring people together and help us to get closer to heritage and nature. It will take about 2-3 years to develop, and this is your chance to get involved in the design.
The first part of the park that we will work on will be 800m long, running from Tower Road to Argyle Street. At the moment, we are referring to it as ‘Dock Branch Park’ but we are interested in ideas for a new name. Opening up public access to this industrial heritage-rich space is a great opportunity to deliver the urban ‘garden city’ ambitions set out in the Birkenhead 2040 Framework. See more about the wider plans for Birkenhead in the 2040 Framework here.
We would like your ideas to help us create an appealing and safe park, providing green open space for residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods, and visitors to the area. What would be your priorities for this unique park? We are interested in your views on:
- wildlife
- leisure
- play
- cultural facilities
- the chance to walk, cycle (or ‘actively travel’) across Birkenhead
- ideas for a name
- how much of the park should be set aside for sport
- visitor attractions
- refreshment stops
Please use the ideas board on the tab below to share what matters most to you. And if you are part of a community group that might like to manage part of the park, perhaps a growing project or something different, please do let us know if you would like to get involved.
We are looking forward to hearing from you, so that we can make the most of this opportunity for the communities of Birkenhead.
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Please add any ideas you would like to share about the Dock Branch Park, including your views on:
- wildlife
- leisure
- play
- cultural facilities
- the chance to walk, cycle (or ‘actively travel’) across Birkenhead
- ideas for a name
- how much of the park should be set aside for sport
- visitor attractions
- refreshment stops
- anything else
View All Ideasabout 2 years ago
Eco friendly
Sensory garden with plants to attract bees, butterflies Nature spotting trail and information posters for children Forest school zones eg seating, den building, story tree, bushcraft Orienteering spots Eco friendly cafe that educates children about sustainable produce Toilets running on rainwater and solar powered taps etc
about 2 years ago
Call it Priory Park as it is close to Birkenhead Priory one of the most historic buildings in Bikenhead
See above
almost 2 years ago
take all of the above and use birkenhead park as a base. already there and so much wasted
one park used and make it a green enterpise hub to be proud of
almost 2 years ago
Install new public art along the new park corridor as a sculpture trail.
Public art could create a sculpture trail as part of the new greenspace and park emulating the New York High Line. Opportunity to have new art works celebrating women and ethnic minorities and their contributions which have been as a theme overlooked so far and less recognised. Celebrate this history and their valued contributions. There are some amazing contributions by women and ethnic minorities. The training of the first four British guide dogs was organised by Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond from a humble lock-up garage in Wallasey in the summer of 1931. Today the Guide Dogs charity is the world’s largest breeder and trainer of working dogs and has helped over 29,000 people. The Birkenhead branch of the Royal British Legion, on Park Road East, was the first in the world and was opened in 1921 by Sir Frederick Lister. Liverpool is also home to the oldest Black African community in the UK, and the oldest Chinese community in Europe. This is partly a legacy of shipping lines such as Elder Dempster and Blue Funnel. Wirral is the only place in mainland Britain with documented evidence of Norwegian Viking settlers. Ancient Irish Chronicles report the first peaceful settlements led by the Norseman Ingimund in 902AD, followed by repeated raids on Chester after the peninsula became full of Norse settlers. The Chronicles tell how the English of Chester used elaborate means to keep the Wirral Vikings back, including setting the town’s bees onto them! The story of Ingimund represents Wirral’s very own ancient Viking Saga. Tranmere FC is the only English League team with a Norwegian Viking name. Cross Hill, Thingwall was the site of Wirral’s Viking parliament – possibly the oldest parliament in mainland Britain, and pre-dating Iceland’s Thingvellir by some 30 years and the Isle of Man’s Tynwald by some 70 years. Leasowe Lighthouse was built in 1763 in Moreton on the Wirral. The lighthouse was erected because of the difficult sandbanks just offshore and it is the oldest brick-built lighthouse in Britain. The lighthouse was also the first in the country to have a female lighhouse keeper, when Mrs Mary Elisabeth Williams began her service as keeper in 1908. Bromborough is thought to be the location where the famous 'Battle of Brunanburh' took place. The battle in 937 is said to be, 'The Greatest Single Battle in Anglo-Saxon History before the Battle of Hastings'. The battle brought together the might of England's combined armed forces for the very first time in order to fight the armies of both Norway and Scotland. This therefore marked the birth of the nation of England for the first time. Bebington-born Lottie Dod was the original Wimbledon wonderkid, becoming the youngest ever winner of the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Championship when she achieved her triumph in 1887 at the age of 15 years and 285 days. Dod won the singles title five times between 1887 and 1893. Wallasey climber Alan Paul Rouse was the first British climber to reach the summit of K2, the second highest mountain in the world. Edith Smith was born in Oxton on the Wirral. As well as raising her family she worked as a midwife, before becoming a volunteer police officer when the First World War broke out in 1914. The following year she was made a full officer serving in Grantham in Lincolnshire. As such she became the UK’s first ever woman police officer. She died in 1923 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Runcorn. She contributed a phenomenal amount to policing and her work paved the way for the officers of today, particularly female officers. As well as her police work she travelled throughout Britain, giving talks, writing books and campaigning about woman's policing.
about 2 years ago
Somewhere for people to meet, an outdoor entertainment venue, local vendors, toilets, miniature railway, equipment for disabled children
Something for everyone
Photos
Documents
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Dock Branch Park- Consultation Summary Report (1.86 MB) (pdf)
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Have Your Say ideas board analysis (884 KB) (pdf)
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Igloo Dock Branch Park Co-Creation Workshop Report (938 KB) (pdf)
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Placed Dock Branch Engagement Report (5.01 MB) (pdf)
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Phase 1 location map.pdf (287 KB) (pdf)
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PLACED Academy - First Saturday workshop report.pdf (5.13 MB) (pdf)
