Groundwork
Merseyside

Until 1936 Bidston Moss was an area of low-lying wetland marsh at the edge of the Birkenhead and Wallasey Docks. It was an area that, over the previous one hundred and fifty years, had seen great changes, as Britain became an industrial nation.

Land was at a premium and the Bidston Marshes (now surrounded on 4 sides by railway lines and the Wallasey Docks) were considered for a number of uses. In 1936 the site was utilised for the disposal of domestic, commercial and industrial waste from the households and businesses in Wirral and the surrounding areas. Waste disposal continued on Bidston Moss until 1995 when the site ceased to take waste and was closed, and restoration works began.

Groundwork has been the lead agent in delivering the restoration works on behalf of, and in partnership with, Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, since the 1990’s. From 2003 Groundwork has played a key role in developing and delivering further works through the Newlands partnership. At time of writing, many elements from this vision plan are about to be delivered on site, by Groundwork, comprising approximately £300,000 of further improvement works.

The Bidston Moss Vision Plan has been prepared by Groundwork on behalf of the Newlands Partnership, following a period of consultation with relevant stakeholders and local community groups. The document was required to provide an outline of new aspirations for the Bidston Moss community woodland site, some of which might qualify for NWDA funding through the Newlands initiative.

The document describes the background and history to the Bidston Moss site, the restoration work which has already been carried out, the nature and outcomes of the recent consultation work, and the new aspirational proposals.

The new aspirations have centred on finding opportunities to unlock the full potential of Bidston Moss, to go beyond the basic physical restoration works which are, to all intents and purposes, complete, and to provide new facilities and features which will ensure maximum local community benefits, and a sustainable future for the site.