This article was first published in 2009 on Hubpages. I'm transferring my articles from there to here.
Let's go for a walk!
Well, almost... Looking at photographs is hardly the same as experiencing a place for yourself, but it can be a good starting point.
So pull on your imaginary hiking boots and walk along the beach at West Kirby, Wirral, until you see the steep steps created up the side of the sand dunes. Up there, you can hear the low rumble of the Irish Sea, the lyrical fluting of skylarks and the occasional expletive from the golf course just over the wire mesh fence.
As you pass over the lofty summit of the grass-covered dunes, you'll have a sweeping view of the beach - with its horse-riders, sand-yachters and kite-flyers and the distant sails of surf-boarders and apprentice sailors scooting along the marina - and on the horizon you'll see the three small islands of Little Eye, Middle Eye and Hilbre.
You'll see butterflies and moths, which help feed the vast flocks of migrating birds - and you will not miss the midges. They're very thorough and like to closely investigate every passer-by.
(Edit: The following section, in italics, formed captions from a series of photos, now presented as a short video. Sadly, little now remains of the boardwalk and so these photos have unintentionally gained some historical value.)
Almost hidden amongst tall grass are the steps leading up to the walk over the summit of West Kirby's sand dunes. The boardwalk through the marshes, looking towards Hoylake. Sand lizards often bask on the sun-bleached boardwalk. Walkers need to mind where they're putting their feet! The boardwalk passes directly over Red Rocks Marsh. The boardwalk is thickly overgrown in places, making it a perfect haven for wildlife.
Emerging from the boardwalk, you arrive at a red sandstone outcrop. On the horizon are Middle Eye and Hilbre Islands. If you walk along the adjacent Stanley Road you'll find a good choice of bars and restaurants in Hoylake. Running parallel to the boardwalk is another route, which crosses the dryer edge of the marsh alongside the beach. One of the last places in Britain where natterjack toads still live offers a fenced-off sanctuary for them. The toads are free to roam as they please, and while I've seen them elsewhere in the marshes, I've never once seen any in this enclosure.
Both routes attract many walkers, from family groups out for a stroll to avid bird-spotters, joggers and dog-walkers, to photographers and artists who find the quality of light rivals that of St Ives.
Protecting the Environment
Thousands of migrating birds rely on the Dee Estuary for food and rest. Others make their homes amongst the dense reed beds of the marshes. and some of these build their nests on the ground.
Visitors are asked to be aware of this and not ride horses through or close to the flocks, or allow their dogs (or kids) to wade through the marsh ponds. There are plenty of places further along the beach where dogs (or kids or adults) can paddle and hurtle around.
Bird-spotters are also reminded to keep to the tracks. Yup, the rules apply to them, too, despite what some of them assume.
Another visitor to be aware of is the surreptitious canoodler. These are occasionally stumbled upon in the sand dunes and are best ignored. These visitors are reminded that litter bins are provided at either end of the beach, and that draping their discarded paraphernalia over the nearest frond of reed grass does not contribute to the Keep Britain Tidy campaign.
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