Liverpool
Background and analysis
Liverpool differs from the other seven districts because it is urbanised with few large areas of open land and little agriculture. Topography is only of limited significance in Liverpool's urban landscape and the influence of the long estuary shoreline does not spread far into the city. Urban development has taken over the underlying natural landscape of the Lancashire Plain in the north and Mersey Valley in the south. The most notable features remaining are Mossley Hill (which is well wooded), the wooded Allerton to Childwall ridge (viewed from the M62 approach to the city) and the open land associated with Fazakerley Brook. Many of the trees on the Calderstones/Woolton/Mossley Hill Ridges are the same age (175 years). These over-mature trees are coming to the end of their lives and will need renewal.
Although Liverpool contains areas of attractive landscape (eg Otterspool and Allerton/ Calderstones/ Woolton green wedge) and many highway trees, landscape quality in the urban areas, particularly on the edge of the city, is often poor. There is a lack of landscape structure and some areas are characterised by large housing estates and scattered treeless open spaces. This lack of structure can be described as tears in the urban fabric. Where mature tree cover exists, as at Croxteth Country Park and Calderstones Park, the quality is good.
A key role for the Forest is to repair the tears, providing a unified landscape and thereby a significant improvement in the image of the city and the quality of the environment for its residents.
There are some significant areas of open land and derelict land which can be used to bring the Forest into the city. The coast south of the city centre is for the most part open, including the former site of the Festival Gardens, Otterspool Park, the former northern airfield between the Estuary Commerce Park and the Mersey, Speke Hall, Liverpool Airport and adjacent farmland. Fazakerley Ecology Park and Croxteth Country Park both have scope for further planting and habitat creation. Fazakerley Brook runs through a large area of open land for which Liverpool City Council has approved proposals for a woodland framework. Croxteth Country Park is already substantially wooded, but there is scope for further planting. The loop line is very important both as a recreational route and as a major woodland linking a chain of open-space sites across the city from Gateacre to Aintree.
The city's five major road corridors (Eastern, Riverside North, Riverside South, North East and City Orbital) would benefit from appropriate planting to improve both image of the city for visitors, residents and potential investors and also the environment for people living and working there.
The main areas of open land are Victorian parks whose landscapes are of historic value. However, the continuing regeneration of the inner city may well generate new areas of open land which would benefit from woodland-scale tree planting and offer the opportunity to extend the Forest into the heart of the city.
Guiding principles
- Extend The Mersey Forest into the city from the urban edge by creating new habitats and planting trees on all appropriate and available sites.
- Provide a woodland framework for the redevelopment of derelict and neglected land.
- Use corridors of open land along the Mersey Coast, within Fazakerley, Croxteth and along the loop line, to create 'green fingers' bringing the Forest into the heart of the city.
- Protect, manage and, where appropriate, extend the existing woodland on the main sandstone ridge in south Liverpool.
Policies and opportunities
Numbers refer to the 'Lverpool planting strategy' map.
CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE LARGE SCALE MAP
L1 Support the development of the Fazakerly Ecology Park as a major area of open space with a variety of habitat types including substantial areas of woodland planting.
L2 Support the management of existing woodlands at Croxteth Country Park, including Mull Wood Local Nature Reserve, and the creation of new woodlands as appropriate to the landscape and the development of this significant resource.
L3 Integrate and create woodlands and wooded parklands at all appropriate sites adjacent to the Liverpool Loop Line.
L4 Support the management of existing woodlands and grassland areas at Childwall and where appropriate, extend the woodland planting.
L5 Promote tree planting on the two golf courses and any other open land at Netherly. Work together with Knowsley Borough Council to create a well-wooded landscape on the urban edge.
L6 Support the management of existing woodlands and increase woodland cover, as appropriate, on the parkland and other open space at Calderstones and Allerton.
L7 Support the management of existing woodland and grassland areas at Otterspool and the former Garden Festival Site. Where appropriate, carry out new planting.
L8 Protect appropriate areas of existing woodland in future redevelopment at Garston Dock and create a woodland framework as a new setting for development.
L9 Support the development of new habitats and improved access along the Speke Coast to form a coastal reserve between Garston and the city boundary.
L10 Work with adjacent local authorities to expand and manage Mill Wood to create a significant area of woodland park on the city boundary serving Speke.
L11 As the continuing restructuring of Liverpool's inner areas takes place, seek opportunities to establish new areas of temporary and permanent new woodland on appropriate cleared and open land.
