Rimrose Valley Country Park

The Rimrose Valley is bounded by the Leeds Liverpool canal to the east and the Southport - Liverpool railway line to the west. Reclamation of the site started in 1993 with the aim of improving the area as both a recreational and educational resource for local people. The site now has two Sites of Special Local Biological Interest, at Brookvale Local Nature Reserve and also Fulwood Way, with sports fields at Chaffers and Brookvale.

Historically the valley was a low lying area which along with the brook separated the old townships of Crosby and Litherland. The site was particularly prone to flooding so remained largely unsettled. The raised land at the edges of the valley were used for farming. The decline of farming in the twentieth century saw considerable changes in land use. The central section of the site became a domestic refuse tip, and large areas were set aside as allotments and recreation grounds. Due to the wet nature of the valley many of these allotments were abandoned and over time were colonised by reeds. Today only the area adjacent to Beach Road remains as allotments. Tipping ceased in 1978, leaving only the northern and southern ends of the valley with a natural feel.

As Sefton's only non-coastal reserve, Brookvale provides a valuable and unique green oasis amongst what is otherwise a heavily populated and industrialised area. With its interesting network of pathways and raised boardwalks, Brookvale and Rimrose Valley as a whole provides opportunities for quiet informal countryside recreation in an area where such activities are scarce.

The site now boasts a mosaic of several habitats including Reed-bed swamp, Rimrose Brook and a man-made pond system as well as smaller peripheral areas of damp meadow, dry grassland and willow-carr woodland.