1757.009B North Wirral Shore.Cdr

North Wirral Shore Welsh coastline Leasowe Lighthouse Flood defences Key Characteristics Open exposed landscape with few trees Generally flat with undulations created by golf bunkers, sand dunes and engineered embankments Prominent vertical structures such as Leasowe Lighthouse, Leasowe Castle and Fort Perch Rock Several golf courses comprising grass and sand dunes with little tree planting Sand dunes and informal open space are common Strong association with rocks, sand and sea with expansive views along north Wirral towards Liverpool, Formby and along the North Wales coast to Llandudno and Anglesey Hilbre Island is an important feature of the coast comprising small sandstone cliffs and rocks with high points being grass and sand dunes with small coastal rock pools and saltmarsh Urban fringe elements frequent although contained by roads or coastline which provide a sense of separation Long distance expansive views of the sea and ships and wind turbines within it Constantly changing seascape associated with tidal movements Pockets of former market gardens with a very small square field pattern bordered by 2m high privet hedgerows Landscape Character This character area is strongly associated with the sea Land cover is closely associated with the coastal and includes East Hoyle bank extending around the environment with many areas of sand dunes, some of northern coast to West Kirby and Hilbre Island. The which are important for their flora and fauna. Three land element of the character area is a narrow coastal large golf courses cover much of the landward part of strip and engineered embankment extending from New this character area. The minimal planting creates an Brighton to Royal Liverpool Golf Course. open exposed character although views of the sea are often obscured by sand dunes adjacent to the Wallasey The land is generally fairly flat with the only undulations Embankment. Other uses include informal open space, formed by sand dunes and manmade bunkers within mainly comprising sand dunes and some informal rough golf courses. The land rises slightly to the Wallasey grassland at North Wirral Coastal Park, and unimproved Embankment a large concrete embankment installed in grassland and rocky outcrops at Hilbre Island. A very the late 1970s/early 1980s, although coastal defences small amount of informal grazing is present on Hilbre have been in place as early as the late 1700s to protect Island with boundary enclosure formed by small picket the low lying farmland in north Wirral from flooding due fencing of varying condition. to the seas 10m tidal range. The embankment is a prominent concrete structure within the landscape. There are pockets of neglected and underused land Coastal defences along the north western part of Wirral within the character area particularly along the fringes are obscured by sand. Embryo sand dunes are within the eastern part of the character area where establishing against these defences and are a unique material storage or areas of hard standing are present. feature within North West England. Leasowe Lighthouse is surrounded by a large open grassed area with some scrub establishing. The raised Small cliffs and rock outcrops are a feature of this part structure of Wallasey Embankment is prominent. of Wirral and include a series of small rock outcrops Scattered industry, individual houses and some man- within the beach at Red Rocks and Hilbre Point and made landform are visible across rough grassland. The three larger islands approximately 1 mile to the west of landscape has a rougher less rural appearance within Hoylake: Middle Eye, Little Eye, and Hilbre Island. this part of the character area. North Wirral Shore There are pockets of former market gardens to the north of Leasowe Road which have a small square field pattern and are bordered by 2m high privet hedgerows. Many of these contain derelict buildings or are underused. Few properties on The character area is strongly influenced by the coast Rock outcrops Hilbre Island and the coastal end of the River Dee. At low tide the beach is characterised by a series of small water channels, particularly between West Kirby and Hilbre Island. Tidal movement and waves contribute to the exposed character of the land. At high tide waves often wash against and sometimes over the embankment, which creates an element of drama and interest. At low tide a series of large mud flats appear along East Hoylake Bank and are particularly evident within the River Dee. These often contain flocks of birds and their size and shape is changeable and dependant on the height of the tide. Woodland and tree cover Woodland is extremely sparse within this character area To the south of the coastal park at Leasowe is a large and where present tends to appear wind blown with its area of small-scale fields which contain a number of growth formed by wind direction. Small linear nurseries and other areas of under-used land. Fields are shelterbelt planting and small informal groups and all bounded by intact privet hedgerows with very few clumps of trees are present between sand dunes and trees. Some mature trees are present along a track along the fringes of Leasowe Golf Course. Woodland through the central part of this area. tends to be most apparent on lower-lying land where some shelter from prevailing winds is present. White Coastal vegetation includes small areas of thrift, sea poplar is a common tree species and is prominent within holly, marram grass, storksbill, burnet rose and the landscape due to its white foliage which contrasts occasionally the Isle of Man cabbage. Within Hilbre with the softer muted tones of grassland and sand. Island and smaller rock outcrops seaweed is present on Other common species are alder, elder and small the sand stone rocks and small rock pools also amounts of pine and birch. common. Built form Built form within the character area is very scarce with Leasowe Lighthouse and Leasowe Castle the main built form elements which are prominent in the landscape due to the lack of woodland and trees. However the character area is strongly influenced by the urban development which borders it. Often this development Pockets of mature vegetation has little or no boundary vegetation and forms short along urban fringe continuous lines of development along roads. A few properties on the north western side of Hilbre Island are particularly prominent set on a cliff on the approach to the island from Hoylake and West Kirby. The rock face beneath the properties has been secured by sandstone walling to provide stability to the housing. The houses are generally small cottages facing out towards Hoylake. The properties have very little Red and white buildings at planting within gardens and boundaries are formed by Royal Liverpool Golf Course timber picket fencing. A sandstone lifeguard station is on the northern tip with a former, now derelict slipway onto an area of lower rocks. Urban influences are always present within this landscape although built development is generally contained by roads and appears as a narrow band along the edge of the character area. Built form on the North Wirral Shore northern edge of Moreton and Bidston is the most varied with mostly two storey detached and semi-detached properties interspersed with larger buildings such as churches or both large and small flat roofed industry. Small horticultural buildings and glass houses are set within privet hedge boundaries adjacent to Leasowe Road. A few large apartments are within the roofline. This development is mostly on flat land with the wooded top of Bidston Hill, Cross Lane and Bidston Moss visible above. The edge of Hoylake is characterised by very large detached properties set within extensive gardens along Stanley Road. A series of prominent buildings border Royal Liverpool Golf Course and are typically large properties with distinctive red roofs, red brick and black and white panelling. The most distinctive are the club house buildings which face onto the golf course and providing formality and are similar in character to buildings facing the green within a small village. Many of the properties have wooded boundaries which reduce Windblown trees their prominence; wooded vegetation becomes more frequent along the southern fringes of the golf course. A number of wind farms are present off the north Wirral coastline. These are prominent within views from most of the character area and provide vertical structure within the seascape. Views Nature and extent of views This character area has the most extensive views of all areas due to its relatively low lying position. Along Wallasey Embankment views extend across the whole West Wirral coastline Welsh coastline of the north Wirral coastline and include the dock area within Bootle, the coastline of Liverpool towards Formby Point and along the mountains of the North Wales Coast to the Great Orme at Llandudno and the eastern end of Anglesey. The mountains provide a distinctive backdrop to urban development at Meols and Hoylake. From high points on the sand dunes, which are informal Views to the south west along open space crossed by a network of informal footpaths, Dee estuary extensive views are possible across the golf courses towards the urban edge of Moreton, and landscape features at Bidston Hill and Thurstaston Hill. These views are typically characterised by many urban features with housing on lower ground with Bidston Hill Housing contained a prominent wooded ridgeline behind. Key landmark by road buildings within the urban area include Liverpool Views to Bidston Hill Cathedral and Radio City tower in Liverpool, Bidston Lighthouse and Observatory and Our Lady of Lourdes church on Leasowe Road. Leasowe lighthouse is also prominent. Former market gardens From the Royal Liverpool Golf Course, views extend across part of the Dee estuary towards the Welsh coastline including mountains within the Clywdian Golf course with little tree Range and northern part of Snowdonia.

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