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Port Sunlight River Park

The dramatic transformation of a closed landfill site into a 30-hectare wildlife haven and community park

Wirral, UK

Port Sunlight River Park with wildflower meadows, walking trail, and reclaimed landscape overlooking Liverpool waterfront.

The dramatic transformation of a closed landfill site into a 30-hectare wildlife haven and community park. The 37m high Port Sunlight River Park offers unrivalled views across the Mersey and Wirral Estuary and nearly 3 miles of winding footpaths.

Located on a prime waterfront location at Bromborough Dock — a former landfill site — Port Sunlight River Park has transformed this part of the Mersey coastline into a wildlife haven and popular community and tourist hotspot. The park — which opened in 2014 — provides a new leisure destination, offering an array of picnic spots, walking routes, viewpoints, beautiful wetlands and a variety of flora, fauna and wildlife.

National land management charity The Land Trust’s vision for the park was driven by the desire of turning what was once closed land into a new park open to the public. Gillespies’ designs place a strong emphasis on access to nature, incorporating various wildlife habitats such as a wildflower walk and a wetland area.

Located close to the residential communities of Port Sunlight and Bromborough Pool, the new network of paths and improvements to access and parking facilities have enabled locals and visitors to access the park throughout the year easily. The park has provided a new valuable public open space for the community and a haven for a variety of rare species of birds.