Court Hey Park-What to do

What to do while you visit

Court hey park is an ideal place to unwind. The park is popular with local walkers and families. There is a bowling green and cricket wicket, both with active clubs keen to welcome new members. Whitefield Cricket Club, situated in the park, is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Merseyside first established in 1902. There is an orientering course around the park and copies are available from the Parks Office.

There are so many things to do in the Park, from a simple walk amongst the trees, sitting in the Old Rose Garden or games on the playing fields.

Children's Playground

For kids, you may just want to kick a ball or cycle, but there is a playground to help burn off the energy, followed by a visit to the Cornfield Cafe in the National Wildflower Centre.
The play area has also won an Editor’s Choice Award in the annual Local Government News Street Design Awards, after being praised for its unusual and imaginative design.

In its woodland setting, the £167,000 playground is a winning combination of unique quirky features – including a seated platform and train with carriages – and more traditional playground equipment.

Designed and developed by Knowsley Council’s Leisure and Community Services in partnership with 2020 Knowsley, the play area opened in 2004. Since then, it has proven a huge success with local families and visitors from all over the country who flock to Court Hey Park to visit the National Wildflower Centre.
The Rose garden, walled garden and stable buildings have remained.

The Friends of Court Hey Park Meeting Room

Please drop by and say hello! We have a meeting on the first Monday of the month usually at 1.30 pm and if you are able to drop in you can examine our display of archaeological finds from the Gladstone Roots Dig in 2007 or buy our Book for only £5!

Gladstone Roots Project site

Opposite the playground is a site of great importance to the friends group. Thanks to £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund this is where you can find the re-built footings of the Gladstone Mansion house that once proudly stood until it's demolition in 1955. The friends worked with Knowsley Council to create a project that involved many members of the local community and schoolchildren in an archaeological dig in 2007 supervised by Liverpool Museum Field Archaeology Unit. Web site.

National Wildflower Centre

The Park is now the home of the National Wildflower Centre which focuses on creative conservation and putting wildflowers back into Britain, the centre has seasonal wildflower demonstration areas, a working garden nursery, childrens' play area, exhibitions and interactive information about wildflowers.
A stunning modern building provides a 160-metre long rooftop walkway and houses a shop, plant sales area and a cafe and conservatory. The NWC was founded by environmental charity Landlife whom are also based in the centre.

The shop has an extensive range of unusual gifts, cards, wildflower plants and seeds, publications with advice on growing wildflowers and a great range of pocket money toys.
Plants can be purchased online here.

Knowsley Green-Space Rangers Service
Knowsley's Rangers manage the countryside sites in the borough for everyone to enjoy. They involve communities in their local environment and bring environmental education programmes to local schools and colleges.

The Ranger Team also delivers an annual programme of public events and activities that include natural history walks and talks, sporting activities and park events that help local people to gain enjoyment from their parks and open spaces.

For general enquiries about court hey park, forthcoming events and school activities please contact the Green Space Ranger, Dept of Neighbourhood Services. Telephone: 0151 443 3682

Merseyside Biobank
The BioBank Service is based in the victorian stable block and is the Local Records Centre for North Merseyside. It is the central co-ordinating body for the management of biological data in the area, supporting the biological recording community and promoting wider participation in conservation. The centre promotes the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action Plan and wider participation in conservation through education, community involvement. Tel: 0151 737 4150

Pedal Away
Pedal Away have a member based in the park and is a Borough wide initiative providing a variety of cycle related activities aiming to have a long term positive effect on the physical and mental well being of individuals. Working with targeted groups to help them become more active within their daily routines, ‘Pedal Away’ will promote cycling as an accessible and enjoyable form of activity and offer participants the chance to take part in regular group bike rides, led by qualified cycle trainers, who have experience and knowledge of cycling and health initiatives.
Email Tel: 0151 443 2148. Cycling Projects website

Parking Facilities
There's a small drive-in for 2 or 3 cars by the main driveway but most visitors use the large car-park near the National Wildflower Centre.

Disabled Parking
There is limited wheelchair access within the park, though the National Wildflower Centre is wheelchair accessible.

Opening Days and Times
The park is open throughout the year.
The National Wildflower Centre is open to visitors currently from March to September. The NWC Cornflower Cafe is open from the 12th January 2009. email Tel: 0151 738 1913

Events and Activities
Please see our News or Diary page for a current list of events.
The Green Fayre and Knowsley Flower Show are just 2 main events held in court hey park.

Court Hey Park 'Flickr' images page.

Knowsley Council 'Flickr' image page.

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