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The Square

📷 Alexander P Kapp · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Public accessFree entryDogs welcome

Getting here

53.45613, -2.74750

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Parking· Paid

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Canada Goose +50 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Canada Goose +50 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Holly, Yellow Iris, Common Nettle +95 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Holly, Yellow Iris, Common Nettle +95 more · last seen 2026

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Common Nettle, Elder, Hogweed +11 more foraging species

Varies

Dog walks

Strong match

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Hairy Shieldbug, Xanthogramma pedissequum, Helophilus pendulus +8 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Hairy Shieldbug, Xanthogramma pedissequum, Helophilus pendulus +8 more · last seen 2025

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Rainford Linear ParkWalking route

Named routeLocal cycle route

🚴

Cycling

12 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Route 856Cycling route

Named routeRef 856National Cycle Network

Sankey Canal TrailCycling route

Named routeRef SCTLocal cycle route

Main RouteCycling route22 m

Named routeRef 56Length 22 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route39 m

Named routeRef 56Length 39 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route704 m

Named routeRef 56Length 704 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

N/ACycling route49 m

Named routeLength 49 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

35,013 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

35,013 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds35 species

springautumn

2026

Canada Goose · Black-headed Gull · Woodpigeon · Coot · Mallard +30

Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
CootFulica atra2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
MagpiePica pica2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Great TitParus major2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
CuckooCuculus canorus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

spring

2026

Common Pipistrelle · Grey Squirrel · Noctule · Pipistrelle Bat species · Daubenton's Bat +1

Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
NoctuleNyctalus noctula
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus
Daubenton's BatMyotis daubentonii
MoleTalpa europaea2025

🐝

Insects3 species

springsummer

2025

Hairy Shieldbug · Xanthogramma pedissequum · Helophilus pendulus

Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum
Xanthogramma pedissequumXanthogramma pedissequum
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus

🌿

Plants37 species

spring

2026

Southern Marsh-orchid · Beech · Yellow Iris · Shepherd's-purse · Taxus baccata f. baccata +32

Southern Marsh-orchidDactylorhiza praetermissa2025
BeechFagus sylvatica2025
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus2025
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Taxus baccata f. baccataTaxus baccata f. baccata
AlderAlnus glutinosa
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2025
Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2025
Garden PrivetLigustrum ovalifolium2025
HollyIlex aquifolium2025
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
Garden TulipTulipa gesneriana
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Shaggy SoldierGalinsoga quadriradiata2025
Broad-leaved HelleborineEpipactis helleborine2025
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2025
CornflowerCentaurea cyanus2025
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2025
Large BindweedCalystegia silvatica2025
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2025
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii2025
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2025
Senecio vulgaris subsp. vulgarisSenecio vulgaris subsp. vulgaris2025
CleaversGalium aparine2025
DaisyBellis perennis2025
NipplewortLapsana communis2025
Flowering CurrantRibes sanguineum2025
Turkey OakQuercus cerris2025
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2025
IvyHedera helix2025
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2025
HazelCorylus avellana2025
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

35,013 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds35 species

springautumn

2026

Canada Goose · Black-headed Gull · Woodpigeon · Coot · Mallard +30

Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
CootFulica atra2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
MagpiePica pica2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
Mute SwanCygnus olor2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
Great TitParus major2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
CuckooCuculus canorus2025
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025

🦌

Mammals6 species

spring

2026

Common Pipistrelle · Grey Squirrel · Noctule · Pipistrelle Bat species · Daubenton's Bat +1

Common PipistrellePipistrellus pipistrellus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis2025
NoctuleNyctalus noctula
Pipistrelle Bat speciesPipistrellus
Daubenton's BatMyotis daubentonii
MoleTalpa europaea2025

🐝

Insects3 species

springsummer

2025

Hairy Shieldbug · Xanthogramma pedissequum · Helophilus pendulus

Hairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarum
Xanthogramma pedissequumXanthogramma pedissequum
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus

🌿

Plants37 species

spring

2026

Southern Marsh-orchid · Beech · Yellow Iris · Shepherd's-purse · Taxus baccata f. baccata +32

Southern Marsh-orchidDactylorhiza praetermissa2025
BeechFagus sylvatica2025
Yellow IrisIris pseudacorus2025
Shepherd's-purseCapsella bursa-pastoris
Taxus baccata f. baccataTaxus baccata f. baccata
AlderAlnus glutinosa
Bee OrchidOphrys apifera2025
Common NettleUrtica dioica2025
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum2025
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata2025
Garden PrivetLigustrum ovalifolium2025
HollyIlex aquifolium2025
Red Dead-nettleLamium purpureum
Garden TulipTulipa gesneriana
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Shaggy SoldierGalinsoga quadriradiata2025
Broad-leaved HelleborineEpipactis helleborine2025
Common Mouse-earCerastium fontanum2025
CornflowerCentaurea cyanus2025
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea2025
Large BindweedCalystegia silvatica2025
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris2025
Butterfly-bushBuddleja davidii2025
Garlic MustardAlliaria petiolata2025
Himalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera2025
Common Field-speedwellVeronica persica2025
Senecio vulgaris subsp. vulgarisSenecio vulgaris subsp. vulgaris2025
CleaversGalium aparine2025
DaisyBellis perennis2025
NipplewortLapsana communis2025
Flowering CurrantRibes sanguineum2025
Turkey OakQuercus cerris2025
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris2025
IvyHedera helix2025
Spear ThistleCirsium vulgare2025
HazelCorylus avellana2025
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum2025

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Alexander P Kapp · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Grant Close, St Helens

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🌱Victoria ParkUrban park800 m→🌱Taylor ParkUrban park1.5 km→🌱Taylor ParkUrban park1.6 km→🌱Taylor ParkUrban park1.6 km→🌱Sherdley ParkUrban park3 km→🌱The DuckeriesUrban park3.6 km→

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