Port Sunlight River Park is a former Biffa landfill site which had become a community eyesore, looming over the A41 and visible from both the other side of the River Mersey and the historic Port Sunlight Village, restricting public access to the waterfront. At the end of the landfill operating cycle in 2006, with funding and widespread community support, the process began to turn this 28-hectare site into a public open space for people to enjoy the great outdoors. Port Sunlight River Park opened in 2014 and has since become a special place for the community, with panoramic views over the River Mersey and iconic Liverpool waterfront, with regular volunteering groups and an on-site cafe run by local organisation, Autism Together.
This park supports a rich variety of wildlife thanks to its diverse habitats, which include woodland, hedgerows, species-rich grassland, reedbeds, scrub, bramble and estuary-edge habitats. Areas of particular ecological importance include the wildflower grasslands, mature reedbeds, bare and rocky ground, dense scrub and Courthouse Wood, which together create valuable links to the surrounding estuary. More than 130 bird species have been recorded in and around the site, including Skylarks, waders, gulls and other waterbirds, while mammals such as foxes, stoats and bats are regularly seen. The adjacent shoreline, saltmarsh and mudflats also provide important feeding habitat for birds, with management of the park helping to support wildlife across the wider landscape.
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Open access
There are two entrances to the park, the main entrance at the end of Dock Road North which is accessible by car and the secondary northern entrance accessible by foot or bike from Shorefields Nature Park. The main entrance has a small, tarmacked carpark with 10 spaces, two of these reserved for blue badge holders and is open from 9am to 4.30pm. There are additional parking bays for cars at the end of Dock Road North which are primarily for park users but are also available to local residents. All the parking spaces are free to use and are not subject to any time restrictions. The other entrance from Shorefields Nature Park requires a descent and ascent of 30 steps on each side, so is not fully accessible. There are no electric vehicle charging points
22 minute walk from Portbury Close bus stop & 30 minute walk from Bebington train station.
All main paths are well surfaced and wide enough for wheelchair users, making it easy to explore large parts of the site. From the inner car park, wheelchair users can enjoy a scenic route along the river Mersey and return comfortably to the Heritage Centre. With assistance, it is also possible to reach the summit from the lake via Summit Path East. Once at the top, a clearly defined north–south path allows visitors to enjoy the views before returning the same way. Due to the natural landscape, it hasn’t been possible to create a completely flat path around the entire perimeter of the park. Mobility scooters can access most paths across the park, but we recommend avoiding the steep north and south slopes from the summit, as the gradients may be challenging. Please note that there is currently no wheelchair or mobility scooter access at the Shorefield secondary entrance, due to a number of steps. To make visits more comfortable, seats, benches and picnic tables are positioned at regular intervals throughout the park, offering plenty of opportunities to rest, take in the views, or enjoy a break along the way
There are toilets, baby changing facilities & disabled toilets located within the Heritage Centre
Open Monday to Friday from10.00am to 3:00pm and located within the Heritage Centre. The café currently serves hot drinks and snacks and is mainly run by Autism Together and support staff
Picnics are welcome on site, please take all rubbish home with you
There is no children's play area on site
There are approximately 4.2 km of surfaced pathways offering a variety of routes around the perimeter, River Mersey and over the summit.
Responsible cycling is permitted on site, please be considerate of pedestrians. There are no facilities to store or lock bikes
Well-controlled dogs are welcome, please ensure your dog has good recall before allowing off-lead. Dogs must be on lead near water bodies and conservation areas to protect wildlife. There are 5 bins available across the site for dog waste
The Heritage Centre reopened in April 2019 following a major transformation from its former life as a BIFFA site cabin. Today, it’s a warm, welcoming hub at the heart of the park, a place to relax, learn and connect with the community and grab a nice drink and/or cake.The cafe is ran in partnership with volunteers from Autism Together, a charity which offers meaningful and achievable work experience and valuable life skills to the autistic adults. Whether you’re stopping in for a drink, attending an event, or simply taking a break during your walk, the Heritage Centre offers a welcoming place to pause and enjoy the park. The views from the site showcase the wonderful skyline of Liverpool city centre, providing a perfect photography backdrop. There is a small area located near the heritage centre, named the Oasis. Here you can focus on wellbeing, enjoying the bug hotels and raised flower beds, that also double up as benches.
Dock Road North,
Bromborough,
Wirral,
Merseyside,
CH62 4TQ
Much of today’s park stands on reclaimed land, created from silt dredged from the River Mersey during the early to mid‑20th century. The eastern part of the site has an especially fascinating past as it was once part of Bromborough Dock, infilled in the late 1980s after the dock closed.When it opened in 1931, Bromborough Dock was the largest private dock in the world and played a vital role in local industry. Built by Lever Brothers (now Unilever), it allowed raw materials to be delivered directly to their nearby factory, rather than being transported across the river from Liverpool. The dock remained operational until 1986, when declining goods traffic led to its closure through an Act of Parliament. Following the dock’s closure, the flat silted areas and dock edges were repurposed as a landfill site, operated by Biffa from 1991 to 2006. This use of the site proved unpopular with local residents. Once the landfill reached capacity, planning conditions and strong local pressure ensured the land would be restored for public and environmental benefit. That restoration marked a turning point. The Land Trust stepped in to manage the site, transforming it into a welcoming green space. The park officially opened to the public in 2014, giving the area a new lease of life. Over the years, significant landscaping and path improvement works have been carried out, enhancing access, improving path surfaces and better managing rainwater run‑off. Today, what was once industrial dockland and landfill is a thriving riverside park with phenomenal views; a powerful example of how landscape restoration can benefit local communities and wildlife.
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