A Breath of Fresh Air – Exploring Stadt Moers Park with Cllr Shelley Powell

Stadt Moers Park is one of the Liverpool City Region’s most surprising green spaces, a 220 acre landscape that blends history, wildlife, community activity and peaceful open countryside.

Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods

To understand what makes it so special, there is no better guide than Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, who oversees the borough’s Parks and Green Spaces Team, including parks management, green space development, engagement through the ranger service and ecology.

For the past seven years, Cllr Powell has been responsible for shaping how Knowsley’s parks are cared for, improved and enjoyed. Her portfolio covers everything that brings a park to life, from grounds maintenance and habitat creation to community engagement, active travel links and long-term planning. Stadt Moers Park sits at the heart of that work, and her passion for the site is immediately clear.

“It really is one of Knowsley’s best kept secrets,” she says. “You can walk through dense woodland, wander around the lake and then step into open grassland all within minutes. Each part has its own identity. There is a space here for everyone, and that is what makes the park so special.”

Her insight offers the perfect introduction to a park shaped by both its past and the people who care for it today.

A PARK TRANSFORMED

Today, Stadt Moers Park is a haven for walkers, cyclists, families, runners and nature lovers, but its history is far more varied. Once farmland within Lord Derby’s estate, the land later became a coal mining site, then a brickworks and eventually a derelict landfill. Its transformation into a thriving country park stands as a testament to regeneration and community determination.

“You still find little reminders of that history,” Shelley says. “Old bricks, old bottles, remnants of the railway line. Even the methane monitoring system always sparks a conversation. It gives the place a character that you do not see everywhere.”

Its name celebrates Knowsley’s twin town of Moers in Germany, reflecting the partnership behind the park’s creation and the regeneration story it represents.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PARK

Cllr Powell’s role covers a wide range of teams whose work keeps the park vibrant and welcoming.

“We have an incredible group of staff,” she explains. “Our grounds maintenance team keeps the site safe, clean and enjoyable. Our development team works with the community on the wider masterplan. Then we have our technical specialists who look after drainage design, habitat creation, ecology, tree care and improvements to access and active travel routes.”

The Environment Centre, near the Pottery Lane entrance, is home to the Prescot, Whiston and Cronton Ranger who leads a full programme of activities, from health walks and children’s holiday sessions to guided nature events. “Our engagement team works really hard to help people discover what the park has to offer,” she says. “Their updates on our Knowsley Parks social channels help keep visitors connected to upcoming events and nature news.”

She adds that the park’s staff feel personally connected to the site. One ranger, whose children grew up exploring Stadt Moers, continues to draw on those memories in his daily work. “There is a real sense of pride here,” Shelley says. “When people build memories in a place, it becomes part of who they are.”

STORIES THAT BRING THE LANDSCAPE TO LIFE

One project that stands out for Shelley is the Stories of Stadt Moers Heritage Lottery initiative. It brought together the Friends of Stadt Moers, historians and volunteers to explore the site’s past in depth.

“We uncovered so much that even we did not know about the park,” she says. “Designing the interpretation boards and celebrating the history together felt incredibly rewarding. At the launch event, more than seven hundred people came along. Now visitors come specifically to follow the trail and discover more. That level of curiosity is wonderful to see.”

A PARK FOR EVERY SEASON

Although the park is split into four quadrants, each shaped by historic land uses, Shelley says they combine to create a diverse and harmonious landscape.

“In spring you see everything start to wake up again. Summer is full and green. Autumn is incredible with its colours. And in winter, the stillness and frost give it a different kind of beauty. There is never a bad time to visit.”

Wildlife thrives here thanks to the mix of grassland, woodland, scrub and open water. Tushingham Lake attracts herons and grebes, while butterflies dance through the meadows in summer. Woodlands shelter nuthatches, goldcrests and fungi, and bats and hedgehogs emerge at night.

EXPLORING THE PARK

Visitors often start at the Pottery Lane entrance where free parking and a clear map make it easy to choose a route. Accessible paths guide visitors around the lake, through the woodland and towards viewpoints including the hill trail with views of St Nicholas’ Church in Whiston.

Cyclists can explore everything from smooth paths to woodland trails, and walkers can follow running markers, orienteering routes or simply let the landscape guide them. On Saturday mornings, the park comes alive with its popular parkrun, which follows the line of the former railway.

“We always encourage people to slow down and take it all in,” Shelley says. “Turn off your phone, listen to the wildlife, explore the woodland, build a den, or just sit and enjoy the moment.”

COMMUNITY AT THE HEART

Volunteers are a vital part of the park’s success. “We have people who litter pick, people who help run events, people who apply for funding and people who look after parts of the site because they love it,” she explains. “They are a huge part of the park’s story.”

Weekly activities include running and cycling groups, crafts, nature sessions and free family events during school holidays. A recent public consultation invited residents and visitors to help influence the next stage of improvements, ensuring the park evolves with the community’s needs.

EASY TO REACH

The park is simple to access via Whiston Station, nearby bus routes and the main Pottery Lane entrance. Active travel links and footpaths connect directly from surrounding communities. Most primary routes are suitable for visitors with limited mobility or families with buggies, and ongoing accessibility audits help further improve those routes.

Nearby attractions range from the Shakespeare North Playhouse and Prescot’s eateries to Knowsley Culture and Leisure Park and Knowsley Safari Park, making it easy to build a full day out.

A FINAL INVITATION

For Shelley, the message is simple. “Come and create your own memories of Stadt Moers. Whether you are visiting for a walk, a run, time with family or a moment of peace, this park has something for everyone.”

With its mix of nature, heritage and community spirit, Stadt Moers Park is one of Liverpool City Region’s true hidden gems, ready to welcome new visitors all year round.

For more information on Stadt Moers Park, click HERE, or contact the parks’ team at ess.enquiries@knowsley.gov.uk