Balls Wood is the hidden gem of Maghull for those who love parks and the great outdoors in general…read more You could walk right by this park and not notice it--in fact I did at first. Through this camouflaged archway lies a hidden little patch of green. If you long for green and trees and fresh air as much as I do, this is a great place to walk, sit, breath, and drink in the natural world around you. I was taken aback, actually, because it reminded me a little bit of the fields across the road from my grandparents' old stone house back in the USA. As you walk through the arch you have trees on both sides of the mown grass, and you have to walk quite a ways before you come to the open clearing. Apparently this patch of land is home to a bit of wildlife as well so if you're lucky and you time it right, you might spot some cunning and adorable critters.

I love this park; it's so small, yet so dense and so remarkably quiet: it's beautiful. I have…read morealways liked it; there is something calming about wandering its secluded paths: a real sense of security. While it is always clean and tidy, the rusting Narnian fountain and aging monuments give a sense of abandonment which is only heightened by the lack of people. Far from a criticism, I think this only adds to the character of the place. Marvel at the huge horse chestnut trees and gather some of their offerings, walk beneath the overhanging ivy-covered branches, or just sit.

This is a really nice, big park in Maghull. There's plenty of space for walking, wandering, and…read morepicnicking. Apparently hard ball games are not allowed though. It would make a nice place to take a picnic on a warm day.

McGoldrick Park is located near Huyton Town Centre in a pleasant residential area. The park…read moreconsists of a playground, bowling green, tennis courts, basketball posts and attractive flower beds. There are many mature trees throughout the park and even fruit trees along one of the main paths. The park is split into two halves by Rydal Road, each with its own distinctive feel. Unfortunately that is where the nicety ends as it was the scene of the horrific murder of Anthony Walker an innocent young man who was killed it is believed because of the colour of his skin- We should all be ashamed that this can happen in this country and it goes to prove why any show of bigotry or hatred because of ethnic origin, colour or whatever the personal circumstances of a person should never be given a public forum. I would ask the Qype Community to support this and to also stop petty little comments without a basis or with no regard to the history of another community member. I give 5 stars to this park in memory of Anthony and as a mark of respect for the loss of such a nice young man. R.I.P.

Crosby's coastline is an awe-inspiring exhibition of public art consisting of 100 cast-iron,…read morelife-size figures spread out along the entire beach. These works of art are designed by Antony Gormley and known as 'Another Place'. All of these nude iron male figures can be seen rising out of the sand, staring at the horizon in silent expectation! This indeed makes the shoreline a weird attraction and now a popular place for tourists to stroll. The Coastal Park is also popular for bird watching especially during spring and autumn migration. Apart from that, there isn't alot to do along the promenade otherwise if you're looking for a gentle walk and to capture a bit of scenery, Crosby is a peaceful getaway.

Spent an afternoon here in the summer the day before we flew out on holiday from John Lennon…read moreAirport. I love Anthony Gormley and the sculptures were just a treat to see for ourselves. The way they change with the coastline as the tide goes in and out is just inspirational. It's not the Angel of the North (his most striking work) but it is nonetheless fascinating on a smaller scale. The park itself has lots for families and dog owners to do.

This is a lovely park, and one that I certainly had no idea was here until I stumbled upon it…read morewhilst walking in to Kirkby town centre. It's a good piece of green with a paved walking/biking trail, and a fair bit of wild brush, trees, and general natural growth still flourishing around the edges. It would make a nice place for a quiet picnic or to sit and read a book on a mild summer day.

Okay, so as much as we like to see squirrels darting about, we need to know the truth. Grey…read moresquirrels are evil. Red squirrels are nice. Now, I for one am as anthropomorphic as you can get - well, maybe not so much as some people (http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/05/04/german-man-marries-his-dying-cat-cecilia/) but I do love nature's creatures (selectively... let's not go mad and include large house spiders and divebombing city pigeons in this list) and when I lived opposite Sainsbury's in Salford, I saved a grey squirrel whose back legs had become paralysed, from a harsh 'piteously indifferent' (as my zoologist father says of nature) slow death in the wild by taking him to an RSPCC hospital. He was put to sleep, but as I said the vet assured me I'd done the right thing by bringing him in as Salford's streets wouldn't have been kind to a lame squirrel. He was grey. I knew then that they're evil, but they all deserve the same treatment. They can't help their politics. They were brought over here, so it's our stupid fault for messing with their ecology. Greys colonise, they plunder and pillage. Thus our beautiful little fluffy ginger friend, the red, native to this country, has largely depleted since we introduced these naughty, neo-fascistic greys. Thank frick then for Formby's National Trust. Among the beautiful, peaceful sand dunes of Formby on the Sefton coast, north of Liverpool, you'll find a gorgeous sunlight-dappled forest full of picnic benches and walking paths. This is a reserve for red squirrels. They're safe here, well protected, and unlike in the wild, you can actually get a view of them here. But you can get much, much more than that. These animals have been living here so long, and have become so used to humans, that they are almost tame. It's not unusual for them to come right up to you and even take a peanut from the palm of your hand with their tiny little paws. Now, you have to understand how incredible that is. Rare and endangered animals are usually skittish and antisocial, but these little reds are just the opposite. I urge you to go. My father's been bringing me here for years and I've always enjoyed it, the novelty of socialising with a red squirrel doesn't wear off. As well as the little fellas, you can explore Formby's spectacular dunes and the picturesque beach which offers water so clear and pretty, I've even bathed in it as a child. Now where else could you get all that?

Squirrels rock - red squirrels rock even more! It would just be helpful if on the last 2 visits…read morehere I saw more than 1 (i.e we didn't see a single one on this occasion!) - in fact the 'squirrel walk' would be better labelled 'no squirrel walk' - but hey I understand it's difficult to coax these little guys out - but if it worked for the T-rex in Jurassic park then I'm sure they could get something like a giant nut that could be wheeled out when visitors are in town! As well as lovely woods, there's Formby beach which you get access to from here - lovely sand dunes, lovely views and lovely vibes. You need to be a National trust member to get access to all this (or pay on the day) and it gets super busy - we were lucky and got here about 11am but when we left at 230pm you're talking queues down the road for miles just to get in - so get there early!