About

Who we are

Rimrose Valley Friends began life as a community group in 2015, before becoming a registered charity in 2017. Our trustees and team of volunteers are embedded in the communities surrounding Rimrose Valley Country Park - we all live and work here! We have a shared passion for this amazing space, its stunning wildlife and its ability to connect communities and improve people's health and wellbeing.

What we do

We deliver a wide range projects, almost exclusively outdoors on Rimrose Valley.  We reconnect people to the great outdoors and everything it has to offer through FREE activities and events which benefit individuals and communities alike. Other projects enhance the parkland itself. We work with statutory bodies such as Sefton Council and Merseyside Police, fostering links, improving community cohesion and partnering with other interested groups and individuals from South Sefton, supporting each other's work.

Our team

We have a committed team of volunteers, made up of people from communities surrounding Rimrose Valley.  Our 'Rimrose Action Group' meets regularly, coming up with ideas, planning and delivering projects and forming new friendships. We'd love you to join us. Visit our Get Involved page for more info.

RAG-team-photo-scaled[1]

Our mission

To connect and strengthen the communities of Rimrose Valley

To improve the health & wellbeing of the people of the Rimrose Valley communities

To promote, protect and nurture Rimrose Valley and its wildlife for the good of the people and future generations

To foster ties between the people and the relevant statutory bodies

To further education and appreciation of the natural environment

About Rimrose Valley

Rimrose Valley Country Park is a unique and amazing piece of countryside in what is otherwise a heavily built-up part of South Sefton. It sits alongside a section of the historic Leeds-Liverpool canal among the surrounding communities. Almost 60,000 people live within 2km of the park.

Unlike more traditional Victorian parks, there are no grand entrances, flower beds or bandstands. Instead, there is open, wild and semi-wild land, which links communities, people and is home to countless species of plants and animals.

A place for...

nature

health & wellbeing

communities

Nature

86 different species of birds (and counting!) have been spotted from herons, kingfishers, barn and tawny owls, kestrels, buzzards and peregrine falcons! Other wildlife includes bats, water voles and even roe deer! Check out our galleries for examples of some of the wildlife you can expect to see on the park.

Health & wellbeing

Rimrose Valley is a magnet for old and young alike to get out in the fresh air and to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Families in particular use it as a place to come together. Whether it's walking, running, cycling or scooting, Rimrose is an active travel corridor linking communities from Netherton down to Seaforth and everywhere in between.

Communities

Rimrose Valley is a country park like no other, sitting in a densely populated area. It is a vital link between communities and is a route for children and adults to travel to school and places of work. People meet, play and gather in its open, green spaces - free of traffic, fumes and noise.

Communities

Rimrose Valley is a country park like no other, sitting in a densely populated area. It is a vital link between communities and is a route for children and adults to travel to school and places of work. People meet, play and gather in its open, green spaces - free of traffic, fumes and noise.

Everyone is welcome...

Whether you live locally, or you're coming from further afield, Rimrose Valley has something for everyone. There are wetlands, woodlands and grasslands to explore, wildflower meadows, wide open spaces, or a walk along the adjoining Leeds-Liverpool canal. All are teeming with wildlife. It is also home to a public running track which is free for everyone to use, 365 days a year, thanks to the incredible efforts of local running club, Marsh Lane Harriers.

The park's paths and trails are popular with cyclists, runners and ramblers alike. Bring a blanket and picnic in the fields or stop at the tables and benches. Kick a football, fly a kite, or simply sit back and enjoy everything nature has to offer.

Our interactive map shows you where the park is located and also contains various pieces of useful information including entrances, car parks and some of the more established paths along Rimrose and their typical terrain. Rimrose can be wet! Like much of the surrounding area, it has a high water table, so don't forget to bring suitable footwear especially if you visit in autumn and winter.

Disclaimer: The zones on the map do not mean that every area of the park is publicly accessible at every time of the year. Colour zones are based on maps supplied by the police and emergency services.

Getting here

Much of the work we do supports people from the immediate area, but we love spreading the word about our wonderful park and urge everyone to visit.

Finding Rimrose Valley for the first time can be a little tricky with many of its entrances tucked away at the end of streets and housing estates. Parking is also limited so putting a little thought into your trip will help make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

We're BIG fans of keeping things green, so if you're travelling from further afield, why not come on your bike, catch the train or take the bus and begin your adventure from the nearest entrance?

For people with mobility issues, we'll soon be updating the map with wheelchair-friendly entrances, so you can access and get around the park safely and enjoy your time.

Closest train stations:
Seaforth & Litherland
Waterloo

Bus Services:
The area is well served by buses. Use our map to choose the best route.