Travel at Home - Calderstones Park, Liverpool

Park-Life

Calderstones park is a bit of a hidden gem in regards to tourists, as few people from outside the city end up visiting here. If they do venture outside of the city center and the 'Beatles' hype of Mathew st and the docks, they will usually end up visiting the larger Sefton park which is famous for the bandstand believed to have inspired The Beatles, Sgnt Peppers' album 👉

However, Liverpool has loads of parks and green spaces, in fact it is the second 'greenest' city in the UK. The city of Liverpool has 32 green spaces, more than any other English city apart from London and there are over 2,500 acres of parks/open spaces in the city. Calderstones Park offers a quieter vibe than Sefton, along with some interesting and unique history.

The origins of the name Calderstones goes far back into the mists of pre-history and the Stone Age. The park is named after a set of six megaliths which would have originally been part of a burial mound or passage grave ¹. These neolithic tombs consist of a narrow passageway made of stone leading to one or more burial chambers enclosed in more stone. A circular earthen mound would then have been built up over the chamber(s) giving them a hillock-like appearance.

The nearest such surviving tombs to the Calderstones are Barclodiad y Gawres (“The Giantess’s Apronful”), and Bryn Celli Ddu (“The Mound in the Dark Grove”) 100 miles (160 km) to the West on the isle of Anglesey ². The stones are covered in spirals and cup and ring marks, which are a form of rock-art found chiefly in Europe, although similar markings have been discovered elsewhere including Mexico, Brazil, Greece, and India. No one knows the purpose of these spiral symbols, but scholars have theorized that they could be linked to the concept of Anima locus, literally linking the spirits of the dead to the landscape. This belief in supernatural spirits of nature as residing in stones, springs, mountains, islands, trees, etc, could have been expressed through these markings, as a kind of neolithic eulogy to the ancestors.

The Allerton oak, also known as 'The Law Oak' is most probably even older than a thousand years. Local legend tells of trials being held beneath its spreading boughs before the district of Allerton had a court house. Of course this could all be folk law, a story built up through word of mouth throughout the centuries, but it is worth mentioning that the district of Allerton was mentioned in the Domesday Book - the register of land made for King William I in 1086 ³. Whatever the case may be, this Oak has is an amazing testament to the the spirit of life. The tree is alive and kicking, despite a large split down its trunk, most probably the result of a lightening strike. Each year this 'old man of the forest' puts forth leaves; a catalyst for buds in the cycle of seed to bough.

The walled gardens in Calderstones Park are comprised of an original kitchen garden which once served the manor house and a Japanese garden that was created as part of an apprentice scheme in the 1970s ⁴. These spaces are a peaceful haven away from the main thoroughfares of the park. The walls create a micro-climate, allowing flowering shrubs bloom longer into the autumn and providing a sheltered habitat for wildlife. I saw squirrels and a multitude of birds including many inquisitive Robins.

The English garden descries a series of straight avenues, each lined with different sensory plants such lavender, herbs and flowering shrubs of all kinds. These avenues all lead to a central pool resplendent with water lilies.

The Japanese garden winds a path through shady groves of Japanese Maple, Cedar, Pine and Yoshino cherry. At its center there is an algae choked pool with stepping stones bridging each side of the garden. A small covered pine seating area sits to the east end of the gardens, a perfect spot for meditation and contemplation.

I must confess that this garden has a special place in my heart as I used to skip school to visit this park and particularly the Japanese garden. During my final years in secondary (High) school, I suffered at the hands of a group of bullies who wouldn't let-up, regardless of how much I fought back. This Japanese garden was my sanctuary, a place that I escaped to try and figure out how to deal with a world which seemed out to get me. I still find a huge amount of peace in this place. It brings only the feeling of peace without any of the painful realities of that time in my life. This seems strange to me but it is almost like the trees, or place, remembers and gifts me each time I return only with the good.

As you leave the walled gardens a formal garden provides a splash of vibrancy and color. There are many of these floral displays in other areas of the park but this one is the most elaborate.

The rest of Calderstones park is made up of rolling vistas, long Victorian style thoroughfares and an ornamental lake. All in all, I would recommend any visitor to Liverpool check it out along with Sefton park and the more usual attractions in the city center.