A Southport campaigner has issued an appeal to his local authority, urging them to restore and reinstate Round Hill, located at Birkdale Common.

Local green space, Birkdale Common, is open to the public and frequented by people of all ages, especially runners, dog walkers, and families.

The land has long been a community mainstay, and is one of the town's
oldest unaltered pieces of greenbelt. It has seen dual and plentiful economic usage, particularly for international golf competitions.

David Barton raised the matter in 2017 when he liaised with Sefton Council. Alongside this, he also participated in a formal session at the Southport Area Committee, and has been pursuing the matter ever since.

Mr Barton said: "Birkdale Common has a characteristic 'Round Hill' that has
adorned this great expanse of greenspace for many years, dating back to the town's
early beginnings.

"My youngest sister used to ride her bike and go running here with her friends, and can vouch for this being a popular locale for the younger generation."
The community campaigner believes that reconstructing the green feature via specialised landscaping will have benefits for everyone, as the UK Government has encouraged more outdoor sporting activity and recreation.

Mr Barton said: "I am now hopeful that, with advanced funding grants becoming available and the likely trend of there being more outdoor exercise encouraged, this proposal may yet manifest into reality.

"When I raised the matter with Sefton Council, I was informed that the grounds would be duly rectified by the 'Royal & Ancient' management group that had operated the previous Golf Open at the Royal Birkdale Golf Course in 2017."
Mr Barton was told that contractors would attend to the site and rectify holes and left-over debris. Due to protocol agreements, areas would not be reseeded, and nature would be left to take its course.


This has since been complied with and actioned. He says that if the Mount is reinstated, it would be welcomed by many that visit this part of Southport and West Birkdale.

Mr Barton said: "With increasing use of outdoor spaces by people, especially during intermittent lockdowns, for sport and recreation, it would be a worthwhile feat investing in preserving this outstanding natural terrain.

"By protecting the natural environment against natural and outside factors, such as changing seasonal weather, commercial, and festival-style activity, it will also generate the greatest possible long-term impact for the youth of tomorrow."
Mr Barton has recommended that the Southport, Merseyside local authority considers further action to complement the Round Hill, also known as 'Mount Birkdale'.

Mr Barton said: "As part of a collective long-term drive to encourage more people to spend time outdoors, even if just for some brisk exercise, this will have advantages, including earning more respect with awarding grant bodies.

"As always, everyone should abide by the present government guidelines and keep these borne in mind."

What it needs is a community work team from a local prison to come.
After all vulnerable older people are told to leave.

Originally Posted by local

What it needs is a community work team from a local prison to come.
After all vulnerable older people are told to leave.

Genius idea. The locals will love this proposition.

Shame about that hill, there's now so little of it left.....Sad really, it used to be the 'go-to' sledging location whenever it snowed.

Was it really any bigger or did it just seem bigger as kids because you were smaller?

Originally Posted by salus.populi

Was it really any bigger or did it just seem bigger as kids because you were smaller?

Wagon Wheel syndrome!

Originally Posted by donkey22

Genius idea. The locals will love this proposition.

To be fair, I think Local was suggesting, lounge in cheek, how the esteemed David Barton's father could be brought out of prison, chain gang style, but to keep his favourite victims out of the way.

Originally Posted by gazaprop

Wagon Wheel syndrome!

Wagon wheels are the new comer to this sort of debate, creme eggs however.....

Originally Posted by salus.populi

Was it really any bigger or did it just seem bigger as kids because you were smaller?

Yes, it really was bigger, hill-shaped and was originally rounded over at the top. By comparison, nowadays it more resembles a bomb-crater than a hill.

Originally Posted by The PNP

Yes, it really was bigger, hill-shaped and was originally rounded over at the top. By comparison, nowadays it more resembles a bomb-crater than a hill.

Hill shaped? Hills are all different shapes and sizes.
Any photos of it in its prime?

According to the Daily Mirror the wagon wheel did shrink.

The hill has probably just eroded it is windy there.

I'm sure our local activist could find plenty of the unicorn funding he lived off to put the common back to its former glory perhaps as a token of reparation to the town and its people.

Clearly a high priority at this time. And it gives him something to do.