My next site, approaching John Lennon Airport, a large corner plot contained by Speke Boulevard, Speke Hall Avenue, the gardens of the house on the edge of Speke estate (L24), an airport hotel nearing completion, and the top edge of Speke Hall Recreation Ground.
What a great site – my first to be evaluated as a ‘Red’ – fully accessible – no fencing or “KEEP OUT” signs, just a linear mound around the circumference.
The site had a tell tale sign of being a well used by people; a desire line running through it – perhaps people getting off at the nearby bus stops and taking a short cut home, or a short cut to the recreation ground. At the far edge, near the estate houses, I could see young men cycling across the site. Although I could physically get onto the site I opted to skirt around the perimeter, staying close to the road. The light was changing and I felt vulnerable. I was happy to see the site was used, but I didn’t want to put myself into a position that could result in a situation.
I really want to examine this site in greater detail; left unmanaged - like all the Brownfield sites - it contains plants that have not been selected by people. Un-judged by conservationists, landscape designers, gardeners, and the like, it has escaped from ‘weeding’ and ‘selection’ processes, resulting in an eclectic collection of plants: native, non-native, cultivated, and wild flora.