NATURE lovers are being offered the chance to explore Halton’s wildlife.

A special riverside walk has been arranged by the Mersey Gateway project.

Jack Swan, one of Cheshire's leading botanists, and Jeff Clarke, an expert in local nature and ecology, will lead the 'Meadow Meander' on Sunday, June 14.

Wildlife enthusiasts will be taken on a nature trail across Wigg Island, where they will discover how to identify the numerous meadow flowers on the site.

There will also be a tree test trail challenge for children and young people.

Victoria Pollard, Merseylink's environmental manager, said: "The Mersey estuary is a rich and diverse environment and this series of nature events has been organised so we can share our knowledge of this important ecological area.

“The Meadow Meander walk presents a great opportunity for people to learn more about their local natural environment."

All of the species spotted will be logged and the data will be shared with Record, the biological records centre serving Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and the Wirral.

Hugh O'Connor, general manager of Merseylink, said: "The Mersey Gateway project is creating all sorts of exciting opportunities to improve the local environment for the future.

“We're working hard to make sure we protect and preserve important habitats like those on Wigg Island.

“A long-term plan is being developed in conjunction with the Environmental Trust to landscape right across the site and regenerate the important saltmarsh ecosystem."

This is the first in a series of three guided nature events organised by construction consortium Merseylink with support from the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust, the charity set up to conserve, protect and improve the environment across the Upper Mersey Estuary.

Two further nature events, 'Hawks and Hawkers' and 'Beetlemania', will take place during the summer.

The Meadow Meander walk takes place on Sunday, June 14, 2015 from Wigg Island visitor centre in Runcorn.

The walk starts at 10am and will run until 12noon. It will be repeated from 2pm to 4pm.

Thirty places are available on each walk.

Tickets are £2 for adults and free for children under 16.

All profits from the ticket sales will be donated to local environmental charities.

To book, call Merseylink on 0333 200 1164.