RSPB Give Marshes 'Real' Names
The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) have renamed two of the marshes which help to make up the Marshside Nature Reserve.
Having spoken with local people (and obviously doing their historical research) they have come up with the names Rimmer's Marsh and Sutton's Marsh Rimmer' Marsh is the piece of land which lies between Hesketh Road and Marshside Road; Sutton's Marsh is the other (northern) side of Marshside Road.
Rimmers have grazed cattle on these marshlands for many years and Gladys Armstrong, Chairman of the Rimmer Family History Society told the RSPB "My great-uncle Seth Rimmer, who was born in 1884, was involved in grazing Rimmer's Marsh at the end of the 1800's; the Rimmer name has its stronghold here in North Meols and I am delighted that the RSPB has recognised this and that local connections have been retained"
Tom Sutton, the current tenant farmer of Sutton's Marsh said "My family originated in Marshside and we've been grazing these marshes for at least four generations. It's great that the RSPB have gone back to calling the marshes what local folk have called them for years".
The RSPB will use the new marsh names on official maps and reserve trail guides.
The hides of Marshside are well worth a visit, even if you're not a keen ornithologist - come and visit Rimmer's Marsh.