OUTGOING Wirral South MP Ben Chapman will present a petition against the closure of New Ferry’s Butterfly Park to Parliament tomorrow.

The move by the local MP is an attempt to stop the park from closing, after landowners Brock PLC told the Butterfly Park Committee they must vacate the land by the end of the month.

The presentation of the petition will take place just days before Wirral Council’s cabinet meeting on Thursday at which a decision on a compulsory purchase order is expected to be made.

The petition, which has recently been available in the MP's constituency office, requests that the House of Commons "urges the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to encourage Wirral Council and others to do all they can to secure the retention of the Butterfly Park".

Mr Chapman said: "I hope that this gesture in the House will go some way to encourage those that have the power to save the park, to do so.

"I have expressed my view on the importance of safeguarding this urban nature reserve countless times.

"Many of my constituents, as well as wildlife enthusiasts more widely, have written to voice their support.

"Lord Harrison, who once represented Wirral in the European Parliament, also wrote to express his concern for the future of this invaluable asset."

He added: "I have informed the chief executive of the council of all these representations.

"The council is thus fully aware of the amount of support this campaign has attracted, and will, I am sure, consider all possible measures to secure the park’s future."

Hilary Ash, honorary conservation officer for Wirral Wildlife, added: "We have been amazed and touched by the support from all sides of the community for our campaign to save New Ferry Butterfly Park from closure.

"We are especially grateful to Mr Chapman, a long-term supporter of the park, for taking this to national level.

"Hopefully it may also benefit any other nature reserves that find themselves under threat from private interests."