Up until the 1950s the area was a salt marsh. It was grazed by cattle and was the wild life home of estuary plants and wading birds. From the 50s to the 80s a mountain of waste was tipped there. The areas recovery started when, between 1982 and 1986, the piles of waste were covered with a thick layer of clay.

Pickerings Pasture is now a nature reserve, with acres of meadows, wild flowers, woodlands, views across the River Mersey and an increasingly diverse wildlife. It is a tranquil and safe place to walk, to sit, to watch wildlife or to picnic. There is a bird hide, bird feeding stations and a Visitors Centre, along with ample free parking.