A BUTTERFLY park threatened with closure, after its owners ordered wildlife specialists to leave, has been given a temporary reprieve.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust (CWT), which operates New Ferry Butterfly Park, was told it must close after its owners said they were not renewing the lease.

CWT took the case to court fearing they would be forced off the park and it could then be damaged.

Last month, Wirral Council approved plans to go forward with a Compulsory Purchase Order for the New Ferry Butterfly Park – but this has yet to be completed.

A hearing at Birkenhead County Court yesterday was told that the park is owned by a company called Frithmere, and local company Brock has been acting as agents for it.

After the hearing, Brock agreed to give an undertaking not to enter the park without getting the permission of CWT.

Following the brief hearing, Dr Janel Fone, Chief Executive of CWT, said Brock had been “an excellent supporter of Cheshire Wildlife Trust over the years” and it was “a shame” the dispute had ended up in court.

She said: “What is important is to secure the long-term future of the Butterfly Park, and I think today has helped us ensure the short-term future – which gives us space to work towards the longer term.

“We really did not want it to come to this. We have been trying to have discussions with Brock and get an undertaking from them and to work with them on the future of the park. It’s a shame it has come to this.”

A representative of Brock and Frithmere said he had no comment to make following the court hearing.