A 20 min drive from our house brings you to Southport Botanical Gardens, providing you turn left or right at the correct places of course

This is an old place, a nice short walk around it takes only 30 mins even when dawdling. There are several water stretches with coots, moor hens, various ducks and a few swans. All your common usual UK garden birds, grey squirrels and if you are very lucky just before closing time at dusk you may spot a hedgehog. There are 4 or 5 aviaries holding various parrot species and other 'ornamental birds' (sorry, I'm rubbish with birds). I have also seen golden pheasants pairs here too. I get the impression unwanted pets end up here quite often....
For those who like plants there is a Victorian fern house and many pleasant gardens.
This place is a popular jaunt for us in winter to walk the dog a the weekend when the local farm paths are muddy. On site there is also a café and a shop selling plants that you can see around the gardens.