Does anyone know whether the public were allowed access to Hilbre during the War? It was a decoy site to kid bombers into confusing the Dee with the Mersey & lure them away from bombing the B'head & L'pool docks. This suggests that civilians would have been kept away, but I clearly remember walking there with my parents a couple of times & I'm pretty sure it was pre-1946. As the last Merseyside bombing was about January 1942, it's possible that restrictions might have been eased later in the War - which would fit in with my recollections. Anyone know?

I presume the decoy site was shut down before 1945 when it became a nature reserve.

Most decoy sites closed by 1944, the official disposal instructions were sent in October 1944 but closure will have happened long before that for most sites, especially on the Western side of the country.

I'll keep my eye for specific Hibre dates, I most probably have the information but it is somewhat disorganised.

Off Wiki, MDHC sold the island to Hoylake Council in 1945 for £2,500.

Google Dom Woods Hilbre Island or contact Friends of Hilbre