The Friends of Maghull and District (FOMD) were joined by local volunteers, who braved the torrential rain on Monday to lift 184m of perimeter turf at Bobby’s Wood at Woodend (near the junction of Liverpool Road South and Northway), to prepare for the installation of a knee high wooden rail to protect the future mixed wildlife friendly hedging. The amazing local volunteers comprised of James, David, Mathew (pictured) who rolled the turf and wheelbarrowed it all to the rear border, laid it upside down to create a loam and a weed suppressant. They also edged and tidied the whole perimeter. The perimeter wooden rail with three entrance points is to protect the young mixed wildlife friendly hedging (donated by the Tree Council UK and AEYates Construction), that will in turn engulf the rail, to enable children and pets to play safely away from the busy traffic junction. The Tree Council will commission a Professor in ecology to provide further evidence to demonstrate that hedging can reduce vehicle pollution by 60%.
We would like to convey our immense gratitude to (1) Nationwide Fencing for the discounted materials, free hire of the turf lifter machine, the three days hard work by Sean and ‘Ron’ (pictured), (2) John Sisk & Sons (£1600 fence materials) and Kier Construction (£2076 for fence installation). In addition, we would also like to express our enormous thanks to Maghull Town Council (MTC) in particular Alex Spencer (MTC Amenities Manager) and his maintenance team who spent a week in February in mortal combat with the rear border weeds and brambles, supplied and fitted two MTC cheerful two yellow litter bins, re-sited the road sign, paid for the discounted information poster from ADM Signs and the promise of two recycled park benches. This small team provide a really quiet and unacknowledged quality service to keep Maghull’s unrivalled number (compared to other English parish council’s) of 14 parks and 19 open spaces to such a high standard. This environmental crowdfunding project has been shaped positively by the whole community, through a survey that was open to the whole community and also involved knocking on the 600 of the nearest houses. The results and further information are available at http://www.maghull-tc.gov.uk/news, contact at woodendcwp@gmail, and your welcome donations at www.spacehive.com/woodend or cash donations at Morrisons, Dover Road – Post Office, The Chippy, and Blue Star.
We need only £554 to reach our funding target (£23,588) by the end of October, please help. Phil Dillon, MTC Community Services Manager said: “That an unexpected bonus from the survey was that nearly 30 people volunteered to form a Friends of Bobby’s Wood Group, something MTC is hoping to eventually develop across many of our 14 parks and 19 open spaces. If you are interested please contact me on 010515263705”. Dr Frank Sharp said: That our project vision is to reinvigorate the historic woodland entrance to Maghull, with a welcoming, accessible, iconic and engaging wildlife friendly space, focusing on enhancing the environment, history, community, and legacy.
The money we have raised so far will provide (1) safety with a perimeter knee high wooden rail and mixed wildlife friendly hedging, (2) accessibility with the creation of a beautiful Cotswold path often seen in stately gardens, and (3) future proofing the old trees with community tree planting supported by Mersey Forest. Should we be fortunate to over fund the first £3000 will support RHS mentored border planting by local children, with other proposals being considered”.
Finally, on behalf of everyone we would like to send a huge thank you to the continued hard work by Christine Lock’s Sunday volunteers, and the other inspirational volunteers who create so much beauty at Maghull Train Station, both highlighted in the following links this week:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/154530851941643/permalink/732427090818680 https://www.facebook.com/groups/154530851941643/p