The eroded green belt entrance from Switch Island into Maghull with over 20,000 daily cars, has needed improvement for many years. Consequently, the Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD) with limited time due to other projects, have been negotiating some improvements over the last three years with other stakeholders.

1.A59 Entrance Trees

We are delighted to announce that last week National Highways after three years of exchanges with ourselves and another passionate voluntary group – Sefton Climate Action, we have received news that following the completion of a myriad of protocols, they will plant approximately 300 trees (including some evergreens to provide winter interest) in the northbound large central reservation which for short times of the year has a fantastic display of either daffodils or foxgloves. It is dependent upon the contractor’s workload but they are hopeful of undertaking the planting of the trees this planting season (October to March), with a five year maintenance and replacement schedule. In addition, nationally they often provide further initiatives beyond the immediate areas of their responsibility, so we are hopeful that other identified local initiatives could benefit from their generosity.

2. Aldi Trees and Shrubs.

During the planning stages we liaised with a variety of teams from Aldi to obtain assurances that they would provide hundreds of trees in the form of copses and standard trees to line the A59 near their store, again including some evergreen trees for winter interest. Some of the substantial evergreens did not survive this year’s drought and will be replaced and a schedule of maintenance will be instigated. Our hope was to compensate for the loss of several mature trees, reduce car and light pollution for the neighbouring houses, as well as providing an attractive entrance over time.

3. Our Three-Year Crowd Funded Woodend Community Woodland Project,

has as planned started reaching its conclusion, with a handful of outstanding green features to complete.

4. A59 Verges.

Sefton Highways have been contacted regarding some of the unkempt A59 verges and the perennial flooding problems.

5. Potential Wetland Area and Woodland.

Over three years we have identified that the field behind Aldi would provide a solution to most of Maghull’s flooding problems and supported by expert agencies. Productive conversations have been undertaken with Mersey Rivers, Mersey Forest, Sefton Flood Officers, and other stakeholders but the landowner continues to be reluctant to sell despite some signs of optimism at times.

6. Access to Connect Green Spaces.

We are currently in contact with Liverpool City Region, National Highways, Sustrans to explore the provision of public/disabled access to the two desire lines ascending the Cheshire lines embankment and the re-establishment of the path over the River Alt onwards to connect Jubilee Wood, Roughley Wood, Lunt Meadows and onwards to Sustrans restoration of the Cheshire lines in the West Lancashire area.