Time to slow down, reflect, and help nature consolidate.
Following last year’s busy fundraising to install the safe perimeter fencing & hedging and the accessible natural pathway, and many other features, last month it was lovely to be able to start thanking all those people and organisations that have been so helpful. Which is being achieved through: the official opening (26.5.21), recognition in the Liverpool Echo and Champion Newspaper, thank you placards and video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6dsg4oiMsw), prior to individual letters.
In terms of helping nature consolidate, the removal of 146t of soil to create the path was seamlessly landscaped into the rear of the wood, which in turn had several tonnes of debris removed, grass seeded and following the wet weather is looking really healthy.
The huge rear border which is now this year’s focus in terms of crowdfunding and over 200 woodland themed plant donations, has been evolving through the seasons and has lost the spring colour of the snowdrops, bluebells, azaleas and rhododendrons, cherry and crab apple blossom, being replaced by lush green leafy plants eg. various evergreens, ferns and some ground elder, nettles, cow parsley.
Our current crowdfunding to replenish the border planting has gradually risen to £700 of our £3-5000 October target to buy woodland themed shrubs, bulbs and wildflowers, at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/woodend.
Recent Additions and Thanks.
Recently we are very grateful to Michelle and Liam (Lydiate) for donating four shrubs and approximately 20 sandstone rocks from a clear out of the front garden, which could have amounted to several hundred pounds. We would also like to convey our thanks to the local community who have provided a bird bath & table, and a bird box with a cabled camera inside (Kevin from Old Roan), that we have situated in the border with a line of sight for the Bumbles nursery children to view and started them off with several bags of bird food.
Recent engagement, it is lovely to see how many new people are using the woodland path, ranging from families with picnics, exercise, meeting for a chat, and simply relaxing and taking it all in.
This month, we are continuing with promoting the fundraising, undertaking promotional work with one of our donors (Sefton Transition Fund), some weeding, regular watering of the evergreen trees and late rhododendrons, starting to create some log seating, a nature path, a bug hotel, and hopefully announce some substantial support for other initiatives.
Pictured: bird box with a cabled camera inside, donated with our grateful thanks by Kevin, a frequent visitor from Old Roan.