The Friends of Maghull and District’s first tree planting of the season (November/March) started over this weekend when we received 950 tree whips from The Conservation Volunteers at short notice and needed to be planted before Christmas, when most of our normal volunteers had obviously made plans leading up to Christmas. Consequently, at Pimbley Field on:

Saturday we planted two fifths (second-half in March) of the hedging in one row along the 156m bordering Fieldway. So far this mixed wildlife friendly hedge comprises of Hazel and Hawthorn, but in March will also include blackthorn, silver birch, common oak, courtesy of a free donation from the Woodland Trust. We are immensely grateful to Maurice and his wife Sue (who helped to plant Jubilee Ward 30 years ago) and later the incredibly public spirited Matthew for planting 244 trees.

Sunday we planted 30 m of hedging to fill the gaps in the current hedge on the Bridge Road side of Pimbley Field and have started using the 380 Grey Willow and Dog Rose to under plant and rewild a small part of the canal embankment. A huge thank you to Ken and his partner Dee and our fellow FOMD Trustee – Diane, for their amazing help at this busy time and not for the first time showing their Christmas spirit by giving their hard work and time for the benefit of our community.

Thank you also to all the local people who kindly stopped to give words of encouragement. We hope this wildlife friendly hedge will eventually become mature enough to have the ugly rusting chain link fencing removed. We have also set the hedge back further than its predecessor to prevent any damage to cars navigating this narrow road.

Last March (2021) we focused on the other two sides of the field to create two copses using 600 trees, along the canal embankment and screening the ugly galvanised steel fence bordering the railway line. Coincidentally, during the two mornings there were three football games with lots of family and friend supporters creating a great community atmosphere. Sadly on Saturday the Sefton boys’ team lost three nil to a team from Salford. Whilst on Sunday the men’s Coach and Horses Pub (Lydiate) team came back from one nil down to win 3-1 in a cup game against The Pines (presumably Formby).

If you are interested in helping with some hedge tree planting, we are receiving another free delivery from The Conservation Volunteers on the 11.1.22 and will be announcing a day during that week to plant 345 hedge trees along 150m perimeter at St George’s primary school and bordering Old Hall Lane. You can still see the huge straw bale Father Christmas, three log reindeer and the post box we helped to organise through the school’s perimeter fencing and definitely worth a look if you have young children or simply want to get into the Christmas vibe. You can register an interest for our local tree planting at woodendcwp@gmail.com

Full schedule: https://www.facebook.com/groups/154530851941643/search/?q=maghull%20early%20christmas%20present

Merry Christmas to one and all,

FOMD