The community supported Friends of Maghull & District CIC (FOMD) received from Sefton Council, one of the ‘Citizens 4 Good Awards (13.10.22), amazingly after receiving a BBC ‘Make a Difference’ environmental winner award (30.9.22 see (1) ). On both occasions FOMD expressed that this award is for all the countless people in Maghull who have helped at every level to make a fantastic difference to our community.
Compared to the BBC awards, the Sefton Council, ‘Citizens 4 Good’ award ceremony, was a more informal but equally touching, with some lovely stories of good work in the Sefton community. We even had the opportunity before and afterwards to strike up some conversations and undertake some networking which was a nice bonus. Cllr June Burns, kindly nominated FOMD and the awards were presented by the Mayor of Sefton Cllr Claire Carragher.
FOMD are an extraordinary unsung small group of volunteers who have punched above their weight since their inception in 2019, to deliver countless environmental improvements, for the health, wellness, awareness, legacy of our grateful community. They have motivated and engaged every aspect of the community making the impossible possible through the some of the following projects:
Parkbourn project: galvanised the local community to transform an area with 20yrs of ASB & fly tipping into a tranquil garden oasis destination. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/parkbourn
Stafford Moreton Way: transformed a large unkempt area with the towns highest footfall, by crowdfunding £6500, to create an inspirational eco-educational area, utilising bulbs, wildflowers, wildlife friendly trees, hedging, noticeboard, and crowned with a life-sized galvanised mesh steel rhinoceros which is a receptacle for 100,000 plastic bottle tops which are upcycled into community art by local schools (highlighting endangered wildlife and plastic recycling). https://www.spacehive.com/stafford-moreton
Woodend Project: during the height of the pandemic restrictions, they unbelievably raised over £30,000 to transform a neglected underused green space. They created an ‘accessible’ 230m Cotswolds style path. A ‘safe’ 230m perimeter fence and wildlife friendly hedging. Created a new 50x4m border planted with countless plant donations. Planted trees, bulbs, benches, bins, noticeboard, rockery, children’s eco-education corner & more. https://www.spacehive.com/woodend
Tree Project
Over the last 18 months they have organised and planted an astounding 15,000 trees.
They have instigated research with a Prof of Ecology and other agencies to undertake research and develop strategies to reduce air pollution and flooding.
Attracted an unprecedented £45,000 green investment into Maghull’s 14 parks.
Currently they planning their largest project which requires a £60,000 transformation, and further planting of thousands of trees””.
More information can be found on:
Facebook by using the search term #fomdcic and our website at fomd@co.uk (still under construction).
Entertaining one hour summary of the BBC award night, which commences 3hrs into this 4hr programme: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0d02xc9…