Nature is under threat in Maghull.
As you will know every green space in Maghull appears to be a target for building, increasing our population between 25 and 40%, and the apparent absence of green reparation.
In recent years, sadly through risk assessed necessity, we have lost approximately 300 mature trees in our local parks, and only last year an ongoing programme to fell a further 58 mature trees on Northway and Gainsborough Avenue is taking place due to a second wave of Dutch Elm disease. Currently, 90% of all Ash Trees in the UK will die due to a tsunami of Ash dieback, even more worrying because the Ash is the second most populous tree in the country. At a time when our country is one of the most deforested in Europe.
Climate change is impacting the normal seasons, with many trees blossoming in winter, two consecutive years of drought in April and May, weakening the trees resources and making them further susceptible to disease.
Seemingly No strategy! Locally, it is difficult to see any evidence of the government’s green recovery plan. Similarly, Sefton Council, have like many other areas, declared a climate emergency two years ago, which locally there seems no evidence of action, perhaps hampered by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
Well-being. Look after nature and nature will look after you is a well-known phrase and backed up with overwhelming evidence. Yet surprisingly Maghull is still considered below the national average for accessibility to green spaces, despite having 14 parks and 19 open spaces1. Whilst residents often ask, ‘why can’t have larger trees and more interesting and biodiverse green landscaping features in our parks like they do in Liverpool, as our parks look so tidy but bland’.
Yet it is well known, how trees can be beneficial in reversing climate change, improving biodiversity, reducing pollution, enhancing wellness and much more.
What are we doing to help (1)?
The Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD) galvanised the community to plant 15,000 trees in the last two years, receiving considerable praise and prestigious accolades.
However, many of these young trees are for our children’s children benefit. Consequently, we have also negotiated long and hard with Mersey and Northern Forest to obtain £50,000 worth of larger trees to benefit our immediate generation for free. Unbelievably, 60 of these trees have been planted but 52 have not been planted and without two local authority’s cooperation with Northern Forest it seems likely that over £20,000 worth of tree grant money will be returned to Defra representing a first in Northern Forest’s grant providing history. Thus, reducing goodwill and perceptions of Maghull’s ability to deliver on future signed and agreed contracts when applying for future grants.
(1) For the full story and how you can help visit online at www.fomd.co.uk
The late Queens Platinum Jubilee Art installation (Entitled ‘Tree of Trees’) at Buckingham Palace, comprising of 350 native trees, from which the Friends of Maghull and District (FOMD) was presented with one, when it was being decommissioned, as a tribute to the 15,000 trees planted by our community.
Ben Greenway (R) is pictured with Frank (FOMD) following the Royal tree planting ceremony in November 2022. Ben is a senior project officer for Mersey Forest and has been absolutely invaluable as every stage of our huge planting schedule.
The Royal tree planting ceremony in November 2022, at Woodend. Showing the following: Merseyside lieutenancy, FOMD volunteers, Hudson and St George’s primary schools and the mayor of Maghull.