Community Contracting Initiative
The Mersey Forest Partnership are working with people right now on a special project called the Community Contracting Initiative. It aims to:
- Support existing community groups who are already helping to manage woodlands (by providing officer support, training and grants for woodland improvement).
- Identify woodlands that would benefit from the involvement of local people.
- Encourage the setting up of a number of new community groups to help manage woodlands in the Forest.
- To manage woodlands sustainably with community, wildlife and economic benefits.
The benefits of people caring for their local woodland can be huge:
- Improvement in the local scenery and the local image of the area
- Improvements for wildlife
- Working together and bringing back a sense of 'community' spirit
- Potential for production of timber products e.g. charcoal for local people
- Increasing local people's skills in woodland activities, leading to employment
- Possible increase in house prices
- Reduction in vandalism and fly tipping in the woodlands
There are many woodlands in the Forest that need help from local people.
- Find out about groups near you and get involved.
- Let us know of woodlands near you which need improving.
- Find out what grants are available to improve woodlands near you.
Contact Helen Collins or Jo Sayers at The Mersey Forest Offices on 01925 816217 for more details.
To catch up with the CCI groups across the Forest, visit their blogs:
Friends of Anderton and MarburyFriends of Griffin WoodCommunity involvement at BrickfieldsFriends of Mill Wood and Alder WoodFriends of Woolton WoodsFriends of Owley Woodscontact: Helen Collins