Restoration of Knowsley's community woodlands continues

During autumn and winter 2010/11, Knowsley Council has continued to implement a transformation in the 44 community woodland sites (over 200 hectares) that it manages for the Knowsley community.

With support from The Mersey Forest, woodland management plans have been created for all sites, which helped to target investment in the restoration and development of many of these public open spaces.

Knowsley's woodland management programme has now completed its second year and 31 of the woodland sites have benefited from restoration works including woodland thinning, coppicing, invasive species removal (Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, Rhododendron and Bracken), tree planting and 'beating-up' works, woodland cleansing and improvements to entrances and pathways to aid public access.

This extensive programme of restoration has only been possible with the support of funding bodies including Forestry Commission, Big Lottery Fund 'Awards for All' and 'Community Spaces' and Section 106 developer contributions. A range of partners have also supported this programme including friends groups, parish and town councils, schools and residents' associations. Specialist partners including Groundwork Merseyside, BTCV and other specialist training providers have also supported delivery of restoration works on sites through volunteering and training initiatives that they have delivered utilising Knowsley's community woodland sites.

Halewood Town Council and Knowsley Parish Council were each successful in securing £10,000 from 'Awards for All' for woodland restoration works at New Hutte Woods and The Sanctuary Community Woodland respectively. A £20,000 investment has now put Finch Woods back on the map in Halewood and is allowing Highfield Special School to utilise it as a 'Forest School' outdoor classroom. Halewood Park is benefiting from a £50,000 grant from the 'Community Spaces' fund secured by the Halewood Park Volunteers. Myerscough College and Millhouse Training have transformed areas of Acornfield Plantation and The Sanctuary Community Woodland through delivery of their Arboriculture Training Courses.

Further community woodland sites will be benefiting from investment totalling over £500,000 in 2011/12, which should see a further transformation of many of these valuable public assets for the benefit of the Knowsley community and local wildlife alike.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Philip Hurst, Green Space Development Officer, on 0151 443 2482 or at philip.hurst@knowsley.gov.uk.