St.Helens golf course blooms

A St. Helens golf club has transformed its grounds after receiving funding to make environmental improvements.

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Grange Park Golf Club, who are the hosts of this year's Lancashire Amateur Championships between 23-25 May, have used the money to plant 32 large trees around the course, including cherry trees and rowan trees that can be seen from the Red Rocks public footpath on the course.

The grant has also helped them thin over 3 hectares of existing woodland in order to ensure its future health. They have also planted new hedging around the boundary of the site with the help of students from neighbouring Carmel College.

The work has been funded by a grant from the St.Helens Landscape Fund, managed by The Mersey Forest on behalf of St.Helens Borough Council. The St.Helens Landscape Fund is provided by United Utilities, and is a scheme to invest in communities affected by the construction of the West East Link pipeline, which carries water between Prescot and Bury. Additional funding for the work came from the Forestry Commission's Woodland Grant Scheme, plus a contribution from the golf course.

Jamie Cuthbert, Head Greenkeeper of Grange Park Golf Club, and Margaret Edwards, member and Ecology advisor, stated that the grant has not only helped to get the course looking great ahead of the Lancashire Amateur Championship, but has also funded vital works to ensure the future health of the woodlands and boost biodiversity on the course.

Brian Tollitt from United Utilities said "We are delighted that we could help assist in the further enhancement of this golf course.

"This work, in addition to the project we funded at neighbouring Carmel College, is ensuring that the benefits of this scheme can truly be seen in this area."