May 2013 Knowsley update



The Mersey Forest
Knowsley update / May 2013 What is The Mersey Forest?
Knowsley woods shortlisted for awards

As part of the Royal Forestry Society awards, two of Knowsley's local community woodlands, Northwood Forest Hills in Kirkby and Little Wood in Stockbridge Village, have been shortlisted for prestigious awards.

 

Northwood Forest Hills has been nominated under the Urban Forestry Award, which takes a neighbourhood-scale view, recognising the transformation of the Forest Hills site over the past three years from a little-used piece of land into a valued community resource. The Mersey Forest's Green Streets programme, which has planted 200 street trees to brighten the surrounding neighbourhood, also forms part of this award nomination.

Little Wood has been shortlisted for the Society's Community Woodland Award. This award rewards projects involving community woodlands and forests which have been established and managed in a way that is sustainable and beneficial to the landscape, the local people, biodiversity and the economy in both the short and long term.

Managed through a strong partnership between Knowsley MBC, The Mersey Forest and local community groups Northwood Community Allotments and Little Woods of Stockbridge Association, these woodlands have benefited from major restoration and investment to revitalise their role in supporting their local communities, which are two of the most disadvantaged in the UK.

For further information on both woodlands, contact Philip Hurst, Green Space Development Officer, Knowsley MBC, on 0151 443 2482 or at philip.hurst@knowsley.gov.uk.

Festival to reconnect kids with nature
Mab's Magical Fair

Join us for Mab's Magical Fair - a free day out at Mab Lane Community Woodland (which is on the border between Knowsley and Liverpool) to help children reconnect with nature.

 

Families can visit a secret "Forest School" in the woods to create wands, wings and crowns made from natural materials, as well as enjoying enchanted storytelling in a tipi and toasting marshmallows around the campfire.

 

By harnessing children's interest in fairies, elves and dressing up, the event will attract new audiences to Merseyside's green spaces, boost people's health and help more families to discover outdoor play.

 

The event is on Saturday 18th May, from 12 to 4pm. You can find out more at mablane.com or join the Facebook event. It is organised as part of The Mersey Forest's Access to Nature project, which last autumn attracted 1,500 people to Sutton Manor in St.Helens for the event's forerunner, the Elf and Fairy Fair.

 

If you can help spread the word about the event, that would be much appreciated.

Funder and partner logos for Mab's Magical Fair
Walk in the Woods month

May is national Walk in the Woods month, and in Merseyside and North Cheshire there are more than 120 guided woodland walks for you to enjoy.

 

Visit our online guide to see the full listings or to search for what's on near you. The walks are organised by a wide range of providers within The Mersey Forest Partnership, from local authority ranger events, to Walking for Health walks to community groups' wildlife rambles.

 

More than a quarter of people who live in The Mersey Forest area visit their local woods at least once a week. There's no better time to join them.

 

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Get in touch

mail@merseyforest.org.uk

01925 816217

www.merseyforest.org.uk