Woodlands in The Mersey Forest scoop awards

Two woodlands in The Mersey Forest have been given Royal Forestry Society awards.
Northwood Forest Hills, a new community woodland in Knowsley, was awarded the gold Urban Forestry Award along with its accompanying street tree project, Northwood Green Streets. 

Judges praised the woodland for the way that it has transformed the area and helped bring the community together.

Northwood Forest Hills and Northwood Green Streets were developed in a partnership project between Knowsley Metropolitan Council, The Mersey Forest and many other organisations including Northwood Allotments Association.

Cllr Eddie Connor, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Community and Culture for Knowsley Council, said: "We are delighted to have secured such a prestigious award within our local community. The woodland project and street tree programme has completely transformed that part of our community and I'm proud to see that the community has received such recognition for its efforts.

"It wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of local residents and a whole range of partners and funders."

Silver in Cheshire

Meanwhile, Northwich Woodlands in Cheshire was awarded the silver Community Woodlands award.

Judges were particularly struck by the cooperative approach to the management of the woodland, which is managed by the Cheshire West and Chester Rangers and the Friends of Anderton and Marbury (FoAM).

Mary Jeeves, Chair of FoAM, said: "We are tremendously pleased to have secured this award.

"Over the past few years FoAM, supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, has worked tirelessly with the Rangers to ensure that Northwich Woodlands is a great place to visit and a wonderful resource for the local community. It's fantastic to receive recognition for our efforts."

The winners of the Royal Forestry Society awards, which are held annually and focus on a different area of the country each year, were announced at a ceremony in Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on 3 July.