Drainage project clears up Wirral woodland (From Wirral Globe)

Drainage project clears up Wirral woodland

8:00am Saturday 16th June 2012 in News By Geoff Barnes

MAJOR drainage works have been completed by the Forestry Commission that will improve a Wirral woodland for visitors and wildlife.

Mud and vegetation built up in ditches surrounding the Cross Lane site in Bidston, creating flooding problems.

Specialist equipment had to be used to remove the blockages and cut back reeds. More than 400m of ditches had to be dredged over three days dredging to reduce the volume of water by 4,000 sq meters.

Forest ranger Duncan MacNaughton, area said: “The area was difficult to manage, but we were able to find a special machine that could dig out the blockages without sinking in the mud.

"The work will make it a much nicer environment for wildlife and visitors to the area and much easier for us to maintain the reed bed."

The operation was carried out before the summer migrant nesting season so that reed warblers and blackcaps would not be disturbed.

It has improved the habitat for local wildlife that make the reed bed their home including water voles, stoats, butterflies and over 50 species of bird.

The ditches are an old river system from when the woodland was a landfill site over 15 years ago.

Said Duncan: "This is a beautiful spot and we are lucky to have such a wide range of local wildlife here. This work will make sure their habitat continues to thrive for years to come."

Further drainage work will be carried out in September.