Volunteers help brighten up Wirral woodland (From Wirral Globe)

Volunteers help brighten up Wirral woodland

2:45pm Monday 1st October 2012 in News

A TEAM of volunteers has helped brighten up a Wirral community woodland by planting more than 100 wildflowers.

The Forestry Commission teamed up with Cheshire Wildlife Trust for the planting at Bidston Moss community woodland to celebrate the Trust’s 50th anniversary.

Duncan MacNaughton, Forestry Commission ranger for the area, volunteers from Friends of Bidston Moss and Wirral Wildlife and even passers-by rolled up their sleeves to help out.

They planted meadowsweet, cowslip, hedge bedstraw, fleabane, betony and ragged robin alongside one of the main paths where there were few existing wild flowers.

Duncan said: “The planting has added more species to existing wildflower meadows on the site to widen diversity.

“All the volunteers did a great job and it will ensure a fantastic bloom next year. It’s a really vibrant area and we hope the new planting will encourage more people to come along and enjoy it in the spring.”

It was one of a number of planting sessions organised to celebrate the Trust’s 50th birthday. Most of the sessions have involved 50 wildflower plants.

Hilary Ash, honorary conservation officer for Wirral Wildlife, said: “We had a busy afternoon planting and even roped in passing cyclists and walkers to help.

“The plants will brighten up that area for people and provide food for wildlife, including bumble bees and butterflies.”