14 February 2008

VOLUNTEERS ENCOURAGED TO JOIN CONSERVATION BEAT AT FUREY WOOD

Vale Royal Borough Council and partners want to encourage local people to help prepare the countryside site Furey Wood for the spring. The first enthusiastic group of volunteers have already kick-started the project and gained some first hand experience of woodland management with the assistance of practical conservation charity BTCV.

Furey Wood is a reclaimed area located off Beswicks Road, Northwich, that has been developed with grasslands and wooded areas and is part of Northwich Community Woodlands. Volunteering at the woodland offers a great chance to help to improve your local environment and make new friends. The Council and the local Friends group offer a range of activities suitable for all ages.

So far, community participation has resulted in new display panels and a viewing platform that will allow visitors to enjoy stunning views over Northwich, the River Weaver and out towards the Cheshire plain.

Cllr Mark Stocks, Lead Councillor for Environmental Policy, said: “Furey Wood is an attractive and popular site that benefits from the commitment put in by the Council and the active Friends group. The work done by the Council and the volunteers ensures the site is sustainable, accessible to the public and attractive to wildlife."

The programme has been made possible with the help of local chemical manufacturer INEOS ChlorVinyls. Janet Ward of INEOS ChlorVinyls said: “We are delighted to support this project with funding coming from our LandFill Communities Fund. In partnership with the local groups and organisations that do excellent work in this field, we are keen to improve both the environment and facilities for the people of our local communities and this project was just perfect.”

The input of volunteers will help complement the ongoing work of Vale Royal Borough Council which has been working with local environmental organisations The Mersey Forest and Action Weaver Valley to improve the woodland. Woodland paths are getting an overhaul and conservation work should open up fantastic views of the River Weaver and encourage the growth of woodland flora. The Mersey Forest has been hard at work with the Friends group planting wildflowers and trees.

Forthcoming events at Furey Wood include coppicing and charcoal making on Sunday 24 February at 10am and wildflower planting on Sunday 9 March at 2pm. Booking is essential. If you are interested in booking a place on an event or volunteering please contact Martin Harrison, Countryside Ranger, on telephone 01606 867772 or email: mharrison@valeroyal.gov.uk.

ENDS

For further information please contact the INEOS ChlorVinyls Press Office:

Janet Ward
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1928 515227
Email: janet.ward@ineoschlor.com