Plans to transform an extra 28 hectares of derelict and underused land into community woodland have been given the go ahead in Birkenhead, Wirral.
The NWDA has promised £2.7m in funding to allow three additional sites to join the Bidston Moss Project, which will now create a total of 68 hectares of community woodland and public recreation space. Three additional sites - the former Cross Lane tip, land adjacent to Bidston Golf Course and a local nature reserve - will be added to the existing Bidston Moss Project which is owned by Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA).
All three sites are owned byWirral Council and form one of the key gateway areas into the Liverpool City Region to the west of the M53 motorway and close to the ‘New Heartlands’ housing renewal area.
The Bidston Moss Project partnership includes the NWDA, Forestry Commission North West, Groundwork Wirral, Mersey Forest, MWDA and Wirral Council and the scheme is due to be completed in time for 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations with links from the site to other attractions within the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park.
Finance from EU Objective One will also be used to help meet the cost of environmental improvements on the sites and the community woodland project has also attracted extra funding from the Biffaward fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which uses money raised from landfill tax credits and donated by Biffa Waste Services.
