Shoreline Management

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News

Red Squirrels in need

Fiona Whitfield, Lancashire Wildlife Trust

As you may already be aware we are currently in the midst of a squirrel pox outbreak at the National Trust Property in Formby. We have so far recovered 11 dead red squirrels from the reserve and surrounding area and are aware of at least two further sick squirrels on site.

We are currently seeking volunteers to help search the site for sick and dead squirrels to remove the infection off site as quickly as possible and hopefully minimize the number of infected red squirrels.

The attached map has been divided into 12 searchable sections based on footpaths. Please note much of the site is uneven terrain and you need have a basic level of fitness to walk most of the areas.

If you would like to help please contact Fiona on 0151 9203769

A NT SPQV recording form.

A protocol of what to do with a sick or dead squirrel.

If you are not familiar with the NT property or have not been on site to do squirrel pox searches previously then you first need to arrange a site visit with one of the wardens or myself as you need to be trained how to use a radio by one of the kiosk staff and be shown the areas so you can in future do an area that you are familiar with at a time suitable to yourself. Please contact me on 0151 9203769 with a time and day that you wish to do your training and we will organise someone to meet you at the kiosk.

Forest Plan 5 Year Review

Five years into the Sefton Coast Woodlands Forest Plan, members of the public are being encouraged to have their say on the progress made so far. The Forest Plan Five Year Review will focus on gauging people's opinions about work carried out towards the Short-Term Objectives for managing the area's woodlands set out in 2002.

Woodland tours, guided nature walks and more are planned as part of the Review, organised by the Sefton Coast Partnership, kicking off with an open meeting at St Luke's Church, Formby on Wednesday 13th June 2007.

The open meeting is the first of a series of Five Year Review events being run throughout the summer, with the full list available at the new dedicated website, www.forestplan5yearreview.blogspot.com. As well as the events guide, the website also offers you the chance to check out information on the progress made against each of the objectives and to post comments with your views on the work so far. Click the link above to take a look. For further info click here

'ANOTHER PLACE', THE ANTONY GORMLEY ARTWORK ON CROSBY BEACH IS TO STAY

Close up of statue. copyright Paul Wisse Antony Gormley's 'Iron Men' are set to stay on Crosby beach after councillors granted permanent planning permission for the art installation.

Sefton Council's planning committee endorsed revised proposals to retain the 'Another Place' artwork during a meeting at Bootle Town Hall last night.

Last October, proposals for a four-month extension for the statues were refused by the planning committee amid concerns for wildlife and public safety.

But months of discussions and detailed analysis have given rise to fresh proposals addressing the key issues, which have now won the backing of councillors

The revised plans will see 13 of the 100 life-size statues moved to new locations away from the River Alt mouth which is used by small sailing craft.

A further three figures will be re-sited away from known bird feeding areas to address concerns that the extra visitors might affect wildlife patterns.

Article from www.sefton.gov.uk

Further details can be found on www.sefton.gov.uk

For further information about the statues visit South Sefton Partnership's website at www.southsefton.co.uk or contact them on 0151 285 5280

For further information about Crosby Coastal Park visit http://www.sefton.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=4775

Visit Antony Gormley's website here www.antonygormley.com

Getting there
By public transport: Crosby beach is well served by three local train stations; Hall Road, Blundellsands & Crosby, and Waterloo. Trains run approximately every 15 minutes on the MerseyTravel Northern Line. Connections to national rail services and other regional services can be made at Liverpool Lime Street, Southport and Hunts Cross.

  • From Hall Road Station: With the train station on your right hand side walk down Hall Road West until is bends 90o to the left, on the bend there is an access road that goes to the beach, past the Coastguard Station.
  • From Blundellsand Station: On the opposite side of the railway tracks to the ticket office ,the Southport train side, walk down Blundellsands Road West to the end, a short footpath leads to the beach. Approximately 5/10 minutes.
  • From Waterloo Station: Walk down South Road with the station on your left hand side. At the end of South Road, cross over the road and walk down the paved footpath between the two parks and follow the footpath which runs between the two lakes to the beach.

    For further information, including bus time tables, and a travel planner visit Merseytravel at www.merseytravel.gov.uk/. Enter 'South Road, Waterloo, Liverpool' as the destination if you are using the travel planner. Crosby Beach is a 10/15 minute walk, walk down South Road with the Waterloo Train Station on your left hand side. At the end of South Road, cross over the road and walk down the paved footpath between the two parks and follow the footpath which runs between the two lakes to the beach.

    By car: The easiest route is to arrive on either the M57 or M58 motorways which both end at the same point, Switch Island. From here follow signs to 'All Docks' on the A5036, continue to follow the A5036 until you reach a roundabout under a flyover with signs to Crosby and the A565. Turn right at the roundabout following the signs to Crosby and A565. You will join up with the A565 but stay in the left hand lane. At the first set of traffic lights turn left into Cambridge Road, there is a brown tourist sign, 'Antony Gormley's Another Place' for the statues at this junction. Drive straight along this road at the end of which there are two car parks adjacent to the marine lake. The beach and statues are a 5 minute walk from the car park.

    Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm

    Work is now underway on the installation of the Offshore Burbo Bank wind farm. 25 wind turbines will be installed and fully operational by the end of Summer 2007. Each turbine can generate up to 3.6MW of electricity, with the farm producing up to 90MW under optimum conditions. This will produce enough energy to supply 80,000 homes.

    The installation will take place in four phases. During the first phase, over spring and summer 2006, the 4.5m diameter mono piles that each turbine sits on are driven 40m into the sea bed. During this period you may here a dull thud as the piles are hammered into the sea bed. Following this the wind farm will be connected to the main power grid through three submarine cables. The cables will be buried under the sea bed by a specialised cable laying vessel. Thirdly the internal submarine cables running between the turbines will be connected and finally during spring and summer 2007 the tubines will be added on top of the piles.

    For further details of the wind farm visit www.burbo.info


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    Lone figure on Crosby beach from Antony Gormley's Another Place. Copyright Paul Wisse