BBC Radio Merseyside kindly interviewed the Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD) to celebrate World Earth Day (22.4.26).

BBC presenter David North interviewed Dr Frank Sharp (FOMD) which was aired on the Helen Jones Show and is available in the link below 2 hours 23 minutes and 45 seconds into the program https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002v0kl?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

The 2026 Earth Day theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasising the role of individuals, communities, and local initiatives in driving environmental progress. The focus is on collective action, civic engagement and community – driven solutions rather than relying solely on top-down policies.

Find Out Below:

  1. How You Can Help Locally
  2. The Importance of Celebrating Earth Day
  3. FOMD Introduction

1. How You Can Help Locally.

FOMD’s next one-hour community session will be at Rowlands Dell on Saturday (9.5.26) starting at 0930 hours, with all the details and news of other events available under the events tab at https://www.fomd.co.uk/ and updated a couple of days before the event.

2. The Importance of Celebrating Earth Day.

Overview and Significance

Earth Day is an annual global observance dedicated to raising awareness about environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, while promoting sustainable practices. First celebrated in 1970 in the United States, it has grown into a worldwide movement involving over a billion people across 193 countries. In the UK, Earth Day serves as a platform for environmental announcements, policy proposals, and public initiatives, reflecting the nation’s commitment to renewable energy, conservation, and sustainability.

Activities and Events in the UK

Earth Day in the UK features a wide range of activities designed to engage the public and promote environmental awareness:

  • Community clean-ups and tree planting in local parks and green spaces.
  • Educational campaigns in schools and universities, including workshops, teach-ins, and interactive exhibits.
  • Cultural events such as concerts, art exhibitions, and nature walks.
  • Sustainability festivals like Earth fest in London, offering immersive workshops and live performances.
  • Wildlife conservation campaigns, including initiatives by Frog life to protect native amphibians and reptiles.
  • River and coastal clean-ups, such as the Thames River Clean-Up, to remove plastic and restore waterways.

Global Context

Earth Day 2026 also aligns with international campaigns, including clean water initiatives, reforestation projects, and citizen science programs like the Global Earth Challenge, which empowers participants to collect environmental data. The day highlights the importance of local action in addressing global environmental challenges, reinforcing that every individual and community can contribute to a sustainable future.

In Summary,

Earth Day 2026 in the UK is a celebration of environmental responsibility, community engagement, and sustainable action, offering numerous opportunities for individuals, schools, and organizations to participate and make a tangible impact on the planet.

3. FOMD Introduction

Maghull like many other places is developing into a large town due to the local plan, with the population increasing between 25 and 45%, which often means neglected green spaces can be seen as potential building plots. Exacerbated by losing approximately 500 mature trees due to Dutch Elm disease and Ash dieback

Our small group of local residents wanted to make a difference, so we created the Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD), as a vehicle to galvanise support to provide community kindness to each other and the environment.

Focusing on four objectives:

  • The Environment by transforming grotspots into eco-educational restorative havens, recycling and planting 20,000 trees in Parks schools and roads.
  • Community by supporting the start-up of an advice centre, warm space, community magazine, and bringing our diverse community alongside with us by engaging in the transformations and outcomes.
  • Support new groups e.g. litter picking group and therapeutic veterans apiary.
  • Research and education. Eg air pollution and flooding.

Since our inception in 2019, we have delivered huge multiple environmental transformations from profound neglected antisocial grot spots to safe, accessible, engaging, tranquil restorative biodiverse havens which have engaged our diverse community’s needs throughout their creation and outcomes.

We have contributed to evidence-based research concerning flooding, pollution, recycling initiatives, whilst planting thousands of trees in parks, schools and roads, which culminated in a 2022 inaugural BBC Make a Difference Award.

In 2024, we embarked on an ambitious three-year ongoing project that represents our town’s largest ever environmental project in the centre of Maghull.

The Rowlands’ Dell NHS Health and Wellness Green Transformation Project is a work in progress involving a historic overgrown quarry, belonging to the neighbouring NHS medical Centre. It is uniquely positioned in the centre of the town near the main shops and sheltered accommodation. However, it was inaccessible and subject to 30 years of harmful fly tipping pollution.

Achievements: Safety – removed 25 tons of debris and 300 binbags of litter, Accessibility – myriads of features created from largest NW social value NHS grant, (3) Restoring Nature to provide a restorative legacy haven for the community and wildlife, whilst also contributing to the planting of 20,000 wildlife friendly trees.

Although the project is ongoing it was recognised nationally in 2025 by winning the BBC One Show/RHS Growing Together Community Garden Award!

Big Message:

  • Can’t do anything without community, so every accolade is your accolade.
  • Commitment Phobia: People want to help but are but sometimes are put off by commitment. We offer one-hour sessions without commitment.
  • ‘Nature Is Our Biggest Ally and Our Greatest Inspiration’. David Attenborough

All the Best,

Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD)

Together making Maghull a better place to live.

  • Winner of the UK 2025 BBC One Show/RHS Growing Together Community Garden Award.
  • Winner of the 2022 BBC Make a Difference Environmental Award.

More information at www.fomd.co.uk including: (1) Events tab for everything about the meeting and (2) Projects tab for the project background.

Contact: admin@fomd.co.uk

#fomdcic #Maghull #Environment