We are so grateful to the volunteers who answered our appeal by putting their Christmas plans on hold, to altruistically move mountains for our Maghull community. We had received a donation of countless precious tons of woodchip (courtesy of Maghull-based Saxon Tree Specialist and Southport Garden Maintenance) which is life enhancing for an equally precious crowdfunded 600 ferns we had recently planted.

Firstly, we would like to thank the two businesses for their kind donations and for not considering themselves rivals but demonstrating the true spirit of altruism by collaborating together for the good of the whole community. A real blessing for any small community group who rely on community kindness from multiple donors.

Secondly, we were astounded by the kindness and cheerful hard work of the volunteers on the (20.12.25) who moved countless tons of the donated woodchip. The challenge, apart from the huge amount we needed to move and the importance of moving it quickly before it started decomposing which can result in respiratory discomfort, was to rake and spade it into individual wheelbarrows and transport it from the high access point, down the sloping and winding paths to the lowest part of the Dell, then hand sprinkle woodchip delicately around 612 ferns (providing an attractive hydrating and weed suppressing mulch to maximise growth and survival), then repeating this countless times! (Pictured by nativity: Joan, Diane, Ian, Nikki, John, Graham and Colin & Frank not pictured)

Thank you to the whole community who have enabled the unique creation of a community woodland fernery area comprising of 600 woodland ferns that will form one of four diverse restorative nature areas, connected by an accessible health and wellness path of exploration.

More information about the fernery and your other phenomenal milestone crowdfunding achievements in 2025 can be found at https://www.fomd.co.uk/maghull-is-ferntastic-two-years-of-unprecedented-community-endeavour-taking-shape-at-last/

Thank you once again for your kind and immense support throughout 2025. In 2026, we need further support either in the form of woodland plant donations or cash donations to pay for further woodland plants. We also hope to have an official opening to celebrate everyone’s kindness in creating this brilliant award-winning green transformation.

To finish this beautiful transformative haven, we are appealing throughout 2026 for much more woodland planting in the form of either donated shrubs or cash donations online to provide a restorative legacy haven for the community and wildlife.

If You Would like to Help in the Future?

Volunteer sessions most weeks (everyone is welcome without any commitment) can be found on our Events calendar page at https://www.fomd.co.uk/events/ where you will find all the details.

Crowdfunding Campaign. So far, with your help, we have raised enough money to recently install a 50m path extension  but we are hoping to raise further funds for a 35m path extension and much-needed large-scale woodland shrubs in 2026. Please donate online at www.fomd.co.uk or with cash at the Hare & Hounds PH, Morrisons, Esso Petrol Station.

Rowlands Dell Introduction (3min Video): https://youtu.be/lxrTdudVza8?si=AM_znsaI35Cose-M

Background to Rowlands Dell.

This beautiful haven for wildlife has unbelievably been treated as an open tip for decades, where every inch has revealed a variety of pollutants harmful to wildlife. In our three-stage plan, stage I has resulted in Maghull’s biggest ever 46-week cleanup in which FOMD have removed 300 bin bags of litter and 25 tons of debris.

In Stage II (completed in November), with the help of our NHS landowner partners we successfully obtained a health and wellness grant (Maghull’s largest green investment) to fund an amazing legacy array of hard landscaping installations. These features provided accessibility for the whole community and included: accessible path, viewing/picnic area, sunken garden, bins, 10,000 bulbs and planting at small junction points, bug and bird boxes, and a dry waterfall feature). A Morrisons grant has enabled us to create the ongoing bog garden and wishing well.

We are now engaging in stage three to repopulate Rowlands Dell with woodland planting and need your help.

Best Wishes for New Year,

Friends of Maghull & District (FOMD)

Together making Maghull a better place to live.

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

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