Many local residents will still be mourning the loss of Tom Johnson (pictured) – a much loved and cherished Nurseryman who died earlier this year who is fondly remembered for establishing the warm and community friendly Windmill Nurseries 55 years ago.

Consequently, Tom’s sister Helen and her husband John have been undertaking the heart-wrenching and challenging task of working towards the closure of Windmill Nurseries on the 1.6.25.

Legacy and Thank You

At this difficult time, they kindly thought of our community that Tom had served with such warmth and kindness, and donated the unsold shrub stock to the Rowlands Dell Project, mainly comprising of pyracantha, box, laurels, grasses. We are immensely grateful to:

  • Helen and John (pictured 12.6.25) and family not only for their wonderful donation but for their super friendly support throughout. You may remember John and Helen who nostalgically had the last Green Grocer Shop in Maghull on Deyes Lane. John’s brother was prestigiously the head gardener at Monet’s Garden in France prior to his recent retirement!
  • Paul Pruden (Horticultural Manager) and his brilliant Ashworth Hospital horticultural team, for transporting the first load of plants to the Dell.
  • Sarah Pollard (Saxon Tree Specialists – pictured 12.6.25) who generously used her large vehicle to transport the second and third loads of plants and pallets (for creating a new bug hotel) and our amazing volunteers – Graeme, Paul, Jill (pictured 12.6.25) and Frank.

Message from Tom’s son Paul:

“Just wanted to post this short message as Sunday 1st June will be the last day of Windmill Nurseries to say thank you and goodbye to all Dad’s customers. Dad started the nursery over 55 years and really loved serving all those who  visited. He made so many friends along the way. Dad passed away last December and the nursery has been looked after since by his sister Helen and her husband John.  Thank you to my Aunty and Uncle for all your hard work in clearing the nursery of stock and helping to keep it going over the last year, Mum and I will be forever grateful. The nursery was Dad’s life and serving his customers and giving advice and value for money was what he loved to do.  Dad was always a happy person at home and also at work.  He really did love working. Thank you all from my Mum and me to all his customers over the years.

A Lovely & Fascinating Tribute to Tom and His Windmill Nurseries Business

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/nostalgia/traditional-nursery-people-still-discovering-27359066

 

Urgent  Crowdfunding Donations Needed for Rowlands Dell.

We need to raise £8769 before October (86 days!), to pay for a lower connecting path (creating a circular health and wellness walk) and a huge array of much-needed woodland plants.

To attract potential match funding we have established a new (5.6.25) donation page (to date 29.7.25 raised £4198 = 47%) Your support in the form of donations (minimum £2), ‘likes’ and ‘positive comments’, is a measure that can trigger match funding, involving up to 40% of our target.

Please encourage everyone you know to donate any amount, ‘like’ and post a positive comment. The website also has a short introductory video

DONATE AT  https://www.spacehive.com/rowlandsdell

Share with everyone using the share button the main picture of the website

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 our NHS landowner partners we successfully obtained 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).

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

Many Thanks and Best Wishes,

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