Forthcoming Events Summer 2025
Last update: 22 June 2025
In August at Thornton Common volunteers will cut the woodland ride and glade to benefit wildflowers, especially the marsh orchids which are in bloom in June. The enclosure hedges can be weeded too. A wooden sign will be fixed to the Thornton Common gate, at 3pm there will be the unveiling of a new display about Thornton Common enabled by a legacy from the late Eric Jackson, a WCV of 30 years standing. Eric’s family will unveil the new display. This will be followed by tea and cake at the common. Do come along at 3pm, if not for the task.
Steve Tomlison, a leading light of scything will run a scything course at New Ferry Butterfly Park (NFBP) to improve the volunteers scything skills to make scything more effective and enjoyable. Note: course strictly limited to 6-8 volunteers, and this course cost is heavily subsided by the group. You will leave the course enthused and confident to scythe efficiently and safely. Please book and pay by BACs details on WCV web page.
The next day put these new skills into practice at the park. Access to the calcareous hedge will be created in preparation for hedge laying the following month. These projects will be followed by a BBQ at 4pm to mark the end of the open season and start of the practical management season. Only blue badge parking that day as the park is open to the public and heritage tours.
The Sandstone wheel, generously gifted by Peter and Hazyl Martin, and beautifully restored by Peter Martin can be used to sharpen hedge laying tools for the forthcoming hedge laying season. The wheel really is treat to use.
At Helen Arthen’s (Malpas) the volunteers will have a WCV hedgelaying competition to help raise hedge laying standards and give some judging experience to Peter Martin and Ann Shaw who are becoming hedgelaying judges.
Following the hedge laying and prize giving volunteers will return to Helen’s farmhouse for delicious hogget stew. Please book on for catering purposes, and so there are sufficient hedging stakes provided.
In October at NFBP, enthused by the scythe course scything will continues unabated. The coppice will be cut, and hedge laying will start on the last of the hedge on the upper level and then start on the multi species calcareous meadow hedge. Preparation will also be made for the apple afternoon, with the gathering of apples and setting up the apple press.
There will be a group meeting in the upstairs room of New Ferry Village Hall when plans for the winter 2025 events programme and other group activities can be developed. All welcome.
There will be a woodland management weekend in Thornton Wood coppicing hazel stools between Lamperloons and Quarter Bank Coppices and hedge planting at the back of Lamperloons Coppice. There will be a general lifting of shade from coppice areas to aid the regrowth. Access between these two coppices will be improved. It is a great chance to make progress in the coppice areas in Thornton Wood.
Coming of age with our 21st hedge laying training event, this will be at Home Farm, Landican. Please book on as it is the most popular event of the year.
November at NFBP sees the completion of the scything regime, continued hedge laying and turf removal. Areas where turf removal was carried out last year the local biodiversity action plan species the Dingy skipper butterfly was recorded.
On Friday 14th November at the Wirral Wildlife monthly meeting there will be a talk “Wirral Countryside Volunteers 40 years of achievement” A £5 entrance fee (including tea and homemade cake.)
The Volunteers’ Christmas party is in Bebington. Let Paul know if you want to come along. Bring a contribution to share.
The following day at NFBP there will be hedgelaying, bramble removal and eating party leftovers!
WhenWhereEventMeeting PointTime
Paul Loughnane BEM
Hon. Secretary,
Wirral Countryside Volunteers
0151 645 8937
jpl@liv.ac.uk
Click HERE to go to our Newsletter Archive page where you can download our current and past newsletters
When |
Where |
Event |
Meeting Point |
Time |
AUGUST |
Sat 16th |
Thornton Common |
Scything the woodland ride and glade.
Unveiling the new lectern display made possible by the late Eric Jackson |
Wirral Rugby Club car park |
09:30
15:00 |
SEPTEMBER |
Sat 13th |
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
Scything course:
Members, £11
Non-Members, £21
Booking Essential |
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
09:30 for 10:00 start
|
Sun 14th |
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
Scything by BBQ stand.
Start of the winter season management and BBQ at 4pm
|
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
09:30 |
Sat 27th |
Chorlton, Malpas |
Hedgelaying competition followed by Hogget stew at 16:00 |
Chorlton Lane Farm |
09:30 |
OCTOBER |
Sat 12th |
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
Scything, coppicing, hedgelaying and preparations for the 'apple day' in the afternoon |
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
09:30 |
Mon 20th |
Poulton Hall, Poulton cum Spital |
Garden party, hedge laying demonstration and plant propagation |
Poulton Hall, wildflower grassland |
12:00 noon |
Sat 25th
Sun 26th |
Thornton Wood |
Woodland management weekend |
Thornton Common Road bridge crossing over the M53 |
09:30 |
NOVEMBER |
Sat 1st |
Landican Lane |
21st hedgelaying training day.
Booking Essential |
Landican Lane, Woodchurch Road end |
09:30 |
Sun 9th |
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
Scything, hedge laying and turf removal |
New Ferry Butterfly Park |
09:30 |
Fri 14th |
Thornton Hough Women's Institute |
Wirral Countryside Volunteers 40 years of achievement |
Thornton Hough WI |
19:30 |
DECEMBER |
Sat 13th |
Bebington |
Christmas Party |
Paul and Philippa's |
19:30 |
Sun 14th |
New ferry Butterfly Park |
Hedge laying and Coppicing |
New ferry Butterfly Park |
09:30 |
Please bring enthusiasm, friends, stout footwear, work gloves, waterproofs & lunch.
Want to know more...?
Visit Wirral Countryside Volunteers’ website: (HYPERLINK "http://www.wcv.today/"www.wcv.today) or the Wirral Countryside Volunteer’s Facebook page.
e: admin@wcv.today or Phone: Philippa 01516458937 or email indseyemail@yahoo.com.
All Welcome No experience necessary
