Repair work in the Woods

On Thursday last week (May 6th) four members of the community undertook to replace the gatepost and refit the "bridleway" sign at the Broomheath Lane end of the bridleway. The base of the post had rotted over the years and become unstable.

The enjoyment the Woodland Walk brings to village residents cannot be over-estimated. Since it was opened, thousands of people have enjoyed this ever-changing natural habitat. During the two lockdowns it has been a vital element in keeping people fit and sane. The initial vision that Jim Grogan had, plus the tireless efforts of the Trust and the volunteers since well before 2008, when the Trust was formed, have given us an asset of which we are all immensely proud.

Many people walk both the woodland path and the bridleway as part of a loop. Not many people however, may appreciate that while the woodland is the responsibility of the Woodland Trust, the bridleway is the responsibility of Cheshire West and Chester Council. Sometimes however, getting CW&C to do minor works can take time and, mindful of the pressures that the Council is under, the Woodland Trust volunteers have agreed, on an informal basis and as members of the community, that they will keep a watching brief over the bridleway and undertake minor maintenance tasks where they can.Thursday's repair works were part of this informal arrangement.

The Trust has a regular maintenance session on Thursday mornings that keeps the woodland in "good nick" whilst offering some gentle exercise, and a bit of craic at the coffee break, to the team of volunteers; the sunny morning was a welcome bonus!

So, thank you Peter Maiden. Stuart Exell, John Daines and John Sim for your hard work. It really is appreciated.