09 March 2009

Children from The Arches primary school, Blacon enjoyed a memorable visit to Blacon Greenway to see the skills of wood carvers in action as they make improvements to Blacon Old Station and the greenway.

Through local funding contributions, phase one works will include the removal of invasive sycamore trees between Saughall Road Bridge and Egerton Road Bridge and for the replanting of native tree varieties to allow light into the greenway and to encourage wildlife.

The felled trees have been used to provide a variety of exciting wood carving and wood carvers Simon O’Rourke and Chris Wright performed a speed chainsaw demonstration for the children.

The carvings include for owls, buzzards, bats, rabbits hawks and many more. Bird and bat boxes have also been installed in many of the existing trees in the greenway.

Year 4 Children from the Arches primary school were involved in a Sustainable Environmental Education Network project last summer to provide ideas and design proposals for this important gateway to and from Blacon. The children revisited the site to see how their thoughts and ideas have become a reality. The project aims to reflect the history of Blacon station and to encourage more people to use the greenway.

Phase two proposals, including access and interpretation improvements, should begin this summer.

The project will be achieved with the help of £35,000 funding from the Waste Recycling Environmental Network which administers and distributes landfill tax credits on behalf of Waste Recycling Group Ltd.

The city council is also awaiting the outcome of a £50,000 application to the Big Lottery Changing Spaces grant.

A master plan for the area was drawn up by Chester City Council working in partnership with Blacon Community Trust and the cycle route organisation, Sustrans. Local residents and school children have helped to produce the design.

Paul Thomas, maintenance manager Northwest, Sustrans said:” Sustrans is very pleased with the work to the greenway organised by Blacon Community Trust and the city council. We have had positive feedback from the local community and look forward to the exciting new proposals planned for this area.

Blacon councillor Reggie Jones said:”I congratulate all those involved in the project. The wood carvings of small woodland creatures are brilliant and something that visitors and residents will enjoy. I just wonder if it is true that they come to life at night.”

For more information contact Michael McGivern on 01244 402362.

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