Help wanted to save
unique mossland gem
by Terry Johnson
PEOPLE are being asked to roll up their sleeves to save a unique mossland gem – home of 16 dragonfly species, rare newts and 180 types of birds.
Risley Moss in north-east Warrington is the last remnant of a once vast swathe of peat bog, providing ideal habitat for hundreds of bird, animal, insect and plant species.
Conservation workers seek to raise water levels of the ancient bog, which acts like a giant sponge – but their efforts are being countered by thirsty willow and birch trees, which suck water from the land.
The moss re-wetting programme, carried out over two decades, is now under threat.
An urgent call has gone out for community volunteers to carry out an operation to remove willow and birch scrub fringing the moss’s shallow pools.
A Warrington Borough Council spokeswoman said: “The loss of water will lead to loss of mossland plants, the habitat of 180 bird species, 16 types of dragonfly, three newt species, watervole and other mammals.
“Risley Moss is one of the last remnants of the Manchester mosses network. Without the help of volunteers, we are likely to lose this delicate and sensitive environment”.
The action plan to save Risley Moss involves stripping out willow and birch which leach water from the vital “wet scrapes” followed by the planting of gorse, creating the perfect habitat for the common lizard and adder, which both live on the mossland.
The spokeswoman added: “The extensive re-wetting programme has been under way since the nature reserve opened in 1980. English Nature have funded the creation of water channels which are restoring the ancient bog. But we have to act to stop water levels fast falling.”
Botanist David Bellamy led the moss preservation campaign and opened a visitor centre there, used by schoolchildren as an outdoor classroom.
The mossland site was virtually destroyed by industrial peat-cutting and farmland drainage. Its future lies in plans to restore water levels.
Chimney stack
toppled by wind
by staff reporter
HIGH winds toppled a chimney stack on a house under renovation in Villars Street, Howley, Warrington, during the night.
Fire crews were called out to make the building safe and had to move hundreds of slates, stacked on the roof prior to being fixed in place, for fear that forecast gale force winds could send them crashing into the street below.
A fire service spokesman said: “If anybody had been passing when the chimney collapsed it would have undoubtedly have killed them. As it was, no damage was caused to the rest of the building, although the falling bricks narrowly missed a couple of parked cars.
“The whole operation took a couple of hours and we used an aerial appliance to remove the slates from the roof.
“People in neighbouring houses were very good. They kept us supplied with cups of tea while the job went on.”
The house concerned is unoccupied and, fortunately, the roof had been felted so subsequent heavy rain did not cause any damage.
Concert helps raise funds
for new gym equipment
by Gary Skentelbery
A CHARITY concert raised over ?600 to help purchase a special piece of gym equipment for people with limited physical ability. Warrington based girl group Jademic together with vocalist Lauren staged the event at Ryfields retirement village raising money for the unique Moto Med Viva 2 machine which has now been installed in the gym. Believed to be the only machine of its type in Warrington, it enables users to move their otherwise immobilised limbs, strengthening muscles. It helps people with neurological disorders and can benefit people who suffer from multiple sclerosis, strokes, paraplegia, tetraplegia, quadriplegia, Parkinson’s disease, muscular disabilities, cerebral palsy and training injuries. The girls also staged a charity concert and have dedicated a song written by 11-year-old Mica Phillips, to help raise funds for the Abbie Tinkley Fund to help the local youngster who requires pioneering treatment in America for a rare muscle wasting disease. Lauren’s new single is now out and available from HMV and the Music Zone.
College tutor in
?2,000 run for charity
by John Hendon
COLLEGE tutor and marathon man Nigel Howells, pounded the road in the BUPA Great North Run to raise a remarkable ?2,000 for the MS charity.
Head of sports science at Priestley College, Warrington, Nigel completed the run in less than two hours.
He stated: “It was a special occasion for a number of reasons – I was also able to draw inspiration from double Olympic Gold Medal winner, Kelly Holmes, before the start! “I am delighted with the sponsorship money raised”.
Nigel, who has worked at the Warrington college for 12 years, was supporting the MS charity because a close family friend suffers from the debilitating nerve illness.
Last year Nigel raised ?2,000 for asthma research by running in the London Marathon.
Another staff member of Priestley, Ian Edge, took part in the BUPA Run as a fun competitor. He finished in one hour, 25 minutes, 12 secs.
College team in line
for national award
by Terry Johnson
WARRINGTON Collegiate’s Learner Services team, which provides advice and guidance to 12,000 students, has been nominated for a prestigious Government award.
Based at the town’s Winwick Road and Museum Street centres, the team’s support role for students has put it in line for a national Matrix Excellence Award.
The Matrix quality standard focuses on excellence in the delivery of information, advice and guidance services.
Its aim is to help organisations become world class.
Skills Minister Ivan Lewis said: “These excellence awards recognise outstanding examples of training using information, advice and guidance. The organisations nominated have demonstrated they are providing an exceptional service”.
Eat up – it’s
Poetry Day
by staff reporter
NATIONAL Poetry Day is being marked at Warrington Library – with food!
Poet Jan Dean will be giving aspecial two-hour workshop at the library between 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Thursday October 7.
Members of the public and library will be treated to the culinary joys of free food tasting courtesy of the Community Food Project, with food samples galore. The sessions are but, as always, numbers will be limited so it will be the early bird gets the worm.
To book a place or for information about the event call Wendy on 01925 442732 or 07730 075966.
“Get creative – and
make a stranger smile
by staff reporter
WARRINGTRON residents are being urged to ‘get creative’…. and make a stranger smile!
The plan is for them to decorate a giant box and post positive messages inside it.
The World Mental Health Day initiative is aimed to help de-stress patients and staff at Warrington Hospital, who will open up the five foot letter-box and read its messages.
Primary Care Trust spokeswoman, Kerry Broadhead, said: “We want to show how easy, and quick, it can be to give something positive to someone else.
“We hope the decorated box filled with messages will generate a big smile when it is presented. Smiling is great for positive well-being – and a good physical activity because it uses more muscles than any other facial expression.
“Mental health affects us all – but we don’t talk about it. We hope this project will get people thinking about how important mental health is.”
Along with decorating the box in Golden Square Shopping Centre on Saturday, October 9 – the day before World Mental Health Day – there will be a DJ, information about mental health issues and give-aways.
Warrington Borough Council has donated prizes for swimming and gym sessions and there will also be Body Shop packs.
Inmates from Risley Prison and residents of Oakdene, a mental health facility for o
lder people, will decorate smaller boxes.
Trainees at Thorncross Young Offenders’ Institute and Warrington charity, Making Space, are also taking part.
