Mab Lane Community Woodland

A mini-survey about the impact of the Mab Lane woodland has come back with some great results.

Getting people active
Two in three local residents say that they now use the woodland at least once a week, whereas before the improvements – when it was an often-flooded field – only one in three ever set foot on the site at all.

Improving the area
More than three quarters of residents say that the local area had improved as a place to live over the past 18 months, and respondents commented that “At last something is being done for the young people” and that the woodland was “a 100% improvement”.

The small-scale poll was carried out by local social landlord Riverside, and despite the relatively low number of people surveyed (20), the results give an encouraging glimpse as to the impact of the woodland.

Great photo and message from local photographer Tony Beyga, who says:

“I was cycling through the woodland this week and met these two lovely ladies. I was telling them about the award the woodland had recently won and they were delighted.

Then they began to tell me how much they were enjoying the woodland and how it had really changed the area. They said they often use it to go to the shops and like to sit here, relax and have a chat, which was great to hear!”

- Got your own feedback about the difference the woodland has made? Add a comment to this post or join Mab Lane on local environmental community website Project Dirt Liverpool.

Great scenes: Local resident and photographer Tony Beyga and Councillors Barbara Murray and Tony Concepcion accept Mab Lane Community Woodland’s Neighbourhood Improvement Project of the Year trophy from BBC Northwest Tonight’s Diane Oxberry at the It’s Our World Merseyside Environment Awards.

A huge well done to all who’ve been involved in creating the woodland!

Left to right: BBC’s Diane Oxberry, Tony Beyga, Cllr Murray and Cllr Concepcion

Great news – Mab Lane Community Woodland has been announced as Neighbourhood Improvement Project of the year as part of the Merseyside Environment Awards.

Congratulations to all involved in creating the woodland, great to see all the hard work rewarded.

Reporting the news, the Liverpool Echo said: “The Neighbourhood Improvement Project Award was a hard fought category. Out of a strong shortlist, the panel chose Mab Lane Community Woodland– a new woodland created last year in the West Derby area of the city.” Read more.

Spring at Mab Lane! (image by local photography supremo Tony Beyga).

Also don’t forget there are now green gym sessions being offered in the Mab Lane area, offering you the chance to meet new people, get some fresh air and get fit through some gentle environmental volunteering. Contact mail@merseyforest.org.uk or call 01925 816217 to find out more.