Many thanks to Laura White of Highfield Hall Primary School in Chesterfield who has sent in this photo of her nursery children with their Mab Lane balloons and wildflower seeds that they found on the way to school (for full story click here).

Balloons have also now been found at Pott Shrigley, north of Macclesfield, as well as a further find in Chesterfield, this time in the Holymoorside area.

Thanks to Rosemary Clarke and Diane Webb for writing in to let us know.

Remember, if you’re visiting this blog having found one of the Mab Lane balloons, add a comment (click here and scroll to the bottom) or send us a photo to MabLanePhotos@merseyforest.org.uk.

Thanks to Laura White who’s left a comment on yesterday’s balloon launch story:

“I’m a teacher at Highfield Hall Primary School in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. One of the Nursey children I was teaching bought a big bunch of colourful balloons in, having found them on her way to school. The children are going to be planting them on Monday. The Nursery children were very excited and interseted in the story behind the balloons and can’t wait to plant the seeds. What a lovely idea!!”

That means the balloons that set off from Mab Lane earlier this week have travelled over 65 miles.

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Children from local schools launched a rainbow of special balloons at Mab Lane today to celebrate their new woodland and thank funders and partners of the project including Liverpool City Council, Northwest Regional Development Agency, The Mersey Forest, Forestry Commission, The Riverside Group, 2020 Liverpool, Princess and Old Cantrill Tenants and Residents Association and the Big Lottery Fund. The balloons are biodegradable and come with a paper tag with wildflower seeds embedded in it to spread some Mab Lane colour wherever they land.

The question is: how far did they go? If you were lucky enough to find one of the balloons, please add a comment to this blog (click here and scroll to bottom) to let us know whether you’re in Liverpool, St.Helens, Norway or beyond!

For more great photos by Ant Clausen taken at the balloon launch, visit the Mab Lane photo blog.

In other news, local resident Peter Marsden has been out on the new woodland with his camera and reports plenty of signs of spring and wildlife: “The plants and trees are starting to bud,the swales marginal plants have taken well, and the tadpoles are thriving. We spotted a magpie and a huge crow.”

To view photos from the expedition, visit the Mab Lane photo blog.

12 – 3pm Friday 9th April 2010
at Mab Lane Youth Centre,
Croxdale Road West, L14 8YA

Activities on the day:
Tree planting
Sports activities and games
Healthy food tasting
Easter egg hunt
Cycle rides and guided walks
Art workshop
Litter picks with prizes
Dance sessions

Come along to help us celebrate the creation of the new Community Woodland and learn about plans for improvements around the Youth Centre.

And it’s absolutely free to join in the fun!

Last Thursday (18th March), Mab Lane Primary School helped plant over 400 trees – with 117 children from year 3, 4, 5 and 6 planting dogwood, ash, hazel and oak. Photos from the day are up on the Mab Lane photo blog.

The children were assisted by Liverpool City Council, Riverside Housing, the Neighbourhood Wardens, UPM Tilhill, The Mersey Forest Team and not least staff from Mab Lane Primary School. Jo Sayers from The Mersey Forest Team reported that “The children were so enthusiastic we nearly ran out of trees.”

This event followed on from other environment and wildlife events also run last week with the classes at the school with the support of Riverside Housing, Liverpool City Council Ranger Service and the Neighbourhood Wardens.

Finally, keep a note in your diary for Friday 9th April, when there will be a community planting day at the new woodland – further details to follow, watch this space.