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Merseyside and
North Cheshire's Big Tree Plant
2 years on and the
Government's £4 million Big Tree Plant has seen over 239,000 trees
planted across the country with £3.4 million of the funding already
allocated to 128 groups who will be planting more than 813,000
trees.
The Big Tree Plant, launched by Defra and the Forestry Commission in
2010, is supported by a number of partner organisations and will see
a million new trees planted predominantly in towns, cities and
neighbourhoods by 2015.
The Mersey Forest, part of Community Forest Trust, received £255,000
funding from the Big Tree Plant towards planting 44,000 trees across
Merseyside and North Cheshire over the course of four years. This
winter alone The Mersey Forest is set to work with 70 local
community groups and schools.
Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said:- "These
projects will make a big difference to local neighbourhoods, from
giving children new places to play and learn, to filtering air
pollution and improving the image of our towns and cities. The Big
Tree Plant has been a great way to get even more people involved in
the local environment."
David Heath MP, Minister for Forestry said:- "The Big Tree
Plant is an opportunity for everyone to help make neighbourhoods
attractive and healthy places to live. The Big Tree Plant has been
embraced by communities across the country including Merseyside and
North Cheshire and has proved to be a highly successful partnership
between Government, civil society partners and conservation
organisations including The Mersey Forest. Seventy percent of trees
in The Big Tree Plant programme will be planted in England's most
deprived areas."
While making towns and cities more attractive places to live and
work, Big Tree Plant trees are also creating new copses, supporting
wildlife conservation, flood reduction through riverbank planting
and helping to cool cities by reducing temperatures. More than one
in ten trees being planted are creating new orchards to grow fruit
so community groups can grow their own food and make jams, pickles
and chutneys.
Due to the popularity of campaign, March 2013 is likely to be the
final opportunity for communities to apply for the remaining share
of funding from the Forestry Commission.
Mark Durk, Head of the Big Tree Plant for the Forestry Commission
said:- "With only £600,000 of funding still to be allocated,
now is the time to start planning your Big Tree Plant project with
the next round of funding applications closing on the 15 March 2013.
The level of motivation from partners and volunteers to make the
programme a success has been astounding."
Details of the Big Tree Plant can be found at:-
defra.gov.uk/bigtreeplant. |
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WANTED APPEAL
FOR EVESHAM KNIFE ASSAULT SENT ON BEHALF OF WEST MERCIA POLICE
Photo removed at request of
West Mercia Police
WEST Mercia Police
Detectives are appealing for the public's help in tracing a man
wanted by Police in relation to a serious knife assault on a man in
Evesham. At 11.25pm on Wednesday, 19 December 2012, Police were
called to Chancers in Vine Street after a member of staff was
assaulted by a man armed with a knife. He received a serious wound
to his hand and forearm and was taken to hospital where he remains
in a serious condition. His attacker made off from the bar and has
yet to be found. West Mercia Police wants to speak to Peter
O'Shaughnessy, aged 31, from Liverpool about the assault. Detective
Inspector Mark Loader, who is leading the investigation said:-
"Our inquiries into this nasty offence have been fast-moving and we
have received a lot of help from members of the public, for which we
are very grateful. We need to find and speak with Peter
O'Shaughnessy. We have information that he has been staying in
Evesham for approximately 10 days and has contacts in the town. He
has a history of being involved in violent crime and we advise that
if anyone knows or encounters O'Shaughnessy they should not under
any circumstances approach or challenge him. If you are aware of his
whereabouts, please contact West Mercia Police immediately on 999."
Any other information can be passed on by contacting the
non-emergency Police number:- 101 or this can done anonymously
through Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111. Please be aware that
a £500 reward is on offer to anyone who provides information that
leads to the arrest of Mr O'Shaughnessy.
Widnes Vikings - Kevin Brown
Update
THE Widnes Vikings has
reported to us that Kevin Brown has sustained an injury to his
ankle, during pre-season training. As a result of this injury he has
undergone a routine surgical repair. The club can confirm that this
repair is not on the same ankle that has been operated on
previously. It is anticipated that Kevin Brown will be available for
the start of Super League 2013.
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