20 bluebellexpress News of the Bluebell Recovery Project throughout SPRING 11 The Mersey Forest and Cheshire Funding adds a splash of colour to the countryside! The Cheshire Bluebell Recovery Project was set up in 1996 in direct response to the increasing loss of one of our most beautiful woodland wildflowers. The native English bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, is in decline across the UK. To help safeguard its future in Cheshire, this native bluebell has been classified as a local Biodiversity Action Plan species, under the Cheshire region Biodiversity Action Plan (CrBAP). Threats include: project a boost to continue propagation loss of woodland habitat, and, over the next two years, plant these bulbs into local community illegal collectionof wild bulbs, for sale woodlands across the Cheshire region. damage to plants, caused by the trampling of leaves Working with local community groups the Cheshire Bluebell Recovery Project hybridisation with the non-native will be working to plant propagated Spanish bluebell Hyacinthoides hispanica. bulbs in 14 woodlands. If you are part of a local community group and would like Cheshire Wildlife Trust, along withThe to join us in this project please contact: Mersey Forest and RECORD, are actively Sarah Bennett, Cheshire region Biodiversity promoting the English bluebell within Manager
[email protected]. Cheshire. Over the last six years this unique project has helped to conserve our native bluebell, by propagating... To find out more: about the: from local seed... thousands of new Cheshire Bluebell Recovery Project: bulbs at the Barrowmore Estate. www.record-lrc.co.uk/c1.aspx?Mod=Article &ArticleID=bluebellhomepage.