www.yearofgardens08.com www.yearofgardens08.com www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk Recovery project visit: project Recovery www.barrowmore.org.uk and the organisations involved in the in involved organisations the and with bluebell events visit: events bluebell with For details about bluebells in Cheshire in bluebells about details For How you can get involved involved get can you How reserves. native woodlands and nature and woodlands native Further Information Further Why not visit some of our of some visit not Why wonderful Night Gardens and Lantern Parade. Lantern and Gardens Night wonderful Park, on Sunday 4th October as part of the of part as October 4th Sunday on Park, afternoon of bulb planting at Anderton Nature Anderton at planting bulb of afternoon Finally, the Festival will draw to a close, with an with close, a to draw will Festival the Finally, Save our Bluebells our Save Barrowmore Estate in October. in Estate Barrowmore Followed by bulb chipping and splitting at splitting and chipping bulb by Followed Cheshire? with seed collecting events at public parks across parks public at events collecting seed with During the summer months why not get involved get not why months summer the During Bluebell Festival. Bluebell 01925 816217 01925 . April 2008 will see the launch of an annual an of launch the see will 2008 April For more information and how to help please contact The Mersey Forest Team on on Team Forest Mersey The contact please help to how and information more For A great time to visit and view bluebells. view and visit to time great A ultimately save us’. save ultimately investigations into pharmaceutical uses show that if we ‘save them they could they them ‘save we if that show uses pharmaceutical into investigations Cheshire. The importance of bluebell conservation cannot be underestimated, recent underestimated, be cannot conservation bluebell of importance The which highlights places for you to see bluebells in bluebells see to you for places highlights which Gardens 08, we have produced this bluebell map bluebell this produced have we 08, Gardens increasing the problem and little is known of the future effect of climate change. climate of effect future the of known is little and problem the increasing This year, in partnership with Cheshire’s Year of Year Cheshire’s with partnership in year, This Well meaning gardeners have been known to plant Spanish bulbs in urban woodlands urban in bulbs Spanish plant to known been have gardeners meaning Well The native British bluebell hybridizes with the larger Spanish (common garden) variety. garden) (common Spanish larger the with hybridizes bluebell British native The hybrid bluebells. hybrid partnership with the local community. local the with partnership locations of our native English, Spanish and Spanish English, native our of locations to start a programme of seed gathering and sowing, bulb cultivation and replanting in replanting and cultivation bulb sowing, and gathering seed of programme a start to Project has been surveying and monitoring the monitoring and surveying been has Project the few remaining bluebell sites and the large scale theft of bulbs led The Mersey Forest Mersey The led bulbs of theft scale large the and sites bluebell remaining few the For the past 10 years, the Bluebell Recovery Bluebell the years, 10 past the For The consistant loss of woodland habitat over hundreds of years, trampling damage in damage trampling years, of hundreds over habitat woodland of loss consistant The loss of one of our most beautiful woodland wildflowers. woodland beautiful most our of one of loss Bluebell Festival & Cheshire’s Year of Gardens 08 Gardens of Year Cheshire’s & Festival Bluebell The Bluebell Recovery Project Recovery Bluebell The was set up in 1996 in direct response to the increasing the to response direct in 1996 in up set was The Mersey Forest and Cheshire and Forest Mersey The The Bluebell Recovery Project Recovery Bluebell The 08 News of the Bluebell Recovery Project throughout Project Recovery Bluebell the of News SPRING express bluebell The Mersey Forest Mersey The 20 The Barrowmore Project The ideal place to start a bluebell nursery The Barrowmore Estate, near Chester, has a bluebell woodland The project will also raise awareness by surveys and the enthusiasm to manage it for its wildlife. It is the ideal and training sessions, including special needs place to start a bluebell nursery, growing bluebells from seed, visitors. This will help in understanding the for eventual use in bluebell projects throughout Cheshire. growing conditions of bluebell woodlands, and The Barrowmore Training Centre is part of the Barrowmore identification of suitable bluebell seed for registered charity which creates employment, training and collection. development opportunities for around 100 people with varying Come and see how the project is faring, at the levels of disability. open weekend during October. Bluebell The bluebell nursery project has been given a great boost this enthusiasts will be on hand to explain about year through an Award for All grant. During 2008 the project will collecting seed, growing bulbs and the techniques record the process of growing the bulbs, through photography needed for success. and microscope work, at the Barrowmore Estate and produce an To book a place phone : 01829 741080 information pack so that community groups can successfully grow their own bulbs from seed. or e-mail [email protected] A Walk with Let them Grow! the Wildlife Trust There is nothing to beat a walk in the woods Anyone inspired to photograph, paint or write whilst enjoying the dramatic views of English about their bluebell experiences is encouraged to bluebells in bloom! send material to [email protected] for inclusion in our future publications. But please take care and keep to the footpaths to avoid trampling the plants! In the meantime, why not visit Ann Bridges’ beautiful bluebell monoprints at To find out more about our woodlands visit www.ann-bridges.com/print-plants.htm www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cheshire or phone 01948 820 728. Ann will be leading a print workshop as part of Marshall’s Arm LNR 10th Anniversary Bluebell Day For more bluebell sites across Merseyside on April 26th. contact The Mersey Forest Team on For further information contact Virginia Hunt at 01925 816217. [email protected] Bluebell Festival 2008 Celebrate British: Bluebells 1 Anderton Nature Park 9 Combermere Abbey 27 April Walk 20 & 27 April 1-5pm 4 October Bulb planting. Bluebell walk, 2 miles approx, through 4 October Night Gardens & Lantern the estate and woodlands where Parade. visitors can enjoy vistas across the mere. Contact: Dave James 01606 77747 Refreshments available. Northwich GR: SJ 648 753 Dogs welcome on leads. www.combermereabbey.co.uk 2 Marshalls’s Arm Nature Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 4AJ Reserve GR: SJ 590 442 26 April Wildlife Watch Contact: Stuart Poucher 07788 570628 Cholmondeley Castle Gardens Northwich GR: SJ 649 727 10 April to early May Weds, Thurs & Sun 11- 5pm 3 Town Wood, Congleton Park Bluebell walk leading from the Tea Apr to early May Room to Tower Hill, with more bluebells 26 April 2.30pm in front of the castle. Blubell walk with a member of the www.yearofgardens08.com Wildlife Trust and Friends of Congleton Malpas SY14 8AH GR: SJ 535 515 Park. www.congleton.gov.uk 11 Rode Hall Gardens Congleton CW11 1JL GR: SJ 863 633 April to early May Tues, Weds & Thurs 2–5pm 4 Bluebell Cottage Garden A mass of bluebells in The Wild Garden April to early May and adjacent woodlands. Weds to Sun 10am-5pm 3 May 9.30–1.30pm Two acre’s of wood completely Farmers Market, an excellent carpeted with native English bluebells. opportunity to shop and have brunch! www.lodgelane.co.uk www.rodehall.co.uk Lodge Lane, Dutton WA4 4HP GR: SJ 581 779 Scholar Green, ST7 3QP GRP: SJ 819 573 5 Arley Hall & Gardens 19-20 April & 26-27 April 12 Capesthorne Hall Walks at 11, 12, 1 & 2pm 20, 21, 27, 28 Apr & 4, 5 May Booking essential. Bluebell weekends; come and A unique opportunity to take a walk explore the bluebells found through the bluebells in the historic within the Arboretum and six Big Wood and back through the idyllic acres of woodland. hamlet of Arley Green. www.capesthorne.com www.arleyhallandgardens.com M62 Siddington Northwich CW9 6NA GR: SJ 675 810 7 Macclesfield SK11 9JY GR: SJ 840 728 WARRINGTON 6 Adlington Hall M6 M56 27 April RUNCORN 13 The Quinta Arboretum 2pm Guided walk with Head M56 Bluebells on the western boundary M53 8 MANCHESTER Gardener, Anthony O’Grady. AIRPORT 6 overlooking the Dane Valley. 5 House closed but Tearoom open. M6 www.tattongardensociety.co.uk www.adlingtonhall.com 14 4 ALDERLEY Swettenham, CW12 2LF FRODSHAM Macclesfield SK10 4LF GR: SJ 905 804 1 EDGE GR: SJ 800 672 NORTHWICH NESTON MACCLESFIELD 12 7 Walkden Gardens 2 14 Rivacre Valley April to early May CHESTER A49 Local Nature Reserve Visit the secret garden and discover 15 April to early May A51 WINSFORD 13 beautiful bluebells along the Cherry MIDDLEWICH Bluebell walks in Well Wood, Walk. Hillside and Clayhill Wood, TARPORLEY 3 www.walkdengardens.co.uk as part of the beautiful 400 acre park. SANDBACH Derbyshire Road, Sale M33 3EL www.cheshire.gov.uk/countryside GR: SJ 788 905 Rivacre Road, Ellesmere Port. CREWE 11 A49 GR: SJ 380 777 8 Norton Priory Museum and Gardens 10 NANTWICH 15 Barrowmore Estate April to early May 26 May 10–6pm A51 National Bluebell Day MALPAS Bluebell walks. Fun family activities and bluebell walks 9 October led by Paul Oldfield, Nature Conservation Bulb chipping and splitting. Officer for Halton Borough Council.