NEW COMMUNITY WOODLAND PLANNED FOR SEFTON AREA

A green wedge of former landfill and agricultural land between Maghull,
Netherton and Lunt in Merseyside is to be transformed into a community
woodland for the benefit of local residents.

The 120 hectare site at Sefton Meadows and Rose Farm, which up to now has
had limited public access, is to be given its new lease of life by the
Forestry Commission for local people to enjoy for all kinds of recreation
and sport.

Much of the area, parts of which have been blighted by fly-tippers over the
years, will be opened up with a network of footpaths and cycleways, linking
up to various parts of the Sefton area. Local people will be fully
consulted about the proposals.

This is the latest in a series of community woodland projects being
undertaken by the Forestry Commission, in conjunction with The
Mersey Forest, to transform derelict or underused land throughout Merseyside and
Cheshire into attractive green areas for the public.

Plans and proposals for the site will be displayed in Maghull Library until
6 June. And over the coming months a series of consultation events will be
held for local residents in the Sefton area to hear their views about how
they'd like the area to look in the future.

The scheme will be funded from a £9 million grant from the Government's
Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF), part of which is being used to create
recreation and conservation facilities across 1,000 hectares of urban fringe
land in The Mersey and Red Rose Forests in the North West.

The NorthWest Development Agency has also provided £2.8 million of support
funding.

Sarah Jeffery, the Forestry Commission's community liaison officer, said:
"We really want local people to get involved in the decision-making process
for the site. The idea is to create a natural environment where people will
be able to relax and enjoy themselves. We'll be planning new routes for
walkers, riders and cyclists which will be a real bonus for everyone as
previously there was only limited access to the area."

Dates for the consultation meetings will be announced shortly.

For more information, call 01925 859 520 or write to the Forestry
Commission, Risley Moss, Ordnance Avenue, Birchwood, Warrington WA3 6QX.

Press enquiries to Sarah Jeffery, Forestry Commission community liaison
officer,
Tel: 01925 859 520 or (m) 07901 511494, or Graeme Prest, manager, NW England
Forest District, tel. 01229 860373.

Notes to Editors:

* The Forestry Commission is the Government department
responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and
expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society
and the environment.

* For more information about the Forestry Commission and its
activities, log on to its web site www.forestry.gov.uk
<http://www.forestry.gov.uk>


* The Mersey Forest is a partnership between the Countryside
Agency, the Forestry Commission and nine local authorities including Sefton
Borough Council. The Mersey Forest has already transformed and regenerated a
large number of sites throughout Merseyside and Cheshire, with over 14
million trees across 417 square miles to be planted over the next 24 years.

* The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) is one of nine
regional development agencies established by the government to develop the
English regions. Creating new regional park resources is one of the Agency's
priorities. The NWDA supports projects which conserve and enhance
biodiversity and expand natural resources, especially in urban areas where
environmental quality is limited.