Cash incentives offered in drive to boost North West England’s woodland cover

THE Forestry Commission is offering grants to landowners as part of a drive to boost the amount of woodland in the North West of England.  Farmers can receive up to £3,800 per hectare for agricultural land, as well as receiving additional annual payments and their Single Farm Payment.

The Forestry Commission, which is responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests, is looking to offer around £3 million in grants to help increase the woodland cover, and its management, in the North West – one of the UK’s least wooded regions.

North West England has woodland cover of around 6.8%, which is some way behind the national average of 8.4%. This works out at around 14 hectares – or the equivalent of just under 14 football pitches – of woodland for every thousand people in the North West. The national average is 22 hectares per 1000 people.

The Forestry Commission in the North West of England is looking to redress this balance by offering cash incentives to encourage landowners to allocate land for tree planting.  Landowners can receive £1,800 per hectare as a standard grant for new native woodland creation. The Forestry Commission will also pay farmers additional grants for a further 15 years to keep livestock off the allocated land.

More money is also available if the land is within target areas to support priority actions within the North West. For example areas deemed important for the protection of woodland birds or butterflies or where woodlands contribute to soil and water protection. Land in these areas could attract a further £1,000 per hectare in grant funding.  Additional incentives are also available for landowners who provide public access into the newly created areas of woodland.

Kevin May, Grants, Regulation and Partnership Manager for the Forestry Commission in North West England, said:- “We are determined to increase the proportion of woodland that exists in the North West.  Woodlands are important for a number of reasons. They provide habitat for numerous species of wildlife; they contribute to peoples well being by improving the appearance of places as well as providing opportunities for recreation. Trees also absorb carbon and help to reduce our contribution to climate change.  We would like anyone in the region who has land they would like to turn into woodland to contact us so we can work together to achieve an increase in our region’s woodland cover.”

Last year 280 hectares of new woodland was created through Forestry Commission grants.

The closing date for applications for Woodland Improvement Grants is September 30 this year.  Anyone interested in making an application should contact the Forestry Commission on:- 01524 565800 or email.  Further information can also be found at:- forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland-grants or forestry.gov.uk/ewgs.

YOUTHS INVITED TO JOIN SUMMER FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

MERSEYSIDE Police are now inviting youngsters to take part in a football tournament at Riversdale Police Club.

Officers are urging teams under 11s, under 14’s and under 16 year olds to enjoy a fun filled day out, which includes free refreshments for the teams.

Constable Kevin Byrne said:- “This is a great opportunity for young people to get involved and enjoy their summer holiday keeping active instead of sitting at home playing on computer games. Boys and girls from the age of 11 to 16 are all welcome to come and try it out!”

The tournament will run on Friday, 6 August 2010, from 10am to 2pm and a mystery celebrity will be there to present the awards at the end of the day.

If you have a team to enter in this tournament, don’t hesitate to contact Constable Kevin Byrne on:- 0151 777 4845 or email:- kevin.r.byrne@merseyside.police.uk. 

Tourism Set Piece:- Liverpool and Southport Prepare

THE UK tourism industry is heading for Liverpool City Region during a special business generation showcase in October.  Liverpool and Southport are the focus for tour operators and group travel organisers during the unique event taking place between 10 and 12 October, 2010.

50 tour buyers from around the country have been targeted in what will be an opportunity for tourism businesses to achieve new bookings.  Arranged by The Mersey Partnership and Sefton Tourism, the two-and-a-half day familiarisation trip is being co-ordinated by UK tourism specialists Steve Reed Tourism Ltd, from Corbridge in Northumberland. UK inbound tour operator Centurion Travel is providing the transport.

Operators will be based in hotels across Southport – England’s Classic Resort, and the event will take in a number of high quality venues and attractions. The Scarisbrick, Royal Clifton, Prince of Wales and Ramada Plaza Hotels will each meet the tour operators.  Buyers will experience the ease with which groups of visitors can visit and base themselves in what is widely regarded as one of the very best traditional seaside resorts in the entire country.

The delegation will enjoy a tram ride along the historic Southport Pier, and have fun with the old-fashioned amusements at the end of the Pier. The attraction Lord Street boulevard will provide a relaxing shopping experience for the group, before heading to the indoor tropical Splashworld attraction, followed by the Botanic Gardens in the quaint village of Churchtown.  Antony Gormley’s striking public sculpture Another Place is dramatically situated on the beach at Crosby, and is another highlight of the visit.

Tourism businesses across Liverpool and Southport have the opportunity to meet the tour operators during a ‘Meet the Tour Buyer’ workshop taking place on Tuesday, 12 October 2010.

Liverpool is the next stop – and a chance for the group to find out about and experience new attractions alongside those which are firmly established.

Liverpool ONE retail and leisure complex is the first port of call before a tour of the Albert Dock, which includes The Beatles Story and Merseyside Maritime Museum. The group will also see the new Museum of Liverpool. Located on the waterfront, which is part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site – the new museum opens in 2011 and is sure to be a major visitor magnet for Liverpool City Region.  A tour of Liverpool’s iconic Anglican Cathedral completes the whirlwind visit for the tour planners.

Janine Ross is Campaign Manager at The Mersey Partnership, Official Tourist Board for Liverpool City Region. She commented:- “Liverpool City Region has grown massively as an all year round visitor destination and we continue to raise the profile within the UK travel trade industry. The destination always has something new, different and exciting to offer, and the delegates attending this event will see that.”

The event is to help attract new business and create new bookings for the tourism industry, says Steve Christian, Tourism Manager for Sefton Tourism.  He added:- “Familiarisation visits like this are often the best way to showcase exactly what you can offer the travel trade. It’s a great opportunity for our tourism businesses – both in Southport and Liverpool – to increase their profile nationally and to secure valuable new group bookings.”