Turnpike Field Working Group

It doesn't happen by magic!

The Turnpike Field Working Group meets regularly to progress the various projects and make decisions about new ones.

Last week's Working Group meeting was yet another "Zoom Meeting". This has become the new norm in the past 9mths. It was however testament to the sheer determination of our volunteers to 'attend' these meetings that one member actually participated whilst in a car, traveling at 70mph on the M54/M6/M5. No, he wasn't driving at the time!

At the meeting, several decisions were taken regarding further activities to benefit the field:

Safety/Information Signage

These will installed at each of the three entrances and will hopefully be eco-friendly wood rather than plastic -- once the cost is agreed they will be installed

Main Entrance Barrier

A new entrance gate is needed that will be set back from the main road and incorporate a height-limiting barrier -- costs to be obtained and planning requirements to be checked

Maintenance Issues

• * Improvements to the access gates at the canal and Green Lane so as to minimise the danger of children/dogs accidently getting through -- costs & contractor to be determined
• * Lifebelts for ponds being ordered and installed asap
• * Floating Bog
• * Cheshire East pathways are to be contacted to establish how to improve the access from Green Lane across the floating bog. A boardwalk is potentially a suitable solution

2021 Maintenance Plan

This will be revised to take into account all of the wildlife varieties as determined by the recent Wildlife Report carried out by Adrian Leighton.
This comprehensive report covers the surveying period May-September 2020. It follows on from the spot check survey undertaken by Cheshire Wildlife Trust in 2019. For purposes of comparison and continuity the survey has been undertaken along the lines of the area designations made by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust survey, with one or two slight modifications. See the report here -- you might be rather surprised to see the enormous variety of wildlife that exists in the field.

If anyone has any questions or would like to comment on any of the above, please contact us at turnpikefield2018@gmail.com and we will respond asap.

Steve Elliott
On behalf of the Turnpike Field Working Group.