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Ron Carey, who represented Northwich East on the Council for 31 years, is a former Council Chairman and Vice Chairman, and was a prominent member of the Environment Committee. Ron became an Honorary Alderman in 2001.
The park has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in recognition of its biological importance. Rare calcareous grasses have been established on lime waste (a legacy of the town’s salt-based chemical industry), providing a habitat for rare Dingy Skipper butterflies, other invertebrates and birds. They also support the rare Fragrant Orchid and a variety of wild flowers and grasses such as Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy and Cats Ear. The site currently boasts the largest population of Dingy Skipper in Cheshire.
The regeneration project has been funded largely by Cheshire County Council. Additional funding from Powergen, Brunner Mond and The Mersey Forest provided the ramped access at Leicester Street and valuable screening of the steam pipelines near the park. The park is owned and managed by the Council with guidance from Natural England. The park forms part of the Northwich Community Woodlands and is managed on a daily basis by the Rangers at nearby Marbury Country Park.
More than 10 acres of woodland have been planted at the park and in Spring 2008 rare breeds, kindly supplied by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, will help the Park Rangers manage the scrub which thrives on the SSSI. Hebridean sheep will graze on the developing young trees and will help to control woody vegetation to maintain the conservation value of the lime bed grassland. Short legged Dexter cows, who do not damage the ground as much as the heavier breeds, will graze the restored grasslands.
Visitors can enter the park through the two ornate gates, one on Marbury Lane which is decorated with a butterfly and the other, accessed from Leicester Street, which is decorated with a ladybird. Alternatively, access may be gained over Carden's Ferry footbridge, installed in 2003, creating a through route between Anderton and Northwich along the bank of the River Weaver.
Waste Homepage
Waste & Planning Service, Backford Hall, Chester CH1 6PX Map
General Enquiries Tel: 01244 973000 Fax: 01244 973746
waste@cheshire.gov.uk |
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