Turnpike Field is changing

Turnpike Field is changing

If you have walked past and wondered what the work is for, this is it.

We are protecting the bridge and the boardwalk towards Green Lane, giving the brook room to breathe, and opening the field up for the village.

Large patches of balsam have already been cleared. An overflow wetland and two shallow ponds are in place, so heavy rain can slow down before it reaches the bridge. There is less pressure on the bank, less erosion, and a stronger future for the bridge and the boardwalk.

Now for the exciting part. The Parish Council is buying seed from Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and those cleared patches are ready to come alive.

We need volunteers. Schools, Cubs, gardening groups, families and anyone with a spare morning — this is your invitation. Help us sow the ground and stop the balsam taking it back. Together we can fill Turnpike Field with Cheshire wildflowers.

Picture it: yellow rattle, purple loosestrife, yellow flag iris, meadowsweet and common knapweed in the wetter ground, with hemp agrimony, water mint, marsh marigold and soft rush alongside them. Across the meadow, ox-eye daisy, red campion, bird’s-foot trefoil, selfheal, yarrow and meadow buttercup.

And there is more. On the top field, by the two oak trees, a picnic area is being created for children and for anyone who wants to sit, look and stay a while. Art classes and photography groups — the oaks, the flowers and the open field are yours to use.

This is only the beginning. More seeding, more invasive-plant control and more care for the banks are still to come. If you want to be part of it, message the Parish Council. Seeding days will also be shared through the schools and local groups.

Come and help Turnpike Field bloom.