Lytham Cricket & Sports Club, based at Church Road Lytham, is undertaking a three year project to improve the non playing areas of their multi sports club.
 
Thes project involves regenerating the existing woodland area, improving established hedgerows, creating a new native hedgerow & planting wild flower meadows. Support for the scheme has come from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, ECB Cricket Force 2008, Lytham St Annes Civic Society, Lancashire County Council Green Partnership Scheme, the RSPB, Michael Jack MP & local councillors Tim Ashton & Louis Rigby.
 
"Several schools have also indicated their desire to be involved" added Lytham Cricket & Sports Club Grounds Chairman Peter Harris. "The project complements certain Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme modules & allows participants the opportunity to experience practical conservation work first hand" he explained.
 
The project is being co-ordinated by Kath Godfrey from the BTCV who already has volunteers working on the site each Tuesday & Wednesday from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Anybody wishing to join in this activity should report to the BTCV at the Church Road ground during the hours indicated above.
 
"The big volunteering push will take place from February 16th to February 24th inclusive" Harris continued. "Many students from local schools, conservation bodies & our own club will be involved during this period. It is envisaged that planting the new hedgerow made up entirely of native shrubs & trees will be undetaken during this period, along with planting of a wide range of native willd flowers.
 
This new hedgerow will run along our northern boundary & help form a wild life corridor between the two sections of Witch Wood, currently managed by Lytham St Annes Civic Society. The Civic Society support this delelopment & I understand the plan is also endorsed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust "
 
"Like many such projects, initial work can often make things look worse before they get better" Harris commented. "Clearing invasive scrub & unwanted ground cover, needs to take place before replanting can begin. This work is essential for the long term establishment of a thriving woodland & will assist our objective of increasing biodiversity on the site. This project should help improve the whole area for the benefit of people & wildlife alike. It is also our hope that it contributes in some small way towards making Lytham an even nicer place in which to live."
 
The entire project is expected to take three years to complete.