An innovation at Risley Moss has now gone live using NFC technology (Near Field Communication Technology) to bring the trails to life at the reserve. See the WBC website for detaisl of how to access the information available on the Risley Moss Nature Trails.
https://warrington-cms.cms-live.firmstep.com/risley-moss-nature-trails
Just released is a new booklet from Rob Smith detailing the Amphibians and reptiles of Risley Moss.
This Booklet is available from RIMAG at £2.50 per copy, we will have them available at various events over the coming months but if you would like one just e mail us at contact@rimag.org.uk and we will get back to you.
I had a quick wander at the moss today to check out the new boardwalk, lots of dragonflies (mostly four spot chasers) and damselflies (Azure and large red). Then on to the view point over the moss. Three Hobbies were feeding over the moss. As I was watching Ste Dodd arrived and we had a great chat and catch up. He was also on the lookout for hobbies and mentioned that he had seen them feeding over the mini moss. So the boardwalk could give a great platform from which to view them feeding in close up. I didn’t get a photo myself but the one above was taken by Phil Rees over the moss a few years ago.
WHERE TO BUY
Our dragonfly pins are proving very popular!
Here we have listed the ways you can get your hands on one:
They are £5 each, make great gifts.
PURCHASE ONLINE FROM OUR TALENTED DESIGNER
Birch Bark Illustration and Design kindly designed the pins for free.
You can buy them directly from Birch Bark using the link below:
Click here to buy online
E-MAIL US IF YOU’RE LOCAL
You can email us at: contact@rimag.org.uk and we will try and arrange a time and place to get one to you!
Here is a link to the long awaited response of the council to what is happening towards replacing the Tower that was destroyed by and act of vandalism last year.
WBC stance regarding replacement tower
See what you think and send us a response are post on the facebook link. As you can see from the press release this is nothing new to those who have followed this but at least we now have something in writing from Warrington Borough Council.
It is nearly 6 months since arsonists burned down the Risley Moss Cruden Observation Tower and there has been much discussion as to what should replace it. The good news is that Warrington Borough Council are committed to replacing the old structure, but with what is uncertain at this stage. Consultations are ongoing and in the New Year there will be a public consultation on the proposals which Risley Moss Action Group (RIMAG) will make public as soon as possible.
RIMAG are coordinating the fund raising efforts of the local community and many donations have been channelled their way. One such donation came from Spectrum Striders, who used income from the Birchwood 10K in August to raise a donation of £500. Janet Redpath, the 2017 Spectrum Striders Race Director, along with committee member Jenny McIntyre, presented a cheque to the rebuilding fund. The Race Director said this was a way of the runners putting something back into the community. The cheque was received by Mark Cozens of the Warrington Borough Council Ranger Service and Dr Paul Speake, Chair of RIMAG.
Groups have also raised funds by completing the Three Peaks Challenge of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis or donating to the fund via a GoFundMe page, along with donations from the Friends of Birchwood Forest Park. Specific fund-raisers have been organised by RIMAG and a trio of local Mums, Emma, Sian and Karen known affectionately as the Coven, who organised the Halloween Event raising £2,500. The total for the fund now sits at over £7300 and RIMAG intend to organise more events in the coming months.
We at RIMAG where wondering what would be the best structure to replace the Tower at the reserve. But then we thought what do the local people want to see and what would best serve their needs. So we would like your input. Do you have a drawing or suggestion as to what could replace the tower to best utilse and enhance the view?
Any Ideas can be e-mailed to us at contact@rimag.org.uk
Thanks you any input will be greatly received and put forward to the council as to what the public would like to see.
Risley moss Action Group and the Tower Fund
Risley Moss Action Group are liaising with Warrington Borough Council and their Rangers in order to raise money for the refurbishment of the iconic fire damaged observation tower. If any one wishes to donate to this fund cheques made payable to Risley Moss Action Group can be handed into the rangers at the moss or deposited in the donations box in the visitor centre at the moss. Any donations will be administered solely by Risley Moss Action Group and passed on to the council as and when the plans for the Tower come to fruition. As RIMAG is a registered charity (No: 1041935) and if you are a current tax payer then we can claim monies from the Government under the flag of Gift Aid, to supplement your donation by 25%. Please download (Gift Aid Declaration) and return the signed form with your donations.
We are also working on setting up a donations page on our website through the medium of PayPal when this is established we will post more information.
If anyone has any idea as to what they would like to replace the tower then the Rangers, RIMAG and the Council are open to any suggestions. We are currently working in the framework to produce something that would be iconic but it would have to conform to full disability access as well as being iconic to fit in with current building regulations. If you have any ideas then e-mail us on contact@rimag.org.uk
Garden Bumble Bees
Saturday 11th March
Risley Moss Local Nature Reserve
11.00am – 12.30pm
A talk by local expert George Pilkington on the ecology of bumble bees, their pests and his own innovative bumble bee nest boxes
Cost – £3 per person – Includes light refreshments
George is kindly donating any money generated to the Risley Moss Green Safari Fund