The FoPP and volunteers from the Croda 1% Club spent a morning, on the 11th November, cutting back the bramble and saplings, in front of the Pickerings Pasture hide. Hard work but the improvement in visibility, for bird watchers, is always much appreciated.

The FoPP were several members down and the extra hands, provide by the Croda volunteers, proved extremely useful.

The area in front of the hide needs cutting back every year. The FoPP provide a lot of the tools but the HBC ranger also brings along additional tools and gloves. Volunteers need to wear appropriate clothing and foot ware, for the often damp and muddy conditions.

                                        We worked from 9.30am till just after midday, then carried the equipment back to the car park area. Some of the FoPP members, with the ranger, also put up a barrier across one of the old hide paths, to improve the bird feeding station area.                                                

Croda Europe Ltd - Widnes, is a chemicals company that is 'committed to ensuring that it has a positive impact on the local community'. It encourages most full time staff to spend 2 or 3 days a year getting involved with community projects. The FoPP welcomed their support and look forward to working, on future project days, with them, at Pickerings Pasture or Hale Duck Decoy.