Steve O'Connor, the Executive Director of Stobart Ports (who manage Ports and Inland Rail Terminals as part of the Stobart Group) has recently given us a donation that will cover a years bird feeding expenses at Pickerings Pasture and Hale Duck Decoy. The FoPP manage two bird feeding stations at Pickerings Pasture (one by the hide and another near the Visitors Centre) and one at Hale Duck Decoy. Feeding through the winter and at breeding time really boosts the survival rate and numbers of birds around. It has also increased public interest and visitors to the feeding stations get a lot of pleasure from observing wild birds. This donation means that our bird feeding programme is secure for now.

Cllr Marie Wright and Cllr  Shaun Osborne have given a good deal of support to the voluntary work that the FoPP do, for several years. They have attended meetings and helped us identify and seek funding for projects. They always respond, very quickly, with a visit and chat, to help us sort out issues that arise. It is good to know that our local councilors are always there when we need them.

Very recently, HBC managers Paul Wright and David Ramsbottom met with some members of the FoPP. They spent well over an hour listening to the concerns of the FoPP, in relation to nature conservation issues at Pickerings and the Decoy. They also explained their roles in nature conservation in Halton. They were encouraging in regard to the activities of the FoPP and David agreed to join our May meeting, to get to know the group better and to see how he could best support our work. There has been a problem with parking for Decoy work parties, since the barn conversions started. They promised to look into this. They also told us that funding would continue to be available for contracts with groups like BTCV, who do very important conservation work at the Decoy.  The FoPP look forward to developing a good working relationship with HBC Landscape Services (who have responsibility for Nature Conservation in Halton).