THIS IS A SAD TIME FOR THE FoPP. THE RANGER SERVICE, WHICH HAS RUN HALTON EVENTS, AT NATURE RESERVES AND IN THE PARKS, FOR MANY YEARS, WILL CEASE TO EXIST ON THE LAST DAY OF MARCH.

RANGERS HAVE SUPPORTED FREINDS GROUPS AND BEEN THE FOCUS OF INFORMATION, HELP AND EXPERTISE, FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OTHER VISITORS, AT HALTON'S NATURE RESERVES AND PARKS.

The FoPP have worked closely with the Ranger Service for more than ten years. Rangers have expertise and knowledge that they are able to share with the public and a support system that has encouraged the growth of nature reserve and parks Friends groups.

The FoPP are concerned about what will happen at Pickerings Pasture LNR and Hale Duck Decoy NR. Who will open and support the Pickerings Pasture Visitors Centre? Who will lead the Hale Duck Decoy guided walks? Who will support, encourage and assist our volunteer group? We have no idea. We have not been supplied with any information, though we have been told that our AGM can take place on Saturday, April 16th, 1.30pm, at Pickerings Visitors Centre. 

We would have liked to see more transparency. The plans for change have not happened over night. Some consultation or information would have been helpful. While we understand that all authorities are having to make financial cut backs, we are worried that the needs of amazing nature reserves, like Pickerings and the Decoy, and their importance to local and other visitors, along with their wild life and conservation issues, might not have been given due consideration.

Anne Faulkner has been the Ranger at Pickerings Pasture for the last year and has taken parties on guided walks to Hale Duck Decoy. She has been a great support to our group and we had hoped to continue to work with her for many years. We think it is quite tragic that she will no longer be the Pickerings Pasture Ranger, by the end of this March, when the service is closed down.