The Big Bat Walk

Saturday night saw FoTV host its first event of the year – The Big Bat Walk. Just under 30 attendees met at Tawd Valley Allotments at 8pm to listen to Billinge Bat Rescues – Harold and Mike, who gave a talk and a Q&A on bats that inhabit the British Isles. The talk held the … Read more

Riverfly Monitoring Training at Tawd Valley Park

Wednesday saw FoTV along with other groups and organisations of the Douglas Catchment Partnership come together to receive their Riverfly Monitoring Training down in Tawd Valley Park. Mike Duddy of the Mersey Rivers Trust, who was the teacher for the day, started off at Skelmersdale Library with welcomes and introductions. He then proceeded with the … Read more

FoTV leading the (path)way

This weekend has been a very busy one for Team Tawd, FoTV and our amazing volunteers. Friday and Saturday saw the creation of a pathway to connect the Meeting Place Picnic Area to the other main public footpaths in the area. On Friday, Team Tawd along with WLBC Ranger Chris got to work using the … Read more

Team Tawd’s Track Tune-up – Part 2

Friday seen the continuation of the pathway maintenance project currently happening down in Tawd Valley Park. WLBC Ranger Chris organised a mini digger, powered wheelbarrow and a whacker plate along with deliveries of stone and gravel. Chris and Team Tawd then got to work digging out a new path line to shift the path away … Read more

Team Tawd’s Track Tune-up – Part 1

Earlier this week, Terry and Mike of FoTV took a visit down to the Tawd Valley Park to identify projects that FoTV and volunteers could achieve during the spring and summer months. One project that required action was the need for maintenance on areas of the riverside pathways that run through the Valley. This had … Read more

Tigers Clough Kick Sampling

Last Sunday, The River Squadron visited Tigers Clough in Rivington, not only to get some more kick sampling practice in, but also to compare the results they recorded here with the results that they have obtained from past River Tawd kick sampling sessions. Tigers Clough is situated in the ancient Knollshaw Estate and is near … Read more

The Queens Green Canopy

This morning, FoTV was involved in one of the four tree plantings across the West Lancashire Borough Council area, as part of The Queens Green Canopy Platinum Jubilee project. The chosen site for Skelmersdale’s tree is next to the newly placed rock feature located metres away from where the old bandstand used to be. Fun … Read more

The Change in the Seasons

Spring is just around the corner and with its warm arrival brings increased activity in our wildlife. From hibernating mammals, insects and amphibians waking from their long slumber to the hustle and bustle overhead, as birds begin with their nest building frenzy. There is so much to see at this time of year and Skelmersdale, … Read more

The Meeting Place Project – Part 2

This weekend FoTV volunteers were joined by WLBC Ranger Ben for the second part of the Meeting Place Project. As you may remember on our last volunteer day, FoTV volunteers constructed a large timber raised vegetable and wildflower bed and also laid tonnes of gravel to create a pathway and flooring ready for picnic tables. … Read more

A Rivers Journey

Have you ever wondered where the River Tawd flows and meanders to after it disappears into the inky shadows of the Cobbs Clough Road Tunnel? If your answer is – Yes, then please continue to read below. The River Tawd looks to start its 8 mile journey near to Crawford village, rolling in and out … Read more