Blog & News

Blog

Tawd Telegraph

Hello!!! Welcome back to another blog instalment from Friends of Tawd Valley. We’ve been busy, busy in the first half of March – School visits,

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Tawd Roundup

Get prepared for this update by making yourself a brew and putting your feet up, because we’ve been up to quite a bit since the

News

Recent Wildlife Sightings – 27/02/2024

Written and photos by: Cornelius Jones It’s been a busy few weeks for the wildlife of the Tawd Valley Park. Buzzards have been seen competing

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Spring is in the Air!

As the promising rays of spring’s sunshine slowly, but surely burn their way through the gloomy, black, wintery clouds, they begin to bring some much

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#SkemLife

Check out this absolutely fantastic piece about Friends of Tawd Valley. It’s been put together by Ian Gamester and the The Sewing Rooms team. The

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Wintery Weekly Round-up

This update is definitely a short, but sweet one. First up, WLBC Parks and Countryside Ranger Service shared a really informative post from Skem First

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EXCITING NEW TAWD VALLEY PROJECT!

Ribble Rivers Trust, in collaboration with the Environment Agency and West Lancashire Borough Council, is excited to be starting the construction of a new wetland at Tawd Valley

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Green Gazette

Welcome back to one of our super exciting Tawd Valley Park blogs. This week we have a plethora of updates to share with you and

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Round-up Robin

A short, but sweet one for this update… January’s second Friday saw Team Tawd along with Rangers Chris and Hallam out repairing a section of

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Miyawaki Woodland Tree Planting

An exciting volunteer opportunity has arisen and we would love for you to be involved. Details below: Miyawaki Woodland Tree Planting at Mill Lane Play

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Welcoming in the New Year

We would like to start off by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. We hope you all had an amazing festive period, filled with joy,

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The Wild Times

FoTV have had a very busy beginning to the last month of the year, so without further a do, let us indulge you all with

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Read All About It…

Over the past month Team Tawd have been joining The Purple Umbrella group for weekly visits to The Ecumenical Centre. They’ve been working on the

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The Tawd Tabloid

We would like to start off this daily dose of updates with another MASSIVE thank you to Sue Kenyon for donating another two pairs of

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Quarterly Wildlife Report – Autumn 2023

Written by FoTV youth committee member – Cornelius Jones It’s a busy time of year for wildlife. Migratory birds are coming from Scandinavia, Iceland and

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A Peregrine for a Knave

Written by FoTV committee member – Mike Flaherty “As he left Scott’s hand and flew deeper into the wooded valley, it then dawned on me,

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The New Tawd Times

Unfortunately, due to a technical error, the Friends of Tawd Valley website has been down for the last few days, and we have fell behind

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Tawd Telegram

As Summer draws to a close and Autumn patiently waits just around the corner, we at Friends of Tawd Valley return from our summer break

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It’s That Time Again…!

…It’s time to tell you about all the goings on down in Tawd Valley Park. We have finally recovered from our lack of sleep after

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Tawd Tidings

Did you hear about the conversation with a Miner about the effects it had on the environment?It got rocky. Wow! First of all, let us

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Blog Blast!

As the rain continues to batter us, we all soldier on and look ahead to better and sunnier days to come. Until that day comes

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What’s been going on…?

We’ve been busy little beavers down in Tawd Valley Park, so without further a do, let us take you on a journey of the mind

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Valley Updates

Its that time again. It’s time to tell you about all the great things that are happening within the Tawd Valley Park. So, grab your

News

FoTV Annual General Meeting Minutes ’23

FRIENDS OF TAWD VALLEY MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 25th MAY 2023 There were fifteen FoTV Members in attendance plus Ranger Chris and Ranger Hannah

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EXTRA, EXTRA!!!

You all know what time it is! Its time to discover about all the weekly goings on in Tawd Valley Park. Last Saturday saw our

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News, News, News!!!

There is so much to get through. So, lets cut to the chase and lets do this! Starting us off… On the 16th May our

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The Non-Stop Action Continues

And again, we have so much to update you on. It has been another impressive couple of weeks from everyone at FoTV, our volunteers and

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A Whirlwind Few Weeks

Hold on for the ride. These updates are going to come thick and fast. Fasten your seatbelts… On the 14th April Team Tawd and the

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Daily Dose of Valley Updates

The beginning of the brand new month of April saw a muddy morning’s work for the FoTV volunteers, as they constructed two dams out of

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Committee Meeting – March Minutes

Moving forward FoTV would like to share our committee meeting minutes. This will help you better understand and keep you up to speed with what

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Weekly Round-up

Last Saturday saw an astounding turn out of volunteers for our tree planting near to the community fruit orchard. Approximately 280 saplings supplied by The

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Where to begin

Starting back at the beginning of the month, Friends of Tawd Valley joined the entire Douglas Catchment Partnership at the quarterly steering group meeting at

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What’s been happening…

Last Friday saw Team Tawd and Ranger Chris shift all the hay bales from Summer Street Wildflower Meadow, then they conducted a litter picking session.

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Committee Meetings

Moving forward FoTV would like to share our committee meeting minutes. This will help you better understand and keep you up to speed with what

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Your Daily Dose

To start us off – Our very own Cornelius Jones joined Groundwork CLM and WLBC Park and Countryside Ranger Service in some riverfly kick sampling

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Check it Trout… Sorry, Out!!!

The past week or so has been all about the brown trout. Last week, Mike (FoTV) and Samuel (Groundworks CLM) visited Year 2 and 3

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Straight out the Gate for February

The great work continues rolling into February, as this year shows no sign of slowing down. There is so much we have to report on

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Updates and News

The work continues down in Tawd Valley Park. Earlier in the week, its was an afternoon of getting muddy and wet as we got our

News

Committee Meetings

Moving forward FoTV would like to share our committee meeting minutes. This will help you better understand and keep you up to speed with what

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A Busy Start to 2023…

First up, Team Tawd and Ranger Chris walked through the valley for their first Friday session of 2023. They walked armed with pickers and bags

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Trout in the Classroom

There has been a lot happening at Friends of Tawd Valley this week. Firstly, we had the fantastic Boxing Day walk that had an impressive

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FoTV’s Boxing Day Walk

We at Friends of Tawd Valley hope you all had a wonderful Christmas period. As we fast approach the new year, we would love to

News

News Round-up

Early December highlights for FoTV and Tawd Valley Park First up, a big thank you to everyone who joined us at for our Festive Coffee

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Catch of the Day!!!

Recently, the Ribble Rivers Trust, WLBC Ranger Service and Groundworks NW visited the Tawd Valley Park to conduct electro-fishing along a stretch of the river

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Weekly Round-up

Plenty happening over the past week or so… First up, Team Tawd and the WLBC Ranger Service have begun work repairing the fishing pegs at

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Skelmersdale’s u3a Updates

Please find below Skelmersdale’s u3a meeting dates and meeting topics going forward. Formed in 2011, Skelmersdale U3A encourages members to participate in leisure, social and

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Wetland Work-out

The rain stayed away on Saturday morning whilst our team of epic volunteers gathered behind the allotments on Ashurst to begin digging the long and

News

EXCITING NEWS!!!

One year ago, FoTV was awarded the Wild Trout Trust’s – Trout in the Town Official Bronze Chapter Accreditation for the work achieved in improving

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Scrape Spectacular

FoTV volunteers and West Lancs Ranger Service had a fantastic day on Saturday, continuing the work on the wetland scrape project by the Tawd Valley

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Fungal and Foraging Fun

This Sunday saw another excellent guided walk play out down in Tawd Valley Park. FoTV, WLBC Ranger Service and members of the community came together

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Pride of Skelmersdale

FoTV were all systems go over the weekend. First up, we were at the Concourse Shopping Centre with our pop-up stall. We were very kindly

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FBA Priority Habitat Training

On Saturday, FoTV travelled to Preston College to join other members of friends, rivers and conservation groups in attending the Ribble Rivers Trust’s (RRT) and

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FoTV Moth Breakfast Event

On Sunday the rain stayed away for our fantastic “Moth Breakfast” event. A group of between 15 – 20 members of the community attended the

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How Did The Tree Get Lost?

It took the wrong root. Last Friday saw Team Tawd and WLBC Ranger Chris Horsfall clearing fallen trees from two pathways within Tawd Valley Park.

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Love My River Project Volunteer Day

Last Thursday, FoTV had the great pleasure of being involved in Groundworks’ Love My Rivers project volunteer day down at Tawd Valley Park. The morning

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Rivington Kick Sample Volunteer Day

The weekend saw FoTV join Groundworks and their Love My Rivers Project, Rivington Country Park Rangers, Environment Times and other members of the Douglas Catchment

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Give me a Sign!!!

We have been asked by many members of the public, what they should do when they witness pollution within the River Tawd. So, we have

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Beacon Country Park Green Fayre

Fantastic weekend at the Green Fayre. Thank you to everyone who came to say “Hello”. We loved seeing you all. We had the “Name the

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Community Riverfly Monitoring Experience

Saturday brought another fantastic community day at Tawd Valley Park. A group of around 15 members of the community joined in for our “Riverfly Monitoring

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Pollution Panic!!!

After the recent pollution incident on the River Tawd, FoTV were keen to conduct a kick sampling session to determine the affects it had on

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Battering the Balsam

The rain held off for FoTV and volunteers on Saturday as they continued with the important work of Balsam Bashing down in Tawd Valley Park.

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Summer Wildlife Walk

Another splendid event down in Tawd Valley Park this weekend. This event saw FoTV, the WLBC Ranger Service and members of the local community come

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Jubilee Celebrations

Friday saw West Lancashire’s continued Jubilee celebrations come to Skelmersdale. And what better place to hold such an event than at the towns very own

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Well, it’s oh-fish-ial

Why do most people dislike anchovies…? Because they’re a little fishy. As readers of our blogs may already know, some members of FoTV have recently

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WLBC Dog Festival

Friends of Tawd Valley was invited by the Park Rangers Service to set up a stall at the WLBC Dog Festival at Beacon Country Park,

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Friday Team Tawd Update

Just a quick update on “The Adventures of Captain Ranger Chris and his Team Tawd Troop”. It was a busy Friday morning for Team Tawd

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You WOOD not believe it…

…but Fridays Team Tawd have done it again!!! Friday saw another valiant effort from Ranger Chris and Team Tawd as they created a seating area

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A Spring Clean

It was that time of the month again on Saturday, when our volunteers come together to get stuck into whatever tasks needed doing down in

News

FoTV Annual Meeting 2022

Below are details and information regarding our AGM.  Our AGM will take place on Tuesday 17th May and will be held at Skelmersdale Ecumenical Centre

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Results from the Bat Walk

THE RESULTS ARE IN!!! We have excitedly received the results from our recently held bat walk event held in Tawd Valley Park. The data below

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Breakfast with the Birds

Who’d of known that a 4AM, yes I said 4AM, even existed!!! Sunday morning brought about FoTV’s much anticipated Dawn Chorus Event. And what a

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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Continuing to Kick Sample at the River Tawd

This weekend, a small group of the Douglas Catchment Partnership, codenamed “The River Squadron”, visited the Tawd Valley Park to get some more practice in

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FoTV in Our Lancashire Newsletter

Friends of Tawd Valley have had a featured section in the Our Lancashire Newsletter for West Lancashire February 2022. Click the link below to check

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Douglas Friends Tawd Walk

This week, Friends of Tawd Valley had the honour of showing off the Tawd Valley Park to some of our Douglas Catchment Partnership friends. We

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TVP’s Big Brother

Neighbour to the Tawd Valley Park with its rolling grasslands, deep mixed woodlands and patchy wetlands is the stunning Beacon Country Park, which has everything

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The Meeting Place Project – Part 1

This weekend FoTV volunteers courageously defied the elements and battled through the cold wind and rain to get the job done. The Meeting Place Project

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Wildlife Badge Explorer Trail

There are 18 wooden wildlife badges on a number of bridges, fences and posts along the Tawd Valley Park. Can you find them all? We’ll

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Douglas Challenge Project

Jake Oseland is a project assistant on the Douglas Challenge Project and a member of Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside. Check out what he has

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Kick Sampling the River Tawd

Over the past few months Friends of Tawd Valley have been working with the Love My River Project Officer Samuel Gibson. Kick Sampling is the

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Asda Green Token Scheme

Dear Friends, Please see below message from Asda saying FOTV has been nominated for the Green Token Award Scheme. As you will see FOTV can

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Restart monthly volunteering sessions

We have begun preparations ready for the Friends of Tawd Valley volunteer day on the 4th September. Today, we have broken ground and dug out