The beginning..

Nobody I know is quite sure on what "The Dell" was, is or will. This blog will capture the moments of a journey the Friends of The Dell (FOTD or Dell Boys if you will) go through in discovering, nurturing and just simply enjoying the great place.

I remember when I first stumbled across the gem and feeling rather tranced, as if I had travelled back in time. The pathway up towards it is a lovely avenue of mixed trees consisting mainly of oak, sycamore and birch with the odd ash dotted here and there -

This then leads to a grassed wooded path leading to a great Sweet Chestnut and then on to the old quarry(?)

Although the area had not been measured, its safe to say its not as big as I once remembered.

Pondering on its becoming raised a theory of how this man made dell was formed.. with the site being situated on an old estate, the Dell is thought to have been made to extract the rock to make the endless lengths of wall needed to establish a boundary. The steep slopes, lumps and bumps are made from the spoil taken away to gain access to the robust metamorphic rock.
As this blog goes on we aim to find out as much history as we can to give this lost world back its character.

In recent years the trees have been left to decay aswell as being subject to vandalism and anti-social behaviour..

 Burnt out Beech tree

 Fallen Ash tree

 Strangling tree ties due to poor

management

 Vast amounts of litter

 ..With this sad news came the idea that such a beloved place with fond memories should be used well, to conserve and promote a much larger array of organisms big and small and give back habitat in hope of bio diversity establishing for everyone to enjoy.

So the foundations have been laid!
With the aim to create a wildlife haven and recreational Mecca, lets get down to business.

The first proposed key tasks will be as follows:

1. Create a clear footpath following the already existing disire line with possibly logs or woven fence.
2. Create central focal point; seating area for people to sit, relax and enjoy the surroundings (half created today).
   
3. Construct bird boxes for within the main trees.
4. Create a bat roost for the sweet chestnut tree.
5. Thin out Rhododendrons and place log piles under remaining ones for Hedgehog habitat.
6. Fell dangerous trees and remove hung up trees safely.
7. Use any stumps, limbs, stems we can in a creative recycling manner.

Secondary proposed tasks:

1. Excavate steps into deep slope and create hand rail.
   
2. Sow wild flower seeds to create a meadow in both sections leading into The Dell (Huyton Lane/Liverpool Road)
3. Plant new trees with funding from the Princes Trust and Woodland Trust along fence line within the Dell and cleared areas due to dead/vandalised trees.
4. Remove dead wood from trees by pathways.
5. Away from pathways carry out conservation pruning. 
6. Look into renting a woodchipper to clear site and add walkways.

It was a hard days carving today and sincerely welcomed the display of a snow shower. Hopefully will get the chance to finish off the benches next week.

In the mean time we will be putting together a management plan in the aims to propose this to Knowsley Council come March.

The main purpose of this blog is to document all the work that goes on whilst waiting to recieve contact from the council. We in no way intend to cause harm to any part of the Dell nor do we intend to breach any trespassing legalities.

If you have stumbled upon this blog by accident please feel free to follow and suggest tips. We are a budding group of amature conservationists!