NEWS FROM WARTON VILLAGE
Introduction
I am writing to you on behalf of Warton Parish Council regarding the ongoing regeneration project in the woodland adjacent to the small quarry car park on Warton Crag. You may already be aware of this initiative, which aims to enhance and revitalise the area for the benefit of the local community.
Regeneration Efforts
As part of the initial phase, we have undertaken the clearance of Ash trees from the site. This has provided us with a blank canvas, enabling us to replant a diverse selection of trees and bulbs. Our primary objective is to support and promote local wildlife through thoughtful and sustainable planting choices.
Proposed Features and Community Use
In our efforts to make this area accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of people, we have planned several new features. These include the installation of a forest school area with afire pit surrounded by rustic seating, as well as a finds table, where visitors can display interesting items discovered on the crag. For safety, the entire area will be securely fenced, ensuring that children can take part in activities without the risk of running into the car park.
Request for Support
With these improvements in place, we would like to ask whether your group would consider making regular use of this space. We are currently inviting local groups to submit letters of support to the Parish Council, which will be instrumental in securing the necessary funding for the continued regeneration of this important community asset.
Objectives
|
No. |
Objectives (including environmental, economic and social considerations) |
|
1 |
Fell remaining ash in public areas to enable new growth/planting and increase safety on site in bottom compartment. |
|
2 |
Create a forest school area which incorporates views from the woodland – encouraging community engagement and providing work for instructors. |
|
3 |
Plant suitable native trees in protected blocks – fenced off and with bio-degradable tubes. |
|
4 |
Control invasive cotoneasters using specialist operators on the crag face – continue yearly monitoring |
|
5 |
Clear scrub at top of quarry to open up area for new regeneration and future planting opportunities – retain positive trees that have no impact on public safety. |
|
6 |
Bulbs will be planted in and around compartment 1 |
Registered CIO 1216082
Premises Licence LAPLNA0047
Hire charges from 1st March 2026
|
ROOM |
COST PER HOUR |
|
Sole Use of Hall |
£15.00 |
|
Main Hall |
£12.00 |
|
Refreshment Room |
£10.00 |
|
Main Hall & Refreshment Room |
£15.00 |
|
Lecture Room |
£10.00 |
SPECIAL RATES FOR FRIDAY/SATURDAY EVENINGS:
Full use of ground floor, including the kitchen for catering
£60.00 + £20 deposit which will be returned if no cleaning is required
CHILDREN’S PARTIES: £35.00
ADULT/FAMILY PARTIES:£60.00
Hire of white linen tablecloths:£10 + £20 deposit
(Up to 30 tablecloths are available, please return washed and ironed)
EXHIBITIONS/OTHER EVENTS: Price on application
Bar: Temporary Events Licence has to be applied for (2 weeks’ notice) - cost £21.00
Deposit and Cancellation: A deposit of 25% of the hire fee is taken at the time of booking. This deposit is retained if notice of cancellation is given within 2 weeks of the date booked.
BOOKING SECRETARY / CARETAKER COMMITTEE SECRETARY:
Mrs Carol Wolfenden Mrs Fiona Graham-Spicer
14 Gardner Road 6 Gardner Road
Warton Warton
Tel: 07929 283657 Tel: 07884 465973
KEY HOLDER:KEY HOLDER:
Chris LeeMrs Julia Greenwood
112 Main StreetBayleys, Back Lane
WartonWarton
Tel: 07970 718805Tel: 07949 434747
If you, or your club, wish to update their listing or, if you have any news of events occurring in the Village or local area that you would like to share, please let us know. Simply send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Post Office outreach service in Warton is changing its hours: with immediate effect it will be operating at Warton Village Hall from 0930-1100 each Tuesday
Welcome to RSPB Warton Mires!
Our Vision
In the short-term the reserve will be managed for the benefit of its lowland wet-grassland habitat potential, managing it less intensively, and attempting to expose the existing water table during the spring and early summer months to deliver improved habitat for breeding lapwing. It will become a biodiverse rich landscape with varied wildflower interest.
The medium to long term aim, subject to funding, was for Warton Mires to become an exemplar within the Morecambe Bay Local Nature Partnership Area, for delivering multiple benefits i.e. the combination of delivering for wildlife, the community and flood alleviation. However, after a lot of feasibility work the complexity and cost of building an embankment and operating pumps means that this will not be pursued unless circumstances change. We will endeavour to support the local community in any further work that they wish to pursue that could help to mitigate flood risk including sharing any research / modelling undertaken to date. We will explore options to use solar-powered water pumps to recycle water within the site to keep scrapes and grips wet during the breeding season without holding back water that drains from the site.
Above and beyond existing commitments, the mires will become a more diverse wet-grassland complex. During the next 2-year period there will be works to create shallow scrapes (small pool like features) and grips (see photo below)and a predation exclusion fence around part of the site to protect ground nesting birds (subject to resources and any additional consents). This will further maximise the potential of the habitat for breeding lapwings but also improve the site for other waders such as redshank, snipe, avocet and curlew.
The site will also continue to provide an important refuge for wetland birds during the winter months and improvements will mean it will be an increasingly important site within the Morecambe Bay area, with nationally and internationally significant populations of waders and wildfowl.
Warton Mires will be an integral part of Warton Village and the community will benefit from the reserve and its development by connecting local people with nature on their doorstep.
The 2-year Plan
Funding has been secured to make the habitat improvement works set out above – creating shallow scrapes and grips which will expose water in the spring and early summer to provide muddy feeding edges for waders, such as Lapwing, and their chicks.
These will be put in this Autumn (end August-September) by a highly qualified team who are used to working on wet ground and creating high quality habitat features. An excavator will carry out the scrape work. It will also make some improvements to the ditches on the reserve by creating shallower edges so that birds can access the water more easily. The grips will be put in by a specialist bit of kit called a soil spreader, which will excavate and then ‘throw’ the soil across the ground in a thin layer, meaning that there won’t be mounds of soil to find a home for.
On top of the habitat work, we’ll also be installing some new fencing to replace existing ones that need repair. They will allow cows that graze the reserve to be moved around more easily, and we can target their grazing exactly where we need it. We do this because the waders prefer to nest in shorter grass, so that they can see predators coming and group together to chase them off! We will also be doing a bit of hedge maintenance on the reserve to make sure the hedge stays clear of the footpath and that they are in the best condition to support both birds and pollinators.
Next Autumn (2027), the plan is to put in place a predator exclusion fence around part of the site. The plans are still being drawn up on how this will look but it will mean that ground nesting birds are protected from land-based predators such as foxes. We’ll also be looking at what path improvements we can make. We will update this page in due course with a bit more information on our plans for this.
The Warton and District Bowling Club have updated their listing. To find out more about the club go to the left hand Main Menu and select ‘Groups’ and follow the link.
New members welcome at all groups!
Weekly/Fortnightly Events:
Monday - badminton 1-3pm
Monday – sketching 1-3pm (07903 986180)
Monday - beavers then cubs 5.45pm-8.15pm
Tuesday - badminton 7-9pm (07929 283657)
Tuesday – art and craft group 7.15-9pm (07903 986180)
Wednesday – music club (2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month)
Wednesday late afternoon/early evening – LDS Theatre Arts
Thursday late afternoon/early evening – LDS Theatre Arts
Friday late afternoon/early evening - LDS Theatre Arts
Saturdays - LDS Theatre Arts
Monthly Events:
First Tuesday at 7.30pm – Warton Parish Council
Second Thursday Gardening Club
Third Thursday 7.00-10.00pm – Warton Crag W.I.
First Friday 1.00-3.00pm – Craft Group
The hall has a table tennis table, fully equipped kitchen, disabled facilities, hearing loop system, speakers, projector and screen, staging and tiered seating equipment, chairs on trolleys, bar, choice of three rooms, modern toilets, main hall marked out for badminton court
For further information and for enquiries about running your own class or course, please contact Carol Wolfenden on 07929 283657
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