Chester Weather Station

By Paul Makin

The Friends of Westminster Park joined in the BBC's Breathing Spaces Tree O'Clock on Saturday morning 5 December. This was a nation-wide event involving local groups in over 60 counties with the intention of breaking the Guinness Book of records for the number trees planted in one hour - currently over 600,000.

Starting sharp at 11.00 the 17 Friends planted over 200 trees in the old Tree Nursery in about 35 minutes - much to their surprise. The Friends were joined by planters from the Cheshire Landscape Trust and the Lache Community Centre. The trees were a mixture of local native species such as silver birch, hazel, rowan, holly, spindle tree crab-apple and bird cherry. They were planted in the old tree nursery alongside the trees planted earlier this year as part of the Park development plan. The aim is to provide seeds and fruit to attract birds into the Park.

The Friends were helped by Jill Connolly, Parks Manager and Julia Wilson, Community Worker.

Trees were donated by Vale Contracts, the Cheshire Landscape Trust, the Council and individual members of the Friends.

An enjoyable morning helping to improve the bio-diversity in the Park.

Story also published in the Chester Chronicle

By Paul Makin.

Pictures of a woodmouse taken early morning in August 09 in a garden backing on to Westminster Park. It is not unknown for woodmice to raid feeders but this one must have been very hungry. To get to the feeder which is 6 feet off the ground it had to climb a 8 feet pole and then scramble down a supporting wire. This one stayed put whilst I took these shots and was still eating when I went away. Woodmice are common in gardens around the Park.