Bidston Moss project

Birkenhead, Wirral, United Kingdom

City population: 319680

Duration: 2006 – 2008

Implementation status: Completed

Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level, Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)

Project area: 680000 m²

Type of area: Previous derelict area

Last updated: October 2021

Until the 1990's Bidston Moss was a landfill site and was "unsafe for public access", thus giving a negative impression (close to several residential areas). Restoring work begun in 1995, and in 2006 development started in Bidston Moss through a Newlands scheme: including new features and landscape enhancements to “unlock the full potential” of the area (“as a valued and well-used community woodland for local people and wildlife.”). (Ref. 1, 2)

Bidston moss

https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/things-to-do/walks-bike-rides-and-more/walks/bidston-moss/

Overview

Nature-based solution

Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Blue infrastructure
Lakes/ponds

Key challenges

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Conversion of former industrial areas
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Economic development: industry
Economic development: service sectors
Real estate development

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

A former landfill site of 40 hectares (extended with 28 hectares) to be transformed into community woodland with the aim to deliver much needed contribution to inner Wirral's social, economic and environment needs. (Ref. 3, 4, 6) Objectives included are: provide image improvements for the City region of Liverpool through woodland creation (around Junction 1, M53), deliver a beacon site within the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park, create a zone of influence around the project area for e.g. inward business investment, and contribute to 'Merseyside's Biodiversity Action Plan' targets. (Ref. 6) Additional aims include encourage more marginal vegetation and improving wildlife habitats (with regards to the lake mentioned below) (Ref. 3) and bring the people of Europe together. (Ref. 3, 4)

Implementation activities

“Bidston Moss was transformed into a thriving community woodland. Investment from Newlands meant that the fishing lake could be renovated, making it a destination for local residents and schools. Overall access to the site was improved thanks to the addition of the footbridge over the mainline railway. The improvements to the site also made it a popular venue for many sporting events. A number of community events, including fun runs and family open days, were held on site to introduce local people to their new community woodland. In 2007, Bidston Moss became the home for the world's first Green Billboard - a living structure of willow trees stretching over 20 metres, onto which a message board is mounted. Located on the edge of the site and close to a main road, it was a great way to promote an environmental message and raise awareness of Bidston Moss at the same time.” (Ref. 1)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems

Main beneficiaries

National-level government
Local government/Municipality
Private sector/Corporate/Company
Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

National government
Regional government
Citizens or community group

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The Newlands land regeneration scheme is a Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) initiative. The Forestry Commission is managing Bidston Moss over the long term. The management is in partnership with MWDA (Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority), Groundwork Wirral, The Mersey Forest and Wirral Council. (Ref. 1, 2, 3) Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) delivered the Newlands scheme in partnership with the Forestry Commission and various local authorities, along with several major landowners such as United Utilities and Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority around North West England. (Ref. 7)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (One of the aims is that the quality place created at Bidston Moss will enhance the gateway to Liverpool which is a European Capital of Culture (2008), a European City of Culture project launched in 1985 aiming to bring the people of Europe together. (Ref. 3, 4) )

... a national policy or strategy? Yes (Bidston Moss has been developed through the Newlands scheme – an initiative of the North West Development Agency and Forestry Commission. (Ref. 2) The Newlands project was launched by the Deputy Prime Minister in 2003 to reclaim derelict land in North West England and transform them into community woodlands. (Ref. 7))

... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€2,000,000 - €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

EU funds
Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Other

Type of funding

Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Other

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of land
Provision of labour

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Private sector (businesses, financial institution)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Environmental quality
Improved waste management
Improved soil quality
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

Unknown
Stimulate development in deprived areas
Generation of income from NBS
Increased market share for green economies

Socio-cultural impacts

Safety
Increased perception of safety
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Improved mental health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Other

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

References

Ref. 1. Newlands (n.d.) Bidston Moss. Sites. Information obtained: 2017-07-27. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]
Ref. 2. Newlands (2007/2008) Social Indicators Report - Bidston Moss. 2007-2008. Measuring the social impact of Bidston Moss Community Woodland. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]
Ref. 3. Newlands (2006) £2 million boost for Wirral's woodlands. Press information. Bidston Moss Funding Announcement. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]
Ref. 4. Newlands (2006) 28 hectare extension to Wirral's 'new economic woodlands'. Press Release. Bidston Moss Announcement Of Extension. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]
Ref. 5. The Mersey Forest (2014) Get "into the zone" at Wirral woodland. Information obtained: 2017-07-27. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]
Ref. 6. Newlands (n.d.) Bidston Moss Context Plan. Bidston, North Wirral, Merseyside. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]
Ref. 7. Forest research (n.d.) Newlands. Gov. UK. Information obtained: 2017-07-27. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]
Ref. 8. Wirral Waters (2011) Indicative economic assessment. Wirral. Source: Source link [Accessed 28 August 2020]

Bidston Moss

http://hosting.creativeconcern.com/newlands_OLDER/bidstonmoss_map.html