A ‘HIDDEN gem’ green space in Winsford which was once ‘nothing more than a pile of rubble’ has been awarded top status in this year's RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
Weaver Parkway lies just to the north of Winsford town centre on the east bank of the River Weaver.
It is crisscrossed by more than 4kms of largely accessible paths and is a true haven for both people and wildlife.
It is real hotspot for Britain’s largest native snake, the grass snake, which thrive in its mix of open woodland and freshwater wetland.
The 250-strong Friends of Weaver Parkway group was set up in 2010 to help maintain the park through both fundraising and hands-on conservation and improvement works.
A core of around 15 dedicated volunteers form working parties on Wednesdays, 10am -3pm, where they deliver all kinds of conservation, education, and access projects.
On November 4, all the hard work was rewarded when Friends of Weaver Parkway were awarded ‘Outstanding' status in the It's Your Neighbourhood competition at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom Awards 2025.
This year is only the second time Winsford Parkway was entered into the national competition, which makes landing the top award all the more impressive.
Learning from the feedback they received in 2024, the group really upped its game in terms of public engagement for this year, according to Friends chairman, Jim Greenwood.
Jim described some of the work the Friends group has undertaken since it was set up in 2010, which has helped transform a former industrial landscape into a thriving wildlife oasis.
“We're all about letting Winsford people known just what they’ve got on their doorstep,” said Jim.
"It's a real hidden gem.
“We offer foraging trips, bat walks, and teach skills such as hedge laying and tree work, mostly free of charge.
“A lot of the parkway was an old industrial site and used to be nothing more than a pile of rubble.
“An awful lot of work goes into making in look quite so natural.
“We’ve put up a huge number of bird boxes in the last three years and it has really paid off.
“Our songbirds numbers have trebled.
“We tend to do a lot of habitat creation. For example, we leave grass cuttings in large piles and have created a few ponds, both of which are important for the grass snakes.
“We’ve also planted around 2,500 trees since we started, including 35 black poplar saplings which are massively in decline and now quite rare."
Jim says a large part of the Friends’ success is down to the support they receive, including from Weaver Parkway’s official ranger, Tony Blackridge.
“We’re very lucky to have Tony as a Ranger," Jim added.
“He creates a great team atmosphere.
“We also have a very proactive PCSO, Steve Bishop, whose hard work goes such a long way to making our visitors feel safe when they come here."
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