Sefton Council is backing Rimrose Valley Friends with funding to help them make future bids so that they can carry out improvements to the park.

Rimrose Valley Friends will be able to use the £20,000 as match funding for new infrastructure that will improve the experience for park users.

Exciting opportunity

Stu from Rimrose Valley Friends said: "Ever since the road plans through Rimrose Valley were cancelled, we've been working in partnership with the council to plan for the future.

“Years of uncertainty over the future of the Valley prevented us all from implementing the improvements that we all wanted.  Now we have the exciting opportunity to invest in the infrastructure and begin the process of delivering the vision for the Valley.

 "This investment is therefore a real commitment by the council, which is so important for our community's health and wellbeing, and the wildlife that calls it home.

“We're also working with the council's Green Sefton service and their rangers on projects which will enhance and preserve the park and its habitats - this is a true team effort!

"Whenever we come up with new projects, external funders often want to see that we have the backing of the landowner. This grant from Sefton Council, along with Green Sefton's support, gives us exactly that and shows that our local authority supports our work and is committed to the park's long-term future."

Asset for local people and haven for wildlife

Cllr Liz Dowd, Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnership Engagement met with the Rimrose Valley Friends recently, said: “Rimrose Valley is such an asset for local people and a haven for wildlife.  It would have been a tragedy if we had lost it to the building of the planned bypass to the port, that residents made very clear they did not want.

“I want to say a big thank you to Rimrose Valley Friends volunteers who put in a great deal of effort to help look after the park, and I am delighted we can provide this funding to help them make further improvements.

“Our Green Sefton team will be working with them to support their efforts.”