Pathway plans for heroes

Plans are taking shape to turn Kirkham Remembrance Way into a wildflower ‘nature reserve’, complete with fruit trees, wildflower meadows, a bug hotel and community orchard.

The pathway which runs alongside Calder Close and the nearby allotments was named Kirkham Remembrance Way in 2014 to commemorate the town’s links to the First World War.

At the outbreak of war in 1914 men from across the Fylde town met at Market Square and enlisted, before marching to Preston Railway Station and onto fight.

Coun Liz Oades, of Kirkham In Bloom, said: “Kirkham lost many men in the First World War and it seemed right that we should remember their loss with a walkway dedicated to the peace of nature.

“Work has already started but it may take a few years to complete as wildflowers are slow to grow and the fund-raising is still ongoing.

“These plans are very attractive indeed and feature a 20-tree apple orchard as well as areas of perennial meadow and woodland flowers and hedging to encourage nesting birds.

“Some of the area has become overgrown and we have already started clearing that as well as planting the first fruit bushes.

“I expect that children will be particularly interested in the “bug hotel” – basically a pile of wood and bamboo that small animals can make their home!

“It will be fascinating to see it develop over the coming months into an area that everyone in Kirkham can be proud of.’

Kirkham Town Council is part-funding the work while a ‘Friends’ group and Kirkham Parks’ Group is trying to raise further funding.

The first stage of the work has included planting fruitbushes, including gooseberry, elderberry and raspberry. Children will help erect fencing after the school holidays.

Fylde Council is helping by assigning its parks designers to the project.

The work to build the £30,000 path was carried out by HMP Kirkham staff and prisoners between November 2013 and January 2014.