THE Mersey Forest is to feature in a series of Radio Merseyside programmes early in the New Year following interviews with key players in the environmental scheme including a councillor from St Helens.

Councillor Pat Robinson of the Mersey Forest Steering Group, Steve Freeman of Groundwork Trust, and Lee Dudley of Mersey Forest, were interviewed for the half-hour programme on St Helens' role in forming the scheme to 'green' large areas of Merseyside and Cheshire. It is supported by nine local authorities.

Councillor Robinson said: "I have, over the past few years, encouraged the links between the Mersey Forest and schools, so that local children have a sense of ownership in the eventual forests they will have helped to create."

Asked by interviewer Ron Freethy if the future prospects of the forest "give you a buzz", Lee Dudley replied: "The buzz is already there for your generation, my generation and generations to come!"

St Helens' part in developing the Mersey Forest is delivered with its wasteland to woodland programme. Tom Ferguson, a principal development officer with St Helens Council, drew attention to the newly-acquired Sutton Manor Colliery site which is as big as St Helens town centre.

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