Prior to the opening of Pickerings Pasture Local Nature Reserve in 1986 an area of the salt marsh was reclaimed and used as a tip for waste chemicals and asbestos from the Widnes Industrial works.
In the early 80’s plans were drawn up by Cheshire County Council to safely cap the site with a thick layer of clay and landscape it as a nature reserve and as a place where people could go to enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside, whilst taking in the magnificent views of the upper Mersey estuary. The reserve was to have meadows with woodland copses, with pathways throughout leading to the bird screen area overlooking Halegate salt marsh (now known as Hale Marsh) and the Ditton Brook in the other direction. A control meadow was included in the plan intending to show visitors how the meadow areas would evolve if they were not managed and cut regularly.
Rob C, a long serving and current friend of Pickerings Pasture, was at that time contacted by one of the architects, Ian Lifford, to consult and provide suggestions to the creation of the pool/saline scrape at the end of the marsh, the bird viewing screen and diversity of trees that could be planted on site to the benefit of the reserves birds and wildlife. Later an extension to the reserve paths was created with the agreement of United Utilities, leading to a further entrance adjacent to the United Utilities sewage works and exiting toward Halegate Rd.
Rangers were employed when the reserve opened and they had a cabin near the entrance, which housed information and educational resources for their interaction with the visiting public and school children. Their other responsibilities were to monitor the site and its wildlife daily and carry out works detailed in a drawn up seasonal grounds maintenance management plan.
In the early 2000’s the Ranger Rob Smith created The Friends of Pickerings Pasture morphing from a group of local residents and supporters of the Hale Duck Decoy who had been encouraged to join work parties to help look after the nature reserve. Three of these original members are still active Friends today. An active group these Friends helped raise funds for the reserve’s upkeep by holding dog shows, holding occasional sales of plants, bric-a-brac or books. They helped the Ranger with the annual Countryside Fayre and had some days out to other wildlife reserves and places of interest.
In 2010 Rob Smith left the Ranger service and the Friends became a standalone group who took on the responsibilities of looking after the upkeep of the reserve in collaboration with Halton Borough Council. The Friends group formed a new constitution with Lynda Broad replacing Rob Smith as its chairman and her husband Gary was the secretary.
The group continued with its monthly work days, although they often met at other times to complete tasks or undertake urgent repairs. The fund raising was boosted when the Donation Post was installed near the exit from the car park to the reserve. It is amazing how small amounts of loose change can add up over time.
The Friends of Pickerings Pasture used the funds raised for many purposes such as providing the bird food, which was often supplemented by other bird-watching groups and equipment such as bird and bat boxes was purchased. With help from the Council match-funding grants were received towards the cost of some projects like reinstating the cornfield meadow and paying towards the cost of tarmacking the United Utilities path. The wildlife on site was monitored and recorded, informing Halton BC of any significant sightings.
Lynda, as well as being the Chair, was a wonderful cook well known for supplying popular, home cooked fayre, cakes, tarts, curries, pies, hot pots and quiches to name a few tasty dishes which she served up in the old Ranger’s cabin as a Pop-Up Café on a Sunday. The sale of books, bric-a-brac etc. became a permanent feature at the café.
Sadly Lynda passed on 21 February 2021 and the Friends have built an additional garden next to the Ranger’s Cabin in her memory.
Which brings us up to the current day, the Friends continue to carry out monthly project mornings endeavouring to maintain the upkeep of the reserve, despite the challenges of the safe guarding periods of the Covid virus and the demolition of the Rangers cabin and we hope with the new café and more visitor interest the Friends group will continue to play a part in the care of this reserve for decades ahead.