Thank you Mike!

Mike Maher (second from left) with the rest of the
Wirral Wildlife committee at Cleaver Heath.
Photo: Ron Thomas

Wirral Wildlife will shortly mark the retirement from the committee of Mike Maher, who has been engaged in active conservation in Wirral since 1995. He has been our Voluntary Warden of Cleaver Heath for many years where he has implemented the Management Plan as required by Natural England. Cleaver Heath is a lowland heath which is a rare habitat in England as many have been lost to agriculture or other development.

We have been most fortunate in having the service of such a dedicated, knowledgeable and engaging person who has gathered a group of like-minded volunteers around him who regularly attend monthly task days, plus his additional input of every Sunday morning. He is a keen birder who has contributed to the Cheshire Bird Atlas and who has led annual Dawn Chorus and other guided walks around Cleaver and Heswall Dales. He is a great gardener who, over the years, has produced thousands of fine specimens for us to sell at our annual plant sale. He helped at events such as Apple Day and when we have had stalls at Ness Gardens. He has been an effective and much valued committee member. Some years ago he received the Eric Thurston Award for outstanding service to Cheshire WT. We will miss him for his expertise and dry wit and he departs with our best wishes.

Mike will still be contributing to the group’s work but will be succeeded as Voluntary Warden of Cleaver Heath by Alan Irving who has assisted Mike for some years and we also express our grateful thanks to him and all the volunteers.