1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Liverpool
Region
Europe
Short description of the intervention
The Mab Lane Community Woodland was planted on a former playing field at Mab lane and Croxdale Road West in Liverpool. It is a part of the larger Mersey Forest initiative which has been increasing the amount of woodland and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside since 1991.
The new woodland which has a network of native trees, wildflower meadows a community orchard as well as seasonal wetland areas and footpaths, was officially opened by the local community in 2010. It also includes new pathways for walkers and cyclists and areas for family picnics (Ref. 2, 10). Mab Lane Community Woodland is a partnership project involving the Forestry Commission, Northwest Development Agency, Mersey Forest, Big Lottery, Riverside Group, Liverpool City Council and the Local Community (Ref. 10).
Address

Mab Lane Community Woodland
West Derby
liverpool
L28 8AQ
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Total area
15000.00m²
NBS area
15000.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Previous derelict area
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/about/the-forest-in-your-area/liverpool-area/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2008
End date of the intervention
2010
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
1. In the City Region framework, their purpose is to embed the green infrastructure plan within a range of sub-regional and local plans and strategies.
2. Bring The Mersey Forest to people’s doorsteps and thereby help to improve health and wellbeing, tackle issues of health and green space inequality.
3. create a city more resilient to climate change (ie reduced risks to flooding).
4. reduce the risks to poor air quality.
5. Empower community. (Ref. 1,8)
Quantitative targets
-Transform 2 playing fields into a community woodland (Ref. 4)
-Plant 20000 trees (Ref. 2)
Monitoring indicators defined
In general, the monitorring indicators of Mersey Forest programme include:
1. Woodland cover/ Woodland created (percentage and hectare)
2. Street trees planted (number)
3. Woodlands brought into management (percentage)
4 Community engagement events (number)
5. Non-woodland habitats created or managed (number)
6. Good quality walking/cycling networks created (km) (Ref. 1, 8 )
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Air quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Conversion of former industrial areas
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable production
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce the impacts of climate risks events on urban places and communities
Build resilience
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
Create or improve outdoor spaces to help people escape from urban heat
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Create new habitats
Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
Means for conservation governance
Manage biological resources for conservation and sustainable use
Raise public awareness
Public engagement
Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Capacity building
Implementation activities
-transforming two large disused and vandalised playing fields, into the Mab Lane Community Woodland. (ref 2)
-Hundreds of local residents volunteered to pick up a spade and help us to plant over 20,000 beautiful trees
-in 2010, the Mab Lane Community Woodland was officially opened by the local community, with new pathways for walkers and cyclists and areas for family picnics.(Ref. 2)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Transformation of previously derelict areas
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Vegetation Type
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
20000
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
New pathways for walkers and cyclists and areas for family picnics (Reference 2)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Sports areas and equipment
Educational or biodiversity trails
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Raw materials
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Carbon storage/sequestration
Flood regulation
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The Mersey Forest is a partnership of seven local authorities (Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St.Helens, and Warrington), the Forestry Commission, Natural England, and the Environment Agency. The wider partnership includes businesses, landowners and communities. The partnership is coordinated by The Mersey Forest team. (ref 1)

The transformation of Mab Lane Community Woodland was delivered through a partnership of local people and organisations, including Liverpool City Council, the Forestry Commission, Riverside, and the Mersey Forest. (Ref. 2)
Key actors - initiating organization
National government
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Please specify other land owner
There are numerous public and private landowners across rural and urban areas of The Mersey Forest, including our local authority partners, schools, hospitals, Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust, businesses, golf courses, private estates, farmers, communities, and individuals (Reference 9).
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Please specify other landowner
There are numerous public and private landowners across rural and urban areas of The Mersey Forest, including our local authority partners, schools, hospitals, Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust, businesses, golf courses, private estates, farmers, communities, and individuals (Reference 9).
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
EU Structural Funds are mentioned which are found under or in line with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. Additionally, The Mersey Forest Plan, refreshed in 2012 with support from the EU Interreg IVb GIFT-T. (reference 6)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
The UK Public Health Outcomes Framework. (reference 6)

At the national level, key links are with
the Government’s Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement and the National Planning Policy Framework. It is relevant to policies relating to forestry, landscape, natural environment, climate change, flooding, planning, sustainable development, green infrastructure, ecosystem services and localism. (Reference 9)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Liverpool City Region and Warrington Green infrastructure Framework has headed the project. Further, in Liverpool City Region, Health and Wellbeing Boards have been set up in each local authority which are mentioned in connection. (reference 6)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Liverpool City Region and Warrington Green infrastructure Framework : Nature at Work (reference 5)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Nature Connected- government approved Local Nature Partnership for the Liverpool City Region (LCR):bring together public, private and community sector organisations to ensure our natural environment is harnessed to support economic, social and environmental goals. Nature Connected represents Liverpool, Knowsley, Halton, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. Have strong links with Cheshire, Lancashire and Manchester and the Atlantic Gateway area. (reference 1, 5)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
for the Mersey project, there is availability of European funds (including the Interreg IVB GIFT-T! and ForeStClim projects) and core funding from local authorities along with donations and trusts. (ref 1)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
Other
Please specify other co-financing type
A partnership: The transformation of Mab Lane Community Woodland was delivered through a partnership of local people and organisations, including Liverpool City Council, the Forestry Commission, Riverside, and the Mersey Forest. (Reference 2)

Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The Mersey Forest receives some core funding from local authorities, and uses this to secure funding from a wide range of sources, including European funds (including the Interreg IVB GIFT-T! and ForeStClim projects) , central government, the planning system, consultancy work, donations and trusts. For every £1 of core funding contributed by the local authority partners, £10 has been secured from other sources to help with the delivery of projects and programmes.
(Reference 1)
Source(s) of funding
EU funds
Public national budget
Public local authority budget
Corporate investment
Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Other
Please specify other source of funding
Income streams for the Mersey Project come from a wide range of sources, including public and private sectors, grant-giving bodies, local and national government, and European funds are brought together. (Reference 9).
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Donations
Other
Please specify other type of fund used
The funding can be grouped into four main categories: grants, consultancy work, corporate social
responsibility, and unrestricted donations (Reference 9)
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Risk reduction model
Green densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Green infrastructure implementation with planting of woodland. The Mersey Forest is primarily focused on trees and woodlands and the many social, economic and environmental benefits, or ecosystem services, that they can deliver; (ref 1)
Please specify social innovation
community engagement - The transformation of Mab Lane Community Woodland was delivered through a partnership of local people and organisations (REF 2)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Improved soil quality
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increase in protected green space areas
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
-The creation of this woodland has provided a green space for the local community and has increased the usage of this site (which used to be neglected playing fields), it forms part of the larger Mersey Forest initiative which has been increasing the amount of woodland and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside for over 20 years (Reference 10).
As mentioned in the Mersey Forest Plan, the expected impacts of planting trees and woodlands are as follows (Reference 9):
-The activities of The Mersey Forest will deliver local action on climate change. Woodland creation helps in reducing carbon dioxide through sequestration. It also provide a low carbon energy source in the form of woodfuel and low carbon materials such as timber and wood products. They also reduce the need to travel by car by providing greener, more attractive and sustainable walking and cycling routes and accessible recreation areas
-trees and woodlands help in adaptation to climate changes. Increased tree planting will provide shade and evaporative cooling
-they also help control rainwater runoff and help manage flooding, provide more and better connected habitats to help other species to move to new ‘climate spaces’; it also helps stabilize soils and reduce erosion
-trees and woodlands can also help tp improve water quality.

Economic impacts
Stimulate development in deprived areas
Attraction of business and investment
Description of economic benefits
Attracting investment and strengthening the local economy – through large-scale tree planting, making the area more attractive for businesses and skilled workers, and encouraging forest enterprises and industries (Reference 3).
Social and cultural impacts
Safety
Increased perception of safety
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Description of social and cultural benefits
-The creation of this woodland has provided a green space for the local community and has increased the usage of this site, it forms part of the larger Mersey Forest initiative which has been increasing the amount of woodland and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside for over 20 years (Reference 10)
-Boosting health and wellbeing by engaging people with the great outdoors, planting street trees to create more pleasant, walkable neighbourhoods, and encouraging physical activity within the maturing woodlands (Reference 3). Mab Lane Community Woodland provides space for locals for recreational and outdoor activities (Reference 2).
-The community, including locals of all ages, was involved in activities like making plans and planting trees. One benefit of involving the community in the planning and implementation activities is to encourage ownership of the project and appreciation of the woodland. The community has been looking forward to seeing their woodland develop over time (Reference 2).
-The transformation of the area provided the perception of safety as it used to be disused and vandalized fields with incidents of crimes (Reference 2).
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
The number of planted trees (ref 2).
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Environmental quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of August 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data at specific time intervals during the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Link to monitoring/evaluation reports
http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/mersey_forest_delivery_plan_final_draft.pdf
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Interview
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
Feedback from the local community is taken into account and the City Council and The Mersey Forest will continue to work with the community to manage the woodland's development (reference 4)
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Webpage: ecosystems knowledge
Mab Lane Community Woodland
List of references
1. Ecosystems knowledge network. (no date). Mersey Forest. Available at: http://ecosystemsknowledge.net/resources/examples/mersey-forest. Accessed August 3, 2020.
2. The Mersey Forest. (no date). Mab Lane Community Woodland. Available at: http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/our-work/mab-lane-community-woodland/. Accessed August 3, 2020.
3. The Mersey Forest. (no date). Available at: http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/mersey_forest_delivery_plan_final_draft.pdf
4. The Mersey Forest. 2010. Mab Lane Community Woodland takes root. Available at: http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/news/mab-lane-community-woodland-takes-root/. Accessed August 3, 2020.
5. Nature connected. (no date). Available at: http://www.natureconnected.org/who-we-are/. Accessed August 3, 2020.
6. Mersey Forest. (no date). Nature at work Liverpool Action Plan. Accessed: http://www.merseyforest.org.uk/liverpool_action_final.pdf
7. Mersey Forest. (no date). Mab Lane Community Woodland. Accessed: http://mablane.merseyforest.org.uk/?page_id=557. Accessed August 3, 2020.
8. Ecosystems Knowledge Network. (2020). The Mersey Forest. Available at: https://ecosystemsknowledge.net/mersey-forest-0. Accessed August 3, 2020.
9. The Mersey Forest. (2014). The Mersey Forest Plan. Available at: https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/The_Mersey_Forest_Plan_web_version_single_new.pdf.
10. Woodland Trust. (no date). Mab Lane (WCG). Available at: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/mab-lane-wcg/. Accessed August 3, 2020.
Comments and notes
Comments
GENERAL NOTE: It is a large project operating in the region therefore some information is general relating to the bigger project while some information is specific to the Mab Lane Community Woodland
enablers/subsidies: European funds (including the Interreg IVB GIFT-T! and ForeStClim projects)
Public Images
Mersey Forest - Liverpool Mab Lane (2010)
Mersey Forest - Liverpool Mab Lane (2010)
Photographer: Ant Clausen Photography Ltd., retrieved 08/18/2018 from Paul Nolan (Director of the Mersey Forest Team)
Mersey Forest - Liverpool Mab Lane (2012)
Mersey Forest - Liverpool Mab Lane (2012)
Photographer: Carl Smethurst, retrieved 08/18/2018 from Paul Nolan (Director of the Mersey Forest Team)
Please specify other source of non-financial contribution
The project accepts consultancy works