Delamere (From Warrington Guardian)

Delamere

5:14pm Monday 10th November 2008 in Iconic Cheshire By David Morgan

FROM the peak of Old Pale in Delamere Forest you can see seven counties on a clear day. Adventurous walkers enjoy magnificent views of Jodrell Bank’s Lovell telescope, the Welsh hills and the Peak District.

But for ranger Jenny Wright, the best part of the view is being able to see her home city of Liverpool with its famous skyline of cathedrals and harbour buildings.

“I was amazed we had a view like that in Cheshire,” she said.

Set within 2,300 acres, Delamere Forest is the largest area of woodland in the county and is home to everything from woodpeckers and dragonflies to buzzards and Canada geese.

Jenny, who has been a ranger at Delamere for three years, added: “Early in the morning, the forest is alive with wildlife. Squirrels are playing in the trees and the birds are singing their morning chorus.”

No wonder the park can attract up to 500,000 visitors a year.

“Early in the morning, the forest is alive with wildlife. Squirrels are playing in the trees and the birds are singing their morning chorus.”

Ranger Jenny Wright

Described as a place where families can ‘let off steam, escape the crowds and find peace in the heart of the forest’, popular pursuits for families include cycling, walking and bird watching.

Indeed, Jenny first fell in love with the lush forest at just three years old when her family used to visit it regularly.

“When I was very young, it seemed like such a vast area. I had all this space to explore and used to run through the trees,” she said.

From that day on she wanted to work there and, after a nine-month stint working for the Forestry Commission at West Argyll in Scotland, she seized her opportunity.

“When the job came up to work in this diverse location teeming with wildlife I was really keen and enthusiastic and when I found out I got it, I was ecstatic,” she said.

One of her favourite elements of the job is helping to organise the summer concerts at the park.

She said: “The best part is seeing 5,000 people in front of you and knowing the work we have done has been instrumental in making it happen.”

With plenty of forest walks, sandstone paths and wetland to traverse, families of all abilities can enjoy a total break from urban life.

Jenny added: “It is unmatched in terms of how many facilities are on offer and how many cities can access it. It’s not just a forest, it’s a place for recreation and education and children have the chance to see wildlife they would not necessarily see at home.”