Sixty of our members attended the first organised event of 2026 which was a tea and coffee event in Ainsdale. It was a lovely sunny day and everyone was in good spirits. St John’s Church in Ainsdale has proved a popular venue since January 2024 when we held our first coffee afternoon there. The church provides a warm and friendly atmosphere which is appreciated by SoFA members.
The change to an afternoon event has suited members who make time to focus on friendly conversations and to catch up with each other after the Festive Season. Members received details of our programme of outings and holiday for 2026 which will be described fully in our Spring Magazine out soon. The event also included a well supported raffle with an array of interesting prizes. The Committee are investigating the use of paperless applications for trips and outings and Janice our Treasurer outlined the possibility of using Bank Transfers for trip applications.
There was an update from Laura Michelangeli, the Community Engagement Manager at National Trust Formby. Laura gave a comprehensive review on the progress of work that is being carried at Formby to remove tons of rubble from the beach, build a new car park further inland and the restoration of sand dunes. She also spoke of the 8 English Longhorn cattle who browse and graze a wide range of vegetation making them ideal for conservation grazing.
If you wish to attend any of our events or join our Society, please complete Contact Form.
Article supplied by Lois Hughes and church interior photograph by Charlie Craig, with thanks.
Over 80 of our members and Trust guests braved the elements to come together for the first organised event of the year, our tea and coffee afternoon in Ainsdale. On this occasion, we changed venue, timing and format. Our new venue was St John’s Church, Ainsdale. This was chosen for its central point between Southport and Formby with car parking, bus transport links and nearness to the station and village. The church provided a warm, friendly atmosphere which is what we always strive to achieve.
The change to an afternoon event seemed to suit our members. Making time to focus on friendly conversations and leaving updates about our local properties until the annual general meeting in April also worked well. Members received details of our programme of outings and holidays for 2024 which will be described fully in our Spring magazine out soon. The event ended with a well supported raffle. Everyone is looking forward to repeating the experience on Saturday 29 June. We were pleased that new members and visitors commented on the warmth and friendliness they experienced at the event.
If you would like to attend any of our events or are interested in joining our Association please complete Contact Form.
Article supplied by Frank Hyland and photographs by Michael Rofe with thanks.
SoFA held another successful Coffee Morning on Saturday 08 July at the United Reform church, Formby. There were 54 members present with 13 visitors, as well as six National Trust (NT) Staff.
Frank Hyland (chair) welcomed everyone to the SoFA Coffee Morning event, he was pleased so see so many there on a sunny Saturday morning. Many cups of tea and coffee were consumed as well as lots of biscuits.
We were given an update by Paul Semple who informed us that planning permission for the Victoria Road project had been refused. He advised us that the National Trust is considering an appeal against the decision, the result of which will take a while. Future updates will be available on NT Formby website.
The Lifeboat Road project is still ongoing and has a different project manager for this scheme.
NT Formby are continuing to work with young people across Sefton. These young people have been visiting NT Formby, participating in activities such as art in woods, yoga etc.
As Paul Semple is leaving the NT, Edwina (vice chair) presented Paul with a farewell gift from SoFA. Paul will be missed by us all at SoFA. However, there continues to be a super team who’ll continue to work with us at Formby.
Bree (NT Ranger) gave us an update on Wicks Lake as we’d recently given them a £5000 donation. The fence around the lake has now been replaced. We were informed that everyone is more than welcome to visit Wicks Lake to see for ourselves the work that has been completed and how our money has been spent. They require more funding to address footpaths and bridge.
She also let us know that they have found great crested newts in the lake, which is great news. Also, for the first time in three years some natterjack toads have appeared. This year there has been a large drop in number of sand lizards, but they are unsure as to why this has occurred, it could do with the very cool spring.
Chris Hunter (Ranger) informed us that they are managing the habitat for red squirrels and all other species that live at Formby Woods. They need to diversify the woodland, as it was very dense and over stocked when first planted. Thinning work needed to be done; they now have licences to carry out this work. He informed us that some thinning was carried out last winter. Thinning will open the canopy and woodland floor which increases the health of the trees, encourages more vegetation and smaller tree etc. may appear. This will create natural nutrients for the red squirrel. Currently there are about 100 animals but could reach 200. It is Lancashire wildlife trust who carry out the squirrel count.
The volunteers at Formby assist with the practical work such as fencing, paths and planting. They also have corporate groups who support them by collecting rubbish that has been left on the beach.
John Sebastianelli share results from a recent Volunteers Survey. The results being that Formby volunteers were happiest of all volunteers at National Trust sites.
Lorraine from Speke Hall thanked Frank for the invitation. They have planted 7000 trees and plants; this is to offset aircraft omissions. However, the trees will take between 60-70 years to grow to full height. They have discovered five new species of bees, one being the ‘hairy footed bee’. The rangers are very excited about the find. Rhododendrons are being cut back and removed and are being replaced with seasonal bulbs. This will give more colour all year round. They have made the playground and accessible one which takes wheelchairs in the roundabout.
Their bookshop is doing well, so far this year they have raised £1,000 via the bookshop. She thanked their volunteers for the work put into make the book shop a great success.
Frank informed those present that we still have a couple of events during August and September, with the Speaker Meetings restarting later in September at Christ Church, Southport. Information about these events will appear on our website and full details will be in the members’ Autumn Magazine.
Photos of Wicks Lake supplied by NT’s Bree with the Coffee Morning photos supplied by an Association member.
If you are interested in joining SoFA please contact us using our Contact Form.
Our first event of 2023 was the SoFA Coffee Morning on 14 January 2023 at the United Reform Church, Church Road, Formby. It was rather a wet morning. However, 64 brave souls (and two young guests) fought the weather to attend. It was great to see so many members attend and take advantage of the opportunity to renew their membership for 2023.
The draw of our coffee, tea, biscuits, the large selection of raffle prizes as well as a catch-up and with other members must have been strong.
A big ‘thank you’ to all who attended and to the committee members and family who helped make it a successful morning.
Paul Semple from the Formby Reserve supplied us with an update of all that is going on there. He brought with him copies of their latest Nature Haven News, which members enjoyed reading. It was interesting to learn that the pre-historic footprints, that appear on Formby Beach during some low tides, have recently been analysed by experts and declared that they are about 9000 years old.
He also gave an update on the car park on Lifeboat Road as well as the local red squirrel population.
Formby Reserve are busy planning various activities with local schools as well as residents. More information can be found on the noticeboard at Formby and they advertise their walks via their social media pages.
Members were supplied with a list of all the arranged outings for 2023, details of our February and March Speaker meetings and a reminder about our AGM in April.
Our Speaker meetings and AGM will be held at Christ Church, Lord Street Southport. Please click here for more information.
If you are not a member of our Association, but would like to become a member or attend one of our events, please complete our contact form.
We were due to hold a coffee morning for you to come and join us for our first event of 2022. Unfortunate due to us losing our venue and the new Covid strain, we have had to cancel this event. Here you would have had a chance to catch up with friends from SoFA.
As we have had to cancel this Coffee Morning we hope to hold another at a future date into replace this one.
If you are not a member, but you would like to attend or interested in joining our Association, please complete our Contact Form.
For information on the National Trust, please check their website.
At last, SoFA members were able to meet face to face for the first time in 18 months. Our opening event was a very successful Coffee Morning held at the United Reform Church in Formby.
We were delighted to welcome over 80 SoFA members, and it was a great pleasure to be joined by Justin, one of the Formby National Trust Rangers, as well as Anne, a member of the ‘Meet and Greet’ team at the Formby site.
Justin was able to update our group regarding the projects currently underway at the Formby site, and some of the future projects aimed at improving the woodland areas for the benefit and survival of both flora and fauna.
It was so nice to hear so many people chatting and happy just to be together again. A good time was had by all who attended.
