60 well-behaved children from Lacey Green school helped us plant 2,000 daffodil and crocus bulbs along the riverbank. The children were enthusiastic diggers and the bulbs went in at impressive speed.

Five large Black Poplar trees were also planted, grown by Chester Zoo as part of a species recovery programme. The Black Poplar is one of Britain’s most endangered native trees, and The Carrs is now home to a small but growing population thanks to this partnership.

Come spring, visitors will be rewarded with a fine show of colour along the riverbank. The Black Poplars will take rather longer to impress, but they’ll be worth the wait.