MARGARET Edge dedicated years to saving one of the last woodland areas in Lostock and Chew Moor.

Sadly, she died last month without ever seeing local people finally able to walk round historic St John's Wood where Knights Templars planted rare crocuses from the Holy Land in the 12th century.

Margaret, who lived in Tempest Road, just yards from the wood, was too ill to realise that a grant for the woodland walkway had been approved.

And this week, as walkers were able to use the wide pathway for the first time, fellow campaigner Dr Ted Daws said: "We owe so much to Margaret - she helped make all this possible."

Margaret, former deputy head of Masefield School in Little Lever, became secretary and a leading light in the Lostock and Chew Moor conservation group when she retired six years ago.

At the time, a development plan by the Ladybridge football club for a changing room and car park worried local residents.

"We suddenly realised this was the last woodland area around and thought we would try to keep it as best we could," said Dr Daw.

The first group meeting was held at the home of Margaret and husband Ken, and from then on Margaret proved to be a tireless campaigner.

The wood was not only a haven for birds, bats, squirrels and foxes, but also home to sycamore, ash and other trees including a rare black poplar planted in the Victorian era. St John's Wood was named after the famous Knights Templars of St John who joined King Richard's fight in the Holy Land in the 12th century.

On their return, they brought with them autumn-flowering crocuses which they planted on home soil in Lostock. Today, the crocuses join bluebells and other plants that flower in the pleasant woodland area.

But accessibility proved a problem, especially for parents with pushchairs and wheelchair users. So the local group applied for a grant from the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers to make a proper pathway around the wood to open it up for everyone.

Sadly, earlier this year, 68-year-old Margaret became ill with cancer.

"Two weeks before her death," said Dr Daw, "we heard that the grant was approved but, unfortunately, Margaret was too ill to be told."

She died a month ago and many friends from the worlds of conservation and teaching filled the nearby church of St Thomas and St John for her funeral.

The conservation work, however, carried on and the pathway was finished last week. Now, walkers of all ages and abilities can enjoy the wood and can sit on a bench in the meadow to enjoy the land she helped to save.

"We are going to put up a plaque in the wood in Margaret's memory and plant a special tree for her," said Dr Daw. "She was a very dedicated person, and her determination helped to save our woodland."

KNIGHTS TEMPLARS FACTFILE

The Knights Templars were founded around 1118 with the original aim of protecting pilgrims on the road to Jerusalem;

To be initiated as a Knights Templar, you had to agree to live your life in chastity, obedience and without property or perpetuity;

No Templar was allowed to kiss or touch a woman - not even his mother or a sister. Also, he was not to allow anyone else - especially another Templar - to see his naked body;

The Templars' emblem was a horse carrying two knights - supposedly a symbol of poverty and brotherhood;

Around 9,000 agricultural buildings were built in Europe by the Templars, who produced corn, wine, oil and wool, as well as breeding cattle;

In 1310, more than 50 Templars were burned at the stake after the fall of Palestine;

In Britain, many Templars fled to Scotland as King Robert the Bruce was known to be lenient towards them. There were many sightings of them travelling through Lancashire.