Knowsley Council have been seeking your ideas and opinions to help plan for the future of the borough’s green spaces. This is part of the area based Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies (NRS), which aim to find ways in which we can work together in local areas to improve neighbourhoods and their environments.

Throughout February, the consultation bus could be seen in various locations, calling local people to come on board and get their voices heard. Questionnaires and maps helped to guide discussion and every idea – no matter how small – was recorded.

The month of consultation culminated in a big event at the Huyton Suite on Saturday 22nd February. People from across the borough used huge maps of their local area to mark out key areas for improvement.

All the ideas and opinions collected from the bus “roadshows”, questionnaires and the final event will go towards creating an ambitious plan to rejuvenate the borough, focusing in particular on four key priorities:

• “Parks Packed with People” – improving local parks
• “Urban Greenspace” - Improving local neglected land
• “Teenage Activity Areas” - Facilities for young people
• “Green Scene” - Greening the urban environment

You can find out about the results of the consultation by attending your local Area Forum or contact the Environmental Initiatives team on 0151 443 2277.

A series of guided walks in Knowsley’s parks and Rights of Way are open to all and take place throughout the year.

The Rangers also work with many local groups who have formed walking clubs and regularly meet to enjoy Knowsley’s green spaces, as well as organising day trips further afield. Membership is growing steadily and is made up of likeminded people. All are motivated by the desire to Walk for Health, but at the same time appreciate the social side of the club.

For details on guided walks dates and walking clubs call 0151 443 3092.

Knowsley Councils Tree Wardens play an active part in conserving and enhancing their urban trees. Working with the Tree Wardens, local volunteers have recently carried out conservation work in Littlewood, Stockbridge Village.

Supported by Knowsley Council and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, tree wardens, Little Woods of Stockbridge Association and Friends of Penny Wood, have just completed a woodland management training course, that includes thinning young trees to help them grow stronger and making log piles for Littlewood amazing Beetles.

Green-fingered gardening enthusiasts with disabilities in Knowsley aren’t missing out on the plot – because they’ve now got their own secret garden!

Cuper Crescent allotment site in Huyton has been transformed into a disabled friendly zone by a group of enthusiastic gardeners. The team, who all have physical disabilities, decided it was time to take action and convert their site so that it provides facilities to cater for all their needs. The refurbishment of the site will now benefit all those who inherit the plots in the future.

The group secured nearly £3,000 from the Urban Renewal Fund to build raised planting beds. Nearly £4,500 from Awards for All helped towards the cost of building a disabled toilet, while £600 from Knowsley Council funded a new committee room, built by the group members themselves.

Jack Denson said, “Two years ago this was just a standard allotment site, now it really is our own secret garden. Some of us were thinking about giving up our sites because of the lack of facilities, making it difficult for the less able amongst us. Instead we decided to do something positive about the situation and despite the hard work it’s all been worth it. We’ll all be gardening for a few years yet.”

Dave Thompson, from Knowsley Council said, “The transformation which has taken place at Cuper Crescent is quite remarkable. The efforts which these allotment tenants have demonstrated will help disabled people in the community.”

Knowsley Annual Environmental Challenge awards were held recently. Each year schools and community groups are asked to bid for grants of up to £1000 to help to deliver innovative environmental projects within the Borough.

This year judges received more entries than ever before. Projects ranged from Eco-Schools start up grants; school and community based recycling schemes, environmental sculptures, innovative allotment improvements, and support for community events.

The top prize in the community group category was awarded to Bowring Park Allotment Association. The group are taking forward an innovative composting scheme that will also reduce rubbish in the local area. They will collect green household waste from surrounding properties for use within the allotments.

In the schools category, Huyton with Roby CE Primary was awarded £1000 to create an environment for learning within the school grounds. The project will provide an outside classroom for children where they will learn about many different aspects of the environmental linked to the National Curriculum throughout all school years.

For more information call 0151 443 3092/2274.

Knowsley’s Mayor helped to plant the Knowsleys Millionth Mersey Forest Tree, this March. The planting of the large oak tree at King George V Playing Fields also marked 10 years of the Mersey Forest.

Following a series of other commemorative tree-planting events around the borough, the planting celebrates some of Knowsley’s achievements as part of the Mersey Forest.

Gill Dobson, Community Forest Officer, said, “This is a tremendous achievement – planting a million trees over the last ten years! However we are not only planting trees, local people are benefiting in lots of other ways, for example, health and employment. A big thank you to all our partners who helped make this possible, especially the residents who have planted trees.”

As well as an increase of a massive 50% in tree cover, 45 kilometers of woodland paths and 9 kilometers of hedgerows have been created or improved. Nearly 45, 000 people have been involved in Forest events or campaigns.

Tree planting and environmental improvement work is done by the Mersey Forest Partnership, led by Knowsley Council, the Countryside Agency and the Forestry Commission, who are now working to plant and care for more woodland.

Parks and Green Spaces Events

Easter Eggstravaganza

Join us for Easter egg hunts, egg decorating, and nature trails.
Tuesday 1st April, Halewood Park 2.00 – 4.00pm, Tuesday 15th April Acornfield Plantation LNR 1.00 – 3.00pm and Wednesday 16th April Stadt Moers Park 1.00 – 3.00pm.
Phone 0151 443 3092 for details

Let’s Fly a Kite

Come along to see the spectacular “Flying Circus” with some of the most unusual kites ever seen, make one yourself at our kite workshop.
Sunday 20th April Halewood Park 1.00- 4.00pm.
Kite workshop also at Stadt Moers Park, Friday 25th April 1.00-3.00pm.
Phone 0151 443 3092 for details

Willow Weaving Workshop

Plenty of exercise for idle hands as we invite a willow-weaving expert to show us all how to create amazing creations.
Stadt Moers Park, Sunday 27th April 1.00 – 3.00pm.
Phone 0151 443 3092 for details.

Dawn Chorus

Listen to the dawn chorus out on the wildflower fields, then Cornflower Café for breakfast.
Phone 0151 737 1819 for details.

For more information about Knowsley’s Parks and Green Spaces and forthcoming events call 0151 443 3092.