This month sees the finishing touches being put to the River Alt project, which is part of the Huyton Environmental Regeneration Programme. Following extensive consultation with local residents one of the main issues highlighted was the need for trees and shrubs to be thinned to increase views into the park. This has been done throughout the site and has greatly increased visibility along the River Alt. In addition, metal fencing is to be installed to protect this area of Green Space.

Another main feature of the scheme has been a new tarmac footpath, running from near the site of Huyton with Roby School down to Liverpool Road. Looking beyond the scheme, this will hopefully form part of a proposed footpath/ cycle route from the source of the River Alt in Huyton to its mouth in Hightown. This work has already enhanced the area and as a result there has been a noticeable decrease in litter and fly-tipping and a significant increase in the use of the site.

This project was funded through the Huyton HELP Single Regeneration Budget (SRB).It has been implemented in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Unit, the Parks and Countryside Service and the Groundwork Trust.

An Alt 2000 Fun Day is planned on the site on 15th July as part of Alt 2000 week in partnership with KMBC and local resident groups. There will be a bouncy castle, face painting, games, site tours and a ‘paint-a-fish’ wall mural where Nancie Price, the Environmental Artist from KMBC will be involving local children to add their individual contribution to an artwork project to complement the scheme.

For further information please contact Hayley Misell, the Huyton Environmental Regeneration Officer on 443 2278. For more information about the work of the unit visit the Knowsley website at www.knowsley.gov.uk

Hi, I’m Dennis Storey, chairman of the CEL Residents Association (Cartmel, Endmoor and Liverpool Road). We would like to think that we are a get up and go group who over that last eighteen months have organised two clean up days, a fun day and two coach trips.

We have worked with David Neale of Alt 2000 on one of our “Clean Up” days. The children really got involved and can’t wait for the next one. On one of the coach trips we finished the day with a BBQ on Ainsdale beach which the children really enjoyed.

At Christmas we held a Christmas Fayre and grotto - as an extra special treat for the children Father Christmas called at all the homes and gave each child a small gift. We are currently running a Saturday Club for the children which is run by local parents who give up a couple of hours of their time each week to provide something for the children to do. At the moment the Saturday Club is only for local residents. However, there are six of us on a course for play workers and we hope to expand in the near future.

We have also just held an Easter Parade through the local area as part of our millennium celebrations.

We publish a newsletter every month which is circulated to 170 homes within the resident’s group. The newsletter is compiled by myself and Sue Wisset who is the group secretary and editor of the newsletter and does a great job all round.

Our next goal is to start a community garden which local residents and children can get involved in and work alongside each other.

Thank for the opportunity to let you know a little bit about us.

Kind regards,
Dennis Storey

The Elms School has been part of the 1999 Learning New Landscapes project that aims to improve the quality of school’s outdoor environment. Groundwork St Helens, Knowsley and Sefton have been instrumental in delivering part of the improvements.

During May children from Mrs Plew’s class added the finishing touches to a new seating area by planting a herb bed with the help of Vicky Thackray, the Knowsley Project Officer for Groundwork.

The school teaches over one hundred 3-10 year olds with severe learning difficulties. The school community is currently raising £25,000 to replace the existing playground with safer rubber surfacing which will benefit vulnerable students who are often excluded from having the total freedom they may wish. One square metre costs £50, school Headteacher Linda Lowe said, “We are appealing for any donation, big or small.”

If you can help, please contact The Elms on 0151 489 6517.

We would like to receive your letters, any contributions or ideas on how you might be doing your bit to improve Huyton’s environment. It might be what you have done in your own home, your garden or with your community group. Or it might be what you would like to see done and need like-minded people to join in. Please write to the address below and tell us your news and views.

Following a very successful ‘Spring Clean Fun Day’ organised by Woolfall Community Association in partnership with KMBC’s Client Management Unit, Sustainable Development Unit and Community and Youth Service, we have received the following letter from Woolfall Community Association.

On behalf of the Executive Committee and all our members I would like to say THANK YOU, for all your help and support with the event. We did not expect the response to be so great.

Thank you once again for all your help it was greatly appreciated.

Mrs Audrea Quinn,
Chairperson Woolfall Community

Senders of the best letters commenting on or contributing to the HEaRT newsletter will receive a free packet of wildflower seeds suitable for your garden.

These seeds have been kindly donated by Landlife who have planted wildflowers across Huyton and Knowsley.