Issue No 9 - Winter 2002
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Welcome to the ninth Huyton Environment Newsletter. The newsletter brings together articles from community groups and professionals who are concerned with environmental issues in Huyton. In each issue we hope to involve and inform you of what is happening in the Huyton area, and how you can become involved in making the environment in Huyton a better place for all of us to live and work.
Your
Views
This
newsletter provides an opportunity for you to tell us about 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.
Senders of the best letters commenting on or contributing to Huyton Environment Today will receive a free packet of wildflower seeds suitable for your garden, kindly donated by Landlife.
Covering Britain in Crocuses
Knowsley Council is supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer in this year’s “Cover Britain in Crocuses” campaign.
On Tuesday 12th November the Environmental Education Team planted 1000 bulbs with children from two Huyton schools, St Gabriel’s C of E Primary and St Agnes’ Catholic Primary.
The bulbs were planted at St John’s Millennium Green, Huyton, in memory of the 1000 women who die every month from breast cancer. They will flower in March 2003 to coincide with Mother’s Day and Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s sponsored walks to raise funds for their vital research programme.
The pupils had a bloomin’ marvellous time planting the bulbs and the Education Team were on hand with helpful advice. For more information please contact Sarah, Suzanne or Ian on 0151 443 2277.
Dig This - Calling all Gardeners
Ever
thought about taking on an allotment garden? Knowsley Council are seeking
new tenants for their allotments at Bowring Park. For further details contact
Dave Thompson on 0151 443 3682.
As
part of the New Deal for Communities regeneration of North Huyton, Knowsley
Council is carrying out four projects to improve public open space in
the area.
The schemes will improve fencing in Pennard Avenue, provide wildflower planting and new fencing at Woolfall Heath, improve the area where the shops used to be in Southdean Road, and create a community garden and extended secure car parking adjacent to the River Alt Resource Centre.
The schemes will improve the area for local people by providing quality areas of open space and an immediate visual improvement as well as tackling problems such as fly tipping and vandalism.
Gate Slams on Vandals
Fly tipping, vandalism and graffiti have formed the inspiration for a joint effort between residents and allotment tenants at Glendevon Road, Huyton. The alleyway leading to the allotments has been subject to a great deal of anti-social behaviour and nuisance being caused to local neighbours. Both residents and allotment tenants joined forces with the Council to establish an alley-gating scheme.
Councillor Brian O’Hare commented, “The Council brought residents and allotment tenants together to find a solution and an alley-gating scheme was thought appropriate. Both residents and tenants now share a communal key to the alleyway and it is kept locked. It is an excellent example of partnership working.”
Improvements are already visible in the alleyway and shrubs have been planted in a bid to keep the area looking tidy.
Bloomin’ Huyton - a growing success
The
National Wildflower Centre in Court Hey Park has now completed its second
season, having welcomed visitors once more to Europe’s only centre dedicated
to the conservation of wildflower landscapes. The Millennium Commission
backed centre includes exhibition, shop, café and demonstration
gardens, revealing something of Britain’s unique wildflower landscapes.
The Centre is managed by the wildflower charity, Landlife, and developed in association with Knowsley Council and its other partners. Although the centre has now closed for the season it still welcomes volunteers. Anyone interested in gaining work experience in horticulture should contact Michelle on 0151 737 1819.
Winter Warmers - are you wasting your energy?
The chances
are that you spend more money on energy than you really need to. Wasting
energy doesn’t only waste your hard-earned cash, but it also damages the
environment. Try cutting back with these easy tips, you’ll save yourself
money and you can do your bit to help protect the environment.
1. If you have central heating turn your thermostat down by just 1oC. Save around £15 - £40 a year.
2. Close your curtains at dusk, and tuck them behind your radiators. Save up to £15 a year.
3. Put reflective foil behind radiators or fit a radiator shelf. Save around £10 a year.
4. If you use a light source for more than four hours, replace it with a low energy bulb. They can each save about £10 per year and last up to 12 years.
5. An insulating jacket for your hot water tank costs just a few pounds and will pay for itself within months. Saving around £10 - £15 a year.
6. Turn your hot water temperature thermostat down to about 60oC / 140oF. Save about £10 - £20 a year.
7. Call the Merseyside Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012 for free independent advice on saving energy and grants available for your home.
Clean up at St Johns
Knowsley Council’s Environmental Campaign Team and the Community and Youth Service joined forces with the St. John’s Estate Residents Association to organise a clean up campaign, which took place in September. Over a two-week period 19 skips were located throughout the estate which were used by around 200 people who together filled them with over 40 tons of rubbish!
The Contract Services Department provided a free bulky household collection service for residents while elderly and other vulnerable residents were offered a free rubbish removal service by staff from the Campaign Team.The whole event culminated with a fun day where Community and Youth provided fun and games for local children.
The Fledglings Club
Above: Ranger Tony Hearn and Fledglings carry out a small mammal survey at Stadt Moers Park
Right: Fledglings use natural materials to make their own creations.
The
Fledglings Club is Knowsley’s own junior environmental club. There
is a programme of monthly events held at Halewood Park and Stadt Moers
Park Visitor Centres on Saturday mornings from 10am-12 noon.
If you enjoy doing things like pond dipping, cycling, bird watching, arts and crafts and being outside join now. For more information on Knowsley Rangers Team call Halewood Park on 0151 488 6151 or Stadt Moers Park on 0151 489 1239, or call into one of the visitor’s centres.