TV’s Alan Titchmarsh backs ‘free’ tree packs for children

YOUNG people from across Merseyside will be taking part in national tree planting initiatives, planting over 5,400 trees thanks to the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.  The record breaking response by schools to sign up for free packs as part of the Trust’s groundbreaking ‘Tree For All’ campaign has been given the thumbs up by TV gardener and presenter Alan Titchmarsh.

Alan Titchmarsh says:- “The Woodland Trust’s free hedge and copse scheme is a brilliantly positive way to get children involved and excited about our environment. We’re very lucky to have such a rich and unique countryside in Britain, and tree-planting is an excellent hands-on way to teach children the importance of nature and inspire them to care for it from an early age. The Woodland Trust’s hedge and copse scheme is fantastic because it enables children to get outdoors have fun and get their hands dirty, greening up their own school grounds and community spaces, helping wildlife to flourish there.”

The Woodland Trust’s free ‘hedge and copse’ packs will enable thousands of schools, scouts and youth groups across the UK to take part in tree planting activities over the next month, helping them to create havens for wildlife and woodland areas for future generations to enjoy in their school grounds or local communities, safeguarding our native trees, hedgerows and create lasting woodland legacies.  Modern lifestyles are meaning many children are growing up with little connection with their natural environment. ‘Tree For All’ is the UK’s largest ever children’s tree planting campaign which aims to involve one million children in planting 12 million trees. It is about encouraging young people to have contact with nature, increasing their understanding and enjoyment of woodland and inspire them becoming the future guardians of our natural world.

Andy Beer, head of campaigns at the Woodland Trust comments:- “Since the 1930s, 50% of the UK’s ancient woods have been felled or damaged and 190,000km of hedgerow destroyed in the wake of agricultural development. Our hedge and copse initiative goes some small way to address the balance by planting new hedgerows and copses. Encouraging the next generation to help us plant trees is an effective way to get the message across that we need to conserve the hedgerows and woods we have left and to replace the ones we have destroyed.”

Since the launch of the Trust’s hedge and copse scheme in 2004, children in Merseyside have contributed to the reinstatement of 95 miles of hedgerows in the UK, that’s 6 times the height of Mount Everest. This season the packs will enable over 5,400 trees to be planted across Merseyside and over 280,000 across the UK. The packs have reached as far as Fair Isle in the Shetlands, the remotest inhabited place in Britain, to Hull one of the least wooded cities in the UK. To find out how your school or youth group can get involved visit http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/hedge/

Andy Beer continues:- “The planting of a hedge or copse will attract wildlife and give schools ‘living classrooms’ which pupils can enjoy for years to come. Each hedge and copse pack has instructions on how to plant the saplings and worksheets about the various species. Planting and using a hedge or copse can contribute to Key Stage 2 in science, numeracy, literacy and art and design.”

So far the Woodland Trust’s ‘Tree for All’ campaign has planted over 4 million trees across the UK involving more than 685,000 people, that’s enough people to fill the Albert Hall over 120 times. Approximately 15,000 schools, 624 community groups and 100 major partners have been involved with over 2,020 hectares (5000 acres) of new woodland created so far.  The free packs contain either 30 native hedge trees including; hawthorn, hazel, holly, dogrose, buckthorn and dogwood or 30 native copse trees, including; birch, rowan, wild cherry, field maple and hornbeam.

There is still a way to go to reach the target of 12 million trees – 1 tree for every child under 16 - so it’s by no means too late to get involved in helping to create new woodland. To find out how you can get involved in spring or for further information visit the Tree for All website.

Formby Rotary Carol Wagon Time Table

ON Sunday 2 December 2007, as the volunteers of the Formby and District Rotary got ready to leave of the first night of their annual tour around the village, we caught up with them to find out what they have planned. Father Christmas told us that he will be on the wagon for a few nights touring around the streets of Formby, just like normal. Despite the wind and the rain, the group, after a quick photo then headed on out to collect for charity and bring a bit of Christmas cheer to the town. If you want to see the roads they are covering this year and on what dates, please click here for the full list.

LEADING REGENERATION SPECIALIST PLEDGES FURTHER INVESTMENT TO SEFTON

ENGLAND'S leading regeneration specialist, Priority Sites, has submitted plans for a speculative office scheme that is set to create up to 280 new jobs when the scheme reaches fruition and which will boast excellent ‘green’ credentials.

The £11 million Senate Business Park development, located on Bridle Road, Bootle, will comprise 80,000 sq ft of new, high quality office space. When completed, a range of small office suits will sit alongside a larger 27,000 sq ft building, located at the gateway to the park. The larger premises will be ideally positioned to form prestigious, headquarter office space.

The scheme, which will be located just 1 mile from the M57 and a quarter of a mile from Aintree, will incorporate 10% on site renewable energy through the use of ground source heat pumps. Together with other energy efficient design and build, Priority Sites hope to achieve an ‘excellent’ BREEAM* rating for the new office buildings, the highest environmental rating according to the industry assessment method.

John Boanas, development director for Priority Sites, comments;- “We are highly committed to providing the business community with top quality, commercial space that will not only help the area to prosper but will also help businesses to make a very positive contribution to improving the environment.”

Priority Sites, who will work closely with InvestSefton and Sefton Council to realise the new scheme, are no strangers to Bootle. The developer has already started work on the nearby Priority Sites Business Park. The £14 million development is the national developer’s largest scheme yet, and will comprise 155,000 sq ft of quality industrial and hybrid accommodation. The scheme, which is due for completion next spring, marks a new generation in greener development for the company, incorporating several wind turbines which will provide 10% of the schemes energy supply.

Murray Carr, North West area development manager for Priority Sites, adds;- “There is a strong demand for high quality commercial premises in the Bootle area. Over the years, we have worked very closely with investSefton and the council to help meet this demand. We are looking forward to bringing further commercial space to the Sefton market at Senate Business Park, to complement our existing offering in the area. “

In the past year, Priority Sites, which has just reached its 3 million sq ft of commercial development, has completed 150,000 sq ft of commercial floor space in the Merseyside area, creating 400 jobs. The company is currently active on 12 sites across Merseyside, including Brookfield Business Park, Fazakerley; Turnstone Business Park, Widnes Waterfront and Priority Sites Business Park, Bootle - bringing forward a total of 650,000 sq ft of commercial premises, which will create up to 1250 jobs when fully occupied.

Key industry players discuss future of Liverpool

THE 2nd Annual Sustainable Development of the Liverpool City Region conference follows on from the success of last year’s event. Held on the eve of Liverpool “Capital of Culture” it looks at the city’s development to date, examining the crucial role of new developments and transport links in regeneration and attracting investment, and focussing on how Liverpool can ensure that the structures are in place to capitalise on 2008 and to ensure a sustainable legacy.

Join Cllr Warren Bradley Leader Liverpool City Council and Deputy Chair Liverpool Culture Company to discuss:-

· The role of Capital of Culture 2008 in the regeneration of Liverpool

· The Paradise Project, Liverpool One development and its role in the regeneration of Liverpool

· Everton Football Club:- The Kirkby Project

· The role of the Port of Liverpool and the Manchester Ship Canal in stimulating investment in the Liverpool City Region

· Improving public transport links within Liverpool and Merseyside

· The role of Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the promotion of Liverpool in Capital of Culture year

· Ensuring a sustainable legacy from Capital of Culture year: lessons from Dublin

· Moving forwards: building on the momentum Liverpool has already gained to attract further investment into the region


Take advantage of the early bird rate and receive a £75 discount. To book, visit our website:-

2nd Annual Sustainable Development of the Liverpool City Region conference

Capital of Culture 2008: Ensuring a Sustainable Legacy for Investment and Regeneration

6 December 2007, Radisson SAS Hotel, Liverpool

Programme | Book Now | Cost:- from £124 plus VAT*

* discounted delegate fees start at £124 plus VAT for registered charities and voluntary groups. View the online booking form for additional prices.