L I V E R P O O L
DAILY POST
Eco gift ideas for a green Pages Christmas 6&7 Our autumn dates for Page your diary 12
Win family Pa7ge tickets for great days out
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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WELCOME TO OUR WORLD WELCOME to the autumn and winter It’s Our World supplement – part of our green section dedicated to making Merseyside a more environmentally-friendly place to live. We have all your local environment news and on Page 4 there’s a shocking report on how much energy we’re wasting with gadgets every year. With purse strings tighter than ever, and energy bills soaring, it makes interesting reading. On the same theme on Page 5 we have a guide to getting the most out of your weekly shop – and saving a small fortune in the process. With Christmas just around the corner we’re looking at ways to make this the best – and greenest – festive
SUPPLEMENT WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED BY JADE WRIGHT
season yet with tips on great green gifts on Pages 6&7. Also on Page 7 is a great competition to win family tickets to Merseytravel attractions. Elsewhere we have news of conservation work funded by Chester Zoo on Page 8 and great news for the ever-expanding Eco Environments on Page 9. On Page 10 we have an excellent special report from Southport’s Amy
Merone in Kenya. And on Page 12 you’ll find our definitive guide to the best outdoor events for all the family. Since we launched It’s Our World I’ve been overwhelmed by your fantastic green ideas, your ingenious tips and the very many inspirational things you’ve been doing to make the world a better place. Please do keep your news coming – email me at jade.wright@liverpool.com and share your green news with the world. I’ll feature as much as I can in my weekly pages and in the upcoming It’s Our World supplements which appear every six months in your paper. Together we’re making Merseyside a brighter place. Keep up the good work.
Get on your bike
GET on your bike with a series of free cycle skills sessions and bike maintenance courses. Merseytravel’s TravelWise has teamed up with Liverpool NHS Primary Care Trust for the 2020 Decade of Health and Wellbeing offering the new scheme. Whether you’re looking to learn to ride a bike for the first time or improve your confidence and on-road skills each Freewheeling course is based on the three levels of the national standard Bikeability training, ideal for all abilities from Level 1 – learning the basics like staying upright, signalling, looking behind and using your gears, progressing to Level 2 – turning right and
left at junctions into quiet roads and overtaking parked cars etc. Level 3 offers more advanced skills and manoeuvres for cycling on busier roads. If you can't ride a bike or haven't ridden for many years then don’t worry – there is also a special learn to ride session which will get you ready for the Level 1 course. Neil Scales, Merseytravel chief executive, said: “We are working hard at Merseytravel towards greener transport initiatives which will deliver a low carbon future for Merseyside and we actively encourage sustainable travel by bike, walking, bus, rail or car
sharing. Cycling is a great way to get around Merseyside and don’t forget that bikes go free across the Merseyrail network.” Gideon Ben-Tovim, chair of Liverpool PCT, said: “Cycling is a great way to exercise and become more active. It can help improve health and stamina without the need for costly gym membership. It’s easy to fit cycling into your daily routine.You can cycle for leisure, to the shops or even to work and regular cyclists typically have a level of fitness equivalent to being 10 years younger.” If you want to get to know more about your bike, then the free bite
size maintenance courses are perfect. Pick and choose from a number of themed sessions to help you gain specific knowledge about safety checks and cleaning, fixing a puncture, brakes and gears – just choose one or take part in them all. All sessions are based at a fully equipped Merseyside training centre and are available during the daytime, early evenings and at weekends. All training and courses are delivered by fully accredited Bikeright! Instructors. ● For more information and to book online visit www.LetsTravelWise.org or call the Merseyside Training Centre on 0151 482 5700.
Fun, fun, fun as park gets a new play area PUPILS were the first to sample the delights of an exciting new play area at a Huyton park. Children from St Anne’s and St Gabriel’s primary schools in Huyton attended a celebration event to mark the completion of a £50,000 project to create a new children’s play area at McGoldrick Park. The youngsters were involved in the design of the new attraction and were keen to see how their ideas had been included in the final design which includes new surfacing, play equipment, trees and seating. The facelift follows a successful funding bid from the Friends of McGoldrick and Sawpit parks, supported by Knowsley council’s Green Spaces team. The £50,000 grant is from
the Community Spaces programme, managed by Groundwork UK as an award partner to the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces initiative. Cllr Eddie Connor, Knowsley’s cabinet member for leisure, community and culture, said: “We have supported the ‘Friends’ group bid for this funding which has given the play area a new lease of life. “We have a proud tradition of involving local children in the creation of our play spaces – most recently with our groundbreaking Play Pathfinder programme. At McGoldrick our children had many great ideas which have been reflected in the final design. This new-look play area will be well used and a great addition to the park.”
Children from St Gabriel’s Primary School (in blue) and St Anne’s Primary School (in red) join Evelyn Carmichael and Frank Walsh, from the Friends of McGoldrick and Sawpit parks
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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The UK has lost nine out of ten water voles in recent decades due to habitat loss and predation
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Have you seen a water vole?
MERSEYSIDE wildlife spotters are being urged to get online and report sightings of the UK’S fastest-declining mammal the water vole. The country has lost nine out of ten water voles in recent decades due to habitat loss and predation by the introduced American mink. The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside has teamed up with Merseyside BioBank and started a new initiative to enable members of the public to log water vole records online in order to help with important conservation work. Water Vole Project officer Katie Milburn said: “The whole point is that to be able to conserve the species we need accurate data on their current distribution. We have got maps of distribution. But we have got lots of gaps. “At the moment people are spotting them when they go on walks or are lucky enough to see them at the bottom of their garden, but they are keeping the information to themselves and we would like them to share it with us.” Evidence to look out for includes actual sightings of water voles as well as three key field signs: latrines, burrows and feeding remains. Water voles and their field signs can be seen within and along the banksides of ponds, ditches, lakes, streams, rivers, canals and wetlands. Voles can be mistaken for brown rats. But you can identify a vole by its chubby face with blunt nose, small ears almost hidden in fur, rich, chestnut-brown colour, tail covered with fine hairs or the “plop” sound as they enter the water. You can also see more of their bodies above the surface when they swim. The water vole breeding season is from March to September and so only burrows and occasional sightings will be evident outside this period. To report sightings, including photos if you have them log on to http://www.lancswt. org.uk/ index.php/water-voles.php
Dig for victory
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ERSEYSIDE’S amateur gardeners are being challenged to use their green fingers to plant flowers, trees and shrubs in local parks to make communities safer, happier and less isolating. It’s a chance to brighten up local parks and plant colourful flowers, create a small green space by a bus stop or improve local wildlife and sow a mini meadow. Improving the environment of local neighbourhoods can really make a difference to people who feel isolated or lonely in the area. It’s all part of the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering – CSV Make a Difference Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011.
There are free seeds for planting this autumn for the first 200 people to register their gardening events. Gardeners can use their green fingers and help a disabled or elderly neighbour with their garden, mow the lawn, plant pretty flowers or simply have a chat in the great outdoors to make their lives less isolating and lonely. And did you know that gardening is not only good for the environment – it also helps your waistline. CSV Make a Difference Day research found 42% of volunteers on environment and conservation projects say volunteering helps them lose weight while 61% say volunteering helps combat stress. Former Met police chief Brian
Paddick said: “My experience of community policing showed me that improving your neighbourhood environment and getting to know your neighbours are two key steps to creating safer, less-isolating communities.” Activities from reporting faulty street lights to creating community gardens or helping isolated neighbours all make a huge difference to the lives of others. Take part in CSV Make a Difference Day this year and make where you live a happier, more welcoming place. Make a Difference Day, part of the UK volunteering charity CSV, is giving away a free, how-to guide to combat community isolation.
Merseyside gardeners are being urged to do their bit for the UK’s biggest single day of volunteering – CSV Make a Difference Day
The how-to guide offers a variety of ways on how to make your neighbourhood a safer, less isolating and happier place. Each year tens of thousands of people take part in the campaign to benefit the community. The nation plants thousands of flowers in community gardens, cemeteries and school playgrounds, helps out in local charity shops, knits hats and gloves for premature babies and visits lonely people in nursing homes, homeless shelters and hospitals. ● To register your event or find out more information visit www.csv.org.uk/difference, call 0800 284 533 or email difference @csv.org.uk.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Turn that O light out! And switch off TV too!
UR love of electrical appliances and gadgets in Merseyside could contribute to the UK missing its carbon emission reduction targets for domestic appliance electricity use by as much as seven million tonnes. That is the stark finding of a new report by the Energy Saving Trust – the independent body set up to help householders reduce their energy bills and combat climate change. If householders do not act then the UK will miss its 2020 target of a 34% reduction in domestic appliance electricity carbon emissions from 1990
Dad’s Army Warden Hodges had the right message ... only now the war is against energy waste epitomised by this woman watching a huge flat screen TV
“Freewheeling” – FREE cycle skills sessions and maintenance courses TravelWise are teaming up with Liverpool NHS Primary Care Trust for the Decade of Health and Wellbeing, to offer Merseyside residents free cycle skills sessions and bike maintenance courses. Cycle skills sessions Learn to ride a bike for the first time, or improve your confidence and on-road skills.
Bite size maintenance courses The perfect opportunity to learn more about your bike. Pick and choose from a number of themed courses.
Sessions are based at our Merseyside training centre and are available during the daytime, early evenings and at weekends.Training is delivered by fully accredited BikeRight! instructors. For more information and to book online, visit www.LetsTravelWise.org or call the Merseyside Training Centre on 0151 482 5700
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levels by up to seven million tonnes unless we ramp up our efforts now. The Energy Saving Recommended scheme is a UK-wide labelling programme which tests appliances on strict criteria and rewards the most energy-efficient models. The report reveals if every household in the North West replaced just their old fridge freezer, washing machine and dishwasher with the most efficient Energy Saving Trust Recommended models, they could collectively save £63m on their fuel bills and prevent 227,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere –
enough to fill Wembley Stadium 29 times. Acclaimed British designer Wayne Hemingway MBE, who has worked on award-winning eco-friendly housing projects, backed the Energy Saving Trust's findings and insists it is not too late to act. He said: “This report is clearly a kick up the backside to all of us who imagine that we are taking big steps to a more sustainable future. Clearly we are not going to reverse, nor do we want to reverse, the tremendous technological strides that mankind is making. “But we must harness all this creativity to ensure that we are not storing up an environmental time bomb that will lead future generations to regret our technological advances. “The Government must continue to apply pressure on manufacturers to make their products more efficient through regulation and legislation. More must also be done to provide consumers in the North West with information on which products use the least electricity – and the benefits of using those products responsibly. “But ultimately it is down to designers and scientists to push things forward and for the public to choose products that are responding to the issue. “Together with industry people living in the North West must also do their bit to ensure we meet the UK’s carbon emissions reduction target for domestic
appliance electricity use by 2020.” The report – The Elephant in the Living Room: how our appliances and gadgets are trampling the green dream – shows that in 2009 the average British household contained a staggering three-and-a-half times as many gadgets and appliances as it did in 1990. Three of the worst offenders, the so-called Elephants in the Living Room are large plasma TVs, large fridge freezers with ice-makers and tumble dryers. The report also finds that despite householders’ best efforts to switch to energy-efficient products we are actually consuming more energy than five years ago. Report author Dr Paula Owen said: “We need to ask ourselves is that ice-maker in the fridge a necessity? Do I need to leave those chargers on the whole time? Do I need a 50+ inch TV screen? There’s more to this issue than using energy-efficient light bulbs. Not only can North Westerners cut their carbon footprint but they can also bring down their electricity bills considerably.” “Almost a third (29%) of the UK’s CO2 emissions come from the home. While many of us feel industry is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions it is behaviour on the home front that could make a difference in the UK hitting its overall national carbon emissions reduction target.”
You can save up to £50 a month by throwing away less food. Find out how at lovefoodhatewaste.com
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Let’s cut out waste
A lot of us are confused by the use by and sell by dates on the food we buy from supermarkets
Love food and hate waste with fabulous foodie products ...
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OW much of the perfectly good food that we buy each year gets thrown straight into the bin? It turns out much more than most of us
realise... Over the past few months the team from WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) have been asking Merseysiders how much money they think they waste on food each month. Many people they asked vastly underestimated the value of the food most of us throw away – a whopping £680 a year. Some thought it was £100, others £350. But just 45% guessed the right amount. When asked why they throw away food the biggest reason Merseysiders gave was that their food had gone mouldy or spoiled (44%), followed by confusion between sell by and use by dates (21%), they’d cooked too much (19%) and having bought too much (16%). All of these problems are simple enough to overcome with a bit of planning. For example storing food properly means that it doesn’t go mouldy or spoiled. Check the use by dates on what’s inside your fridge and you can begin saving your pennies and pounds. Meat, fish and ready meals are often the most expensive things we buy so it helps to get into the habit of checking the dates on perishable items in your fridge. Move them into the freezer if you don’t think you’ll have time to cook them for tonight’s supper. Dairy products are often forgotten at the back of the fridge. Grate odd bits of cheddar and mix with breadcrumbs for a savoury topping or stir into mashed potatoes. Use up your yoghurts in fruit smoothies or as delicious toppings on breakfast cereals. The kids will love them. When you get home with your shopping it is a good idea to transfer as much as you can straight into the freezer. Similarly understanding food dates and what best before and use by labels really mean is key to making the most of your fridge and freezer. Tinned beans, frozen vegetables, meat and fish and dried fruit, nuts, pasta and noodles, rice and grains are
I throw away food because...
all essentials with a long shelf life – meaning you will always have ingredients standing by to pull together a delicious meal or to jazz up your leftovers. Are you getting your portions right? For instance a mug of rice will serve four adults. Day after day we serve up basic staples – bread, rice, potatoes and pasta – at meal after meal. But large amounts of these carbohydrates are
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going straight in the bin. We waste seven million slices of bread in the UK every day. If you enjoy hot buttered toast keep a sliced loaf in the freezer. It can go straight into the toaster when you want a piece. Large whole loaves of bread can be cut in half and one frozen for later in the week. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to save money just be being more careful with your portions. While you’re thinking of ways to save money make a shopping list. Buying only what you’ll use can save up to £50 a month. And, at the end of all that, if you
have some dinner left in the pan bag it and pop it in the freezer as a ready meal for one. Even the smallest amount could be served as a kid’s portion for lunch the next day. The last drops of wine or beer can be frozen in ice cubes and popped out into stews and casseroles when cooking. Cut the bruises of old apples and toss into the pan with your sausages. With a little bit of thought you can create some delicious surprises from your leftovers – they don’t have to be second best. Making the most of every bit of food makes sense – we just need to become more creative with what we already have. ● For recipes and ideas on to save hundreds of pounds every year go to www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
● TAKE leftover soups, stews and casseroles to work for lunch in a cool retro Scrabble flask from Debenhams. Wild and Wolf Scrabble Flask £17 from Debenhams. ● LOVE Lunch, love your handbag? Now combine the two with the new range of chiller lunch bags. They are insulated, wipeable lunch bags that look like handbags. So away with the carrier bags now you can carry The Emily or The Sophie to work. £24.50 from www.clippylondon. co.uk ● MAKE your own preserves from any seasonal gluts of fruit and vegetables. Sterilise old jars or get some reusable Kilner Jars (pictured left) and jam jars from Lakeland (£24.99 ref 13219 and £5.99 ref 3818). Lift home-made jam, pickles and chutney out of the ordinary with preserving presentation packs (£5.99, ref 12185). Once you’ve sealed in the goodness crown your jar with a pretty cover, then finish it off with the coordinating string and pretty tag-style label. They make lovely presents. ● PACK up your leftover coffee, tea, hot chocolate or soup in a Bloke Stuff travel mug with lid from Wilkinson. It’s insulated, to keep your cuppa cosy and as it’s re-usable you’ll save a fortune on takeaway drinks. Bloke Stuff travel mug with lid £3.50 from Wilkinson. ● KEEP your biscuits fresh with a big apple cookie jar. What better excuse to dip into the biscuit tin – after all, surely it’s one of your five a day? The big apple cookie jar costs £15 from Matalan. ● STORE your food in style with cute tins from Next. This set of five containers will keep bread, tea, sugar, coffee and treats at their best, while brightening up your kitchen at the same time. £35 from Next.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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Pick a gift!
IT’S that time of the year again – Christmas is just weeks away (nine at the last count) and it’s time to think about what to get for our nearest and dearest. Many eco-friendly gifts can be bought online – here’s our pick of the best ...
● Good things come in small packages and even better things come in small, caffeine-injected cups. Launched in 2009 Australian company KeepCup introduced the world’s first barista standard reusable cup. The brains behind the environmentally-friendly product sister/brother duo Abigail and Jamie Forsyth are now further expanding the brand to introduce a 4oz KeepCup for espresso, piccolo, ristretto and macchiato enjoyment. KeepCup XS, £6.20 www.keepcup.com/
● Planet Earth wildlife jigsaws from Jumbo which are FSC Accredited and use only recycled materials to both produce and manufacture. It’s a great way to get up close to nature with the whole family and they feature some e spectacular imagery. The puzzles rang from 150 – 1,000 pieces, are priced ble at between £10.99 - £11.99 and are availa Tesco’s and Amazon.co.uk. ● Looking for eco-friendly beauty prod this Christmas? Weleda has a selection ucts excellent eco-friendly gifts that fit the of including the Weleda Wild Rose Revi bill Treat Set. This bright pink body washtalising lotion is gorgeous – it really is so creaand my and the smell is lovely. Wild Rose Creamy Body Wash and Body Lotion £18.95, www.weleda.co.uk.
● Goodfibres make stylish, original T-shirts designed exclusively by artists across the world. Made from 100% cotton, all the materials are ethically sourced, and are eco-sensitive. The designs on every shirt are curated and created by artists. For every T-shirt sold, Goodfibres will match the purchase by donating to a community in need. T-shirts are £25 from www.goodfibres.com.
n ● Put some sparkle in the festive seaso ious delic a , Brut kling Spar Sur o with Con sparkling wine from carbon neutral, goes sustainable winery Cono Sur. The team s to great lengths to produce the best wine ct. with the minimum environmental impa – tices prac l nove r rathe e som This involves by including travelling around the estate ards to bicycle and keeping geese in the viney using eat the bugs on the vines rather than pesticides. It’s a juicy, crisp and refreshing a sparkling wine, perfect with canapés at 9 at festive drinks reception or as a gift. £9.9 Tesco.com
of the coolest ● THIS recycled novelty radio is one istor radio trans a It's e. ther out ideas but simplest assume it housed in a cardboard casing. You may by a Blue would look like it was cobbled together Peter presenter but it's really smart. likely to go all Don't use it in the shower because it's d like the soggy and the Shipping Forecast will souncan use it in presenter has fallen overboard. But you in the potting the bedroom or kitchen or even out ing and fishing camp for radio l trave t grea a shed. It's from your when you just can't tear yourself away favourite show. auxiliary speaker Of course it's not just a radio. It's an can plug in your you So es. devic c musi r othe for your use of the smart phone or mp3 player and still make recycled radio. o.uk £24.99 from www.find-me-a-gift.c
Keep out the draughts ... and give your room a touch of colour and humour! AS the nights become longer and the weather gets chillier it’s time to think about insulating your home. Insulation is a great investment but at this time of the year it can be tricky to find the money. Draught-proofing is often overlooked – but it’s one of the cheapest and most efficient ways to save energy and money in any type of building. Draughts are a bit like ventilation – both let fresh air into your home. Good ventilation helps reduce condensation and damp. But draughts are uncontrolled. They let in too much cold air and waste too much heat. To draught-proof your home you should block up unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. Saving warm air means you’ll use less energy to heat your home, so you'll save money as well as making your home snug and pleasant. Full draught-proofing will save you on average £55 per year. Draught-free homes are comfortable at lower temperatures – so you’ll be able to turn down your thermostat. This could save you another £60 per year. If every household in the UK used the
best possible draught proofing every year we would save £190m and enough energy to heat nearly 400,000 homes. Draught-proofing outside doors can save a lot of heat and will only cost you a few pounds. There are four main things to think about: ● The keyhole – buy a purpose-made cover that drops a metal disc over it. ● The letterbox – use a letterbox flap or letterbox brush but remember to measure your letterbox before you buy.
● The gap at the bottom – use a brush or make or buy a draught excluder. ● Gaps around the edges – fit foam, brush or wiper strips like those used for windows. Inside doors need draught-proofing if they lead to a room you don’t normally heat such as your spare room or kitchen. Keep those doors closed to stop the cold air from moving into the rest of the house. If there is a gap at the bottom block it with a draught excluder, you can make one or buy one. Draught excluders conserve energy and
can reduce heat loss by 10 to 20% for a small investment of time and money. Excluding draughts is a simple, inexpensive and effective energy efficiency measure with a fast investment payback period. Estimates vary but even the lowest one of 10% means that draught exclusion measures can cut that ever rising fuel bill. Here’s our pick of fun and funky designs to keep your home cosy this winter (see left). ● The Beach Huts draught excluder will brighten up any room with seaside charm. Crafted mainly in felt it’s a beautiful, nostalgic way to keep cosy this winter. £39.06 from www.idealmoments.co.uk ● Avoid draughts and keep your room nice and toasty with this draught excluder train. £37 from John Lewis Liverpool One or www.johnlewis.com, ref: 82295276. ● Smartly suited in a rustic red and golden brocade fabric with complementing tassels the Rufus draught excluder will sit at the foot of your door ensuring the room stays warm and cosy. When not on duty you can hang him on the door handle. £22.99 from Lakeland Liverpool One or www.lakeland.co.uk cat ref: SKU40252
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● Bamboo Textiles has created the ultimate cuddle collection of super-soft, natural and beautiful bamboo clothing and textile products – from cuddle robes, nappies and bibs for babies to pyjamas and bedding for older children (see picture) as well as bedding and robes. The entire new ecofriendly range, now available exclusively online at www.bamboo-textiles.co.uk, is made from the bamboo fibre which is 100% organically grown and a totally sustainable alternative to cotton. A real wonder fibre for the 21st century bamboo is more breathable than cotton and more absorbent. But it dries as quickly it’s naturally antibacterial, it’s softer to the touch and yet it is more durable than cotton and it’s much more ecologically sustainable than cotton.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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● Slow cookers are very cheap to run, environmentally-friendly and incredibly versatile – everyone should have one. As the temperatures plummet they’re a great, and very economical, way to make soups, stews and casseroles. Plus they offer a way to get the most out of forgotten cuts of meat and other economically-friendly ingredients that might otherwise go to waste. This one from Lakeland has three heat settings – low for simmering and slow cooking, high for faster cooking and auto which keeps food at serving temperature. £29.99 from Lakeland Liverpool One or at www.lakeland.co.uk, cat ref: SKU12921
Go on, take a ferry across the Mersey ... it’s fun
WIN FAMILY TICKETS FOR FUNDAYSOUT
● The Eden Project has a fantastic range of ethical and recycled Christmas gifts – and all profits will be immediately donated directly back into the Eden Charitable Trust. Inspired by walking on the beach Green Glass has a fab range of jewellery made from recycled glass that reflects the colours and textures of the beach glass we find washed up on the shore.The rough-beaded jewellery is made from crushed, fused glass which results in a slightly irregular shape and wonderfully tactile beads. Their polished glass jewellery is made by pouring molten glass into moulds for an incredibly smooth feel. Bracelets cost from £8.50 and necklaces from £12 from www.eden projectgifts.com
● GREEN Rewards have got the UK’se – all widest range of eco gifts available onlin of them assessed and approved by an l. independent Sustainability Advisory Panealso Anyone who shops at their online storeput earns unique Green Points that can be to towards their next purchase or donated res 12 charity. Their Christmas cracker featu ing rang yone ever for ble special gifts suita -me from solar-powered fairy lights to grow kits or a bamboo fibre puppy. ds. Find out more at www.greenrewar co.uk ● Milk & Cereal makes fabulous child clothes with 100% organic cotton and ren’s printed using PVU material which is friendlier for the planet. They are desig by some of the UK's best known stree ned artists such as Inkie and Paris & Cheo t and are machine washable. T-shirts £11.95 from www.miniwardrobe.com
● Madara’s Christmas set is a real treat. Packed with natural and organic skincare ingredients it contains deep moisture hand cream with parsley, linden flower, quince and cranberry. There’s also a regenerating lip balm with natural plant vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. Finally, there’s a regenerating night cream with rose, seabuckthorn berry, barley germ, plantain leaf, calendula, camomile and natural vitamin E. £19.99 from www.madara.co.uk
THIS half term Merseytravel are offering you a great 3 for 1 treat with entrance to Spaceport, U-Boat Story plus a Mersey Ferries River Explorer cruise – a great day out and a great saving. Hop aboard one of their daily River Explorer Cruises for stunning views, fascinating history and unlimited sea air for a 50-minute journey with a commentary that lets you explore the River Mersey’s rich past... and present. Visit Spaceport taking you on a journey through space and home to the Wallace & Gromit in Space exhibition with fascinating factual information about the moon, our solar system and the history of space exploration - All aboard for a grand day out... Set sail to Woodside where you can visit U-boat Story. It tells the story of World War II German submarine U-534. You will see into the cross-sectioned submarine and
discover its amazing story through a highly interactive and exciting exhibition including a genuine Enigma machine. We’ve got 10 family tickets to give away for this exciting day out. Simply answer the following question – name the famous decoding machine on display at U-boat Story. Send your answer on a postcard with your name, age, address and a daytime telephone number to Jade Wright, It’s Our World, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB. Entries close on November 3. Visit www.merseyferries.co.uk or call 0151 330 1000 for further information. Terms & Conditions: 3 for 1 ticket offer – adult £8, child £4.50 and family ticket £20 (2 adults & 3 children). The 3 for 1 offer is based on the admission price for Spaceport. Tickets are valid on the day of purchase only. Not to be used with any other offer.
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T
HORN bushes, lion poo and guard donkeys are protecting both cattle and big cats in Namibia – thanks to the conservation team at Chester Zoo. Conflict between farmers and cheetahs in Namibia is being mitigated in an unusual way. Cattle farmers around sanctuaries have frequently lost calves due to the large number of free-ranging cheetahs and leopards. In some cases this has amounted to yearly financial losses of up to £20,000 and so, to protect their livelihoods, many farmers started trapping and killing cheetahs in retaliation. But, as Scott Wilson, conservation officer at Chester Zoo explains, this has failed to solve the problem. He said: “Indiscriminately killing cheetahs and leopards disrupts the large carnivore ecology which often does nothing but bring in more large predators from adjacent territories and actually accelerates the problem in the end. “So we’ve supplied researchers at the sanctuary with some GPS tracking collars which they fitted to key cheetahs in order to track their movements and behaviour and help come up
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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Donkey derby with a difference with an effective solution.” Florian Weise, a researcher at the sanctuary in Namibia, says the collars have provided some interesting information. He said: “The data we collected highlighted three large carnivores as being real problems in terms of livestock predation – a coalition of two cheetah brothers and one male leopard. We therefore moved these to a distant conservation zone. “But what the collars also helped show was that most big cats would only very occasionally take a calf and so no real hunting patterns were obvious. So I then began to look for ways to benefit both the farmers and the resident predators.” Following extensive research and talks with fellow experts a strategy was drawn up to trial three cheetah deterrents – the first being the use of “guard” donkeys. “Normally, when I approach farmers with these ideas for the first time they look at me as if I am completely nuts,” laughs Mr Weise. “But guard dogs have been employed for small
livestock like sheep and goats in Namibia for a long time – only they don’t seem to be able to protect large cattle herds against cheetahs. Somebody tested a donkey instead and it worked like a charm.” The idea is simple. A pregnant donkey is introduced into the cattle herd to be protected and the foal will grow up with the calves and bond with them. The donkey, because of its acute senses and natural aggression, will then chase and attack any predator that it notices too close to its “buddy” cows. In the early 1900s farmers eradicated the likes of lions, wild dogs and spotted hyenas from the region completely altering the carnivore society in favour of the cheetahs and leopards who effectively became the top carnivores. But, as cheetahs and leopards are naturally inferior to such species they have instincts to avoid these larger predators. And so a second method, using lion dung to keep cheetahs away is also being trialled. Mr Weise says: “Two weeks before the first calves
of the season are born we start spreading lion poo along fence lines. I know for a fact that it has repelled cheetahs that have come into calving A conservation team at areas.” Chester Zoo is Finally a third responsible for guard element draws on donkeys on this farm in thorn bushes. He adds: “Predators Namibia; radio collars hate thick thorn bush help keep track of local and won’t go through cheetahs, inset it. So we’ve started building thorn bush paddocks in the calving areas into which the calves are herded at night – the time when they are most susceptible to attacks.” Overall Mr Weise is pleased with the findings and believes the three-pronged defence tactics are proving to be very effective. “Our success in reducing calf losses cannot be put down to a single technique and my belief is the combination of techniques does the trick,” he says. “Farmers really appreciate the effort and are much more likely to tolerate large predators on their land. Last year was the first year in a long time not a single cheetah or leopard was removed from the area.”
RECYCLING SERVICE NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS A brand new waste disposal service has been introduced in a bid to raise the region’s commercial recycling rate.
Businesses can now use the Trade Waste Recycling Centre in Wirral under a Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) push to get local trade and industry to recycle more. The new ‘pay by the load’ Trade Waste Recycling Service has been launched by MWDA and Veolia Environmental Services at the Bidston Integrated Waste Management Facility on Wallasey Bridge Road, Wirral. The scheme is starting as a six month trial which, if successful, MWDA will look to roll out across Merseyside. T: 0151 651 3216 E: merseysiderecycling@veolia.co.uk W: www.merseysidewda.gov.uk
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
★★★★
FEATURES 9
Eco firm’s growth A
FAST-growing renewable energy company has moved to a new head office – seven times bigger than the one it has vacated – as it bids to keep pace with its rapid growth. Eco Environments has signed a five-year lease on 9,000sq ft of office and warehouse space on Wellington Industrial Park South, Dunes Way, Liverpool, on the north docklands. The move to bigger premises coincides with a period of remarkable growth for the four-year-old company. The firm now employs 38 people compared to 11 at the same time last year and it is on course to increase turnover from £1.4m to £5m during the current financial year. Eco Environments designs, installs and commissions renewable energy solutions for the domestic, commercial and construction sectors. It offers a comprehensive range of technologies including Solar Photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines, solar thermal and air source heat pumps. It is one of only a small number of companies to have successfully secured Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditations for all four of its specialist areas. The company enjoys strong relationships with some of the world’s leading renewable energy manufacturers including Hyundai, Proven Energy, Sanyo and Sharp. Mike Clarke, Eco Environments’ managing director, said: “We had been planning to move to bigger premises
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Manchester, Birmingham and St Asaph. During the next few months further offices will open in the south of England. Staff numbers will also rise to approximately 60 during the current financial year. Mr Clarke added: “We have laid strong foundations during the past four years and now have the right team, infrastructure and partnerships with some of the world’s leading manufacturers to achieve our objective of becoming the UK’s leading provider of renewable energy solutions.” Apart from Mike the senior management team at Eco Environments is made up of fellow directors David Hunt and Mark Buchanan and non-executive director and entrepreneur Steve Bramwell.
Some of the new team at Eco Environments
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UPTON Victory Hall Salacre Lane Mon 9.15am, 11am & 6pm Jan 608 8994
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during 2012. But the company is growing so quickly we had to bring the date forward. The new offices and warehouse give us the space we need to move forward confidently with the next phase of our business growth. “Wellington Industrial Park South provides modern facilities close to the city centre and has been built to extremely high standards which will help reduce our own energy bills and carbon footprint. We will even be installing a small ground mounted solar PV system. “Our landlord Langtree has been superb pulling out all the stops to help us move in quickly.” Apart from its new head office in Liverpool Eco Environments has regional offices in Carlisle, Newcastle,
NEW MORNING GROUP OPENING TUESDAY 13TH SEPT HESWALL URC Church Hall (next to Tesco’s) Telegraph Road Tues 9.30am Wendy 678 7788 HESWALL URC Church Hall (next to Tesco’s) Telegraph Road Tues 9.30am 5.30pm & 7pm Wendy 678 7788
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HIGHER BEBINGTON Jireh Chapel Teehey Gardens Tues 9.30am & 6pm Karen 625 9745 OXTON St Saviours Parish Centre (next to Caernarvon Pub) Bidston Road Tues 9am & 11am & 5.30pm & 7pm Diane 07966 841592 PRENTON Methodist Church (corner of Glenavon Rd / Waterpark Rd) Tues 6.15pm Cathy 670 1686 NEW GROUP OPENING TUESDAY 6TH SEPT WEST KIRBY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH MEOLS DRIVE TUESDAY’S 5.30pm & 7.30pm Catherine 648 1875
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ROCK FERRY Albany Community Hall Albany Rd (Next Door to Victoria Park and police station) Wednesdays 9.00am, 11.00am, 5pm & 7.00pm KATE 07722 051 855 GREASBY Methodist Church Greasby Main Road Wed 9.15am, 5.30pm 7pm Wendy 678 7788 MEOLS St Andrews URC (next to Railway Pub) Greenwood Road Wed 6.15pm Cathy 670 1686
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10 FEATURES
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
★★★★
LIFTING THE LID ON RECYCLING
Ever wondered what happens to all the newspapers, tin cans and plastic bottles you put out for recycling?
Over the last few years we’ve invested millions of pounds in technology to deal with all the recyclable waste collected and keeping its quality high. Now you can get a glimpse into the fascinating processes involved in recycling at our two Discovery Centres.
Explore smarter shopping and compost corner
With one located in Wirral and the other in Liverpool, the Recycling Discovery Centres give you an insight into the world of recycling where you can see the process of how items from your bin end up separated and sorted ready to be made into new products. The Bidston Centre in Wirral is designed for primary school ages and includes opportunities to watch recycling and recovery in action via TV links, and lets children explore the smarter shopping zone, creepy compost corner and observe landfill monitoring.
Sefton Meadows Recycling Centre in Maghull
LITTLE THINGS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE Over the last few years there’s been a revolution in the way we think about waste and recycling – and it shows. The amount of rubbish we send to landfill has plummeted as people have changed the way they manage their household waste. That’s the easy bit. The challenge now is to keep it up and think about the little things we can do to get even better at recycling. We know householders are sometimes confused about what they can and can’t recycle – largely because the different Merseyside councils have different collections. If confused, your local council should always be your first point of contact. Ask them for a list of what can go into your recycling bin or container, and don’t put in anything that isn’t on the list. Good quality material is important, too; try and keep things you put in your recycling bin as clean and dry as possible – any contamination can spoil whole loads of recycling. If materials are dirty then it’s best to err on the side of caution and put them into your non-recycling waste bin.
Keep your recycling clean and dry Youngsters testing out recycling equipment Our new Gillmoss Centre in Liverpool boasts a special Viewing Gallery where there is an opportunity for all ages to see our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in action. Using manual and mechanical processes the MRF recovers tonnes of household materials ready for the recycling market. Gillmoss also hosts visits for local community groups and businesses and we can tailor our activities to suit your interest. For schools, our programme of visits provide a range of Learning Outside the Classroom opportunities based on learning through play, which have been developed in line with National Curriculum and Key Stage themes. For firsthand experience, come and visit us to discover more about recycling! To book your visit, contact us: Tel: 0151 651 3200 Email: Alistair.baker@veolia.co.uk / kris.watkinson@veolia.co.uk
You can also make a difference by not placing your recyclables in plastic bags (unless directed to by your council). This can disrupt the recycling process, requiring more time and effort in sorting. And you don’t just have to recycle at home – there are 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres dotted throughout Merseyside, these are ideal for bigger items you need to dispose of. And many supermarkets also offer recycling facilities which you can combine with your weekly shop. So, it’s the little things – checking what can and can’t go in bins; rinsing items before collection and avoiding plastic bags – that will make all the difference and make Merseyside a place where nothing is wasted.
★★★★
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
FEATURES 11
I’ve got the power . . . Motorbike boost in Africa’s war on HIV In an It’s Our World special report Amy Merone from Southport reports from Kenya, where she is working with Christian Aid
F
OR several years Rogers Ochieng would use a bicycle to reach some of the poorest, least accessible communities in western Kenya. Driven by a calling to help people who were suffering as a result of illnesses such as malaria, HIV and TB Rogers would spend hours each day as a volunteer trying to reach people in his community to provide advice on healthcare. “This kind of work needs to be done,” says Rogers. “If it is not done then the majority of people will succumb to HIV, malaria and many other illnesses – and they will die.” It is a view shared by the Anglican Church of Kenya’s Development Services Nyanza (ADS), a local Christian Aid partner organisation that works around the Kisumu area of western Kenya. Today Rogers is one of 12 volunteers who have been trained as community health workers by ADS as part of the Rural Transport Network (RTN) project they are running with Christian Aid and Virgin Unite. They have been given motorbikes to go into remote towns and villages and educate communities about illnesses such as HIV, malaria, typhoid and TB. And where needed they deliver medicines to sick people. They work long hours every day often taking sick people to hospital on the back of their bikes. For the past four years, with a motorbike instead of a bicycle, Rogers has been able to visit up to 18 households a day often covering 14 kilometres. “When I used to go by bicycle it was very strenuous and tiresome and it took many hours. Now I go
to a lot of people. I want to reach everybody and share the message to give people hope for a better future, for a better life.” It is easy to see why Rogers is so passionate about his work and the need to reach as many people as possible. In Nyanza Province, in western Kenya, almost 14% of the adult population is HIV positive making it the province with the highest prevalence rate in Kenya. In addition 40% of the population here are affected by malaria. Rogers and the other volunteers have worked tirelessly to educate communities about HIV prevention and try to challenge the stigma that prevents many people accessing testing and life- saving treatment. “I want to say that we have tried very hard. In the 1990s it was much worse because in every home there would be people on the bed. But now, because of our efforts, we have managed to give people information, to encourage them and support them.” HIV was first identified in Kenya in 1984 and Rogers says the way that the virus was explained to the Kenyan public at the time still has implications today. “The way the information was given to the people was poor. It impacted quite negatively on how HIV was perceived and you realise that
Rogers Ochieng arrives on his motorbike to visit Celestine Anyango in Goi village, Usenge, western Kenya, above, and discusses health with Celestine Ochieng's neighbour, below
the majority of people still experience stigma today.” Celestine, one of Rogers’ patients, lives with her two children on the shores of Lake Victoria in Goi Village. Twelve years ago her husband died of an HIV-related illness. He was just 36-years-old. Celestine had heard about Rogers’s health work in the community and when she herself became sick, she sent for him to advise her. “Rogers told me a lot of things about malaria,” Celestine says. “I realised that the symptoms that he was talking about were similar to those that I was having. However I did not recover very fast and Rogers advised me that if we were treating malaria and I was not getting well, then it could be
something else. I found out that I was HIV positive.” Celestine was, she says, remarkably calm about finding out her status. “When I found out I was HIV positive I did not have any problem. I was not scared and did not feel sorry for myself. I accepted it. It was because of Rogers that made me accept and go for a test.” Life is not easy for Celestine. She used to make a living selling fish from Lake Victoria. But she has seen stocks of fish reduce over the years making this way of life unsustainable. She and her youngest daughter Irene are currently supported by Lavender, Celestine’s eldest daughter, who works full-time selling mobile phone accessories. Lavender would like to be a
nurse. But at the moment her job provides the only regular source of income for the family. Without it Celestine would not be able to afford the KSh600 (£3.70) round-trip transport costs to collect her HIV medicines every month. Rogers’s support is vital to people like Celestine who often find themselves isolated within their community. “As a widow people look down on you,” she says. “They really fear us because they think we have nothing in return to offer them. From Rogers I get a lot of support and I think that is why I look healthy. I used to be very thin – I was just like a walking stick. Since Rogers has come I have added weight.” Visiting communities that Rogers supports it is clear to see the positive impact that his work is having. The children shout “doctor, doctor” as he arrives – his bike often laden with mosquito nets and medicines. “They call me the mobile doctor,” he says. “I wish people could see the way communities are overwhelmed with HIV, with malaria, with TB and with many other illnesses,” Rogers says. “I think people would appreciate what we have done.” ● If you would like to donate to Christian Aid's Christmas Appeal or find out more about its work on health and HIV, visit www.christianaid. org.uk/christmas or call 0845 7000 300.
Autumn dates for your diary
Autumn reflections and a game of conkers
Pictures: COLIN LANE and GARETH JONES
October 22-30. Children's Fun Ghost Hunt, Croxteth Park. Croxteth Hall & Country Park, Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool, L12 0HB. 0151 233 6930. This is a fun, annual event for younger visitors. Find all the ghosts in the rooms of Croxteth Hall, enter the letters on the worksheet provided to reveal the identity of a famous character associated with Croxteth Hall. Normal Hall Admission prices apply. October 24 & 25. Birkenhead Park, Park Drive, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 4HY. Spots and Stripes. 1.30pm - 3.00pm. Groundwork are providing fun outdoor games for all children. Free event. No need to book. October 26. Birkenhead Park, Park Drive, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 4HY. Silk Painting for children aged 10 and over. 1.30pm - 3.00pm. Booking essential. Free event. Call 0151 652 5197 or email: birkenheadpark@wirral.gov.uk October 26. Heswall Dales, Heswall Dales/Dale Farm, off Oldfield Road, Heswall, Wirral, CH60 6SN. 10:30am 12:30pm. Up Hill and Down Dale. A walk taking in Heswall Dales, River Dee and Dungeons. Meet at Heswall Dales/Dale Farm entrance off Oldfield Road. Free event. Call 0151 677 7594 or email: dantravis@wirral.gov.uk October 26. Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm, Boundary Road, Bidston, Wirral, CH43 7PD. Storytelling at the Farm - Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm. 1pm - 4pm. Fiona Angwin tells her spell binding stories, an enticing mix of air, fire and water stories, Manx stories, native American tales, creepy tales, myths and monsters. All illustrated with the aid of puppets. The stories are designed for four 11 year olds but are suitable for
anyone young at heart. Storytelling sessions are 1pm - 2pm and 3pm 4pm. No need to book, just turn up. Free event. Call 0151 653 9332 or email: tamoshan@wirral.gov.uk October 27 & 28. Birkenhead Park, Park Drive, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 4HY. Pumpkin Creations. 1.30pm - 3pm. For accompanied children five years and over. Bring your own pumpkin to carve. Just drop in, no need to book. Free event. Call 0151 652 5197 or email: birkenheadpark@wirral.gov.uk October 27. Riverbank Road Car Park, Lower Heswall, Wirral. 10am - 2pm. 40 Years of Ramsar – Marsh-Cam. Join the Rangers and members of the Wirral Country Park recording group for a high tide birdwatch at Riverbank Rd looking out over the marshes. As well as the telescopes we will be deploying our remote marsh cam to keep tabs on the birds as the tide pushes them around. Binoculars/telescopes available. Free event. Call 0151 648 4371 or email: wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk October 29. Wirral Country Park, Station Road, Thurstaston, Wirral, CH61 0HN. 10am - 2pm RSPB Feed the Birds Day - Wirral Country Park. Join the RSPB at the Visitor Centre and see what bird species can be seen from the bird hide and get some valuable tips on feeding birds in your garden. The Green Shop will have seed and
a variety of bird feeders on sale throughout the day. Free event. Call 0151 648 4371 or email: wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk October 30. Croxteth Hall Halloween run, Croxteth Park. Halloween will see the Bug Runs series of events return to Croxteth Country Park to host the Halloween run for your life race around the legendary haunted grounds of Croxteth Hall while being guided by ghouls, ghosts, witches and zombies. Fancy dress is not mandatory....but it is definitely encouraged. Croxteth Hall & Country Park, Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool, L12 0HB, 0151 233 6930. October 30. Royden Park, Hill Bark Road, Frankby, Wirral, CH48 1NP. 1:30pm - 3pm. Autumn Colours at Royden Park. Explore the woodlands in and around Royden Park with the ranger and take in the spectacular colours at this time of year. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. No need to book. Free event. No dogs. Meet at the Rangers Office. Call 0151 677 7594 or email: midwirralrangers@wirral.gov.uk October 31. Orienteering, Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, Crosby Coastal Park, off Cambridge Road, Waterloo. L22 1RR. 0151 934 2079. Sessions take part every Monday at 6.30pm. Children are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult. Free.