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IN THE KITCHEN ... WASTE NOT WANT NOT Page 9
50 TIPS TO BE THRIFTY: Pages 6&7
DON’T MISS OUR GREAT AUTUMN DIARY DATES Pages 10&11
Green tips on saving the earth .. and the pennies
2 NEWS
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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How to save cash ... and the planet! By Jade Wright
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ELCOME to the autumn It’s Our World supplement, part of our green section dedicated to making Merseyside a more environmentally-friendly place to live. With cuts looming and many of us tightening our belts we’ve looked at ways to help the environment and your wallet at the same time. As well as all the usual green news and features we’ve got an article on the difference between use-by and best-before dates (Page 4), plus advice on cycling rather than driving short distances from TravelWise and a reminder to adjust your thermostats as the clocks go back (Page 4), plus our make do and mend top 50 thrifty tips (Pages 6&7). From making your own jam from a glut of fruit to making the most of the internet to cut down on waste, it’s packed full of inventive tips. Then (Pages 8&9) we meet the people who are making Merseyside greener by taking practical steps each day. Read them and be inspired. Since we launched the platform over a year ago I’ve been overwhelmed by your fantastic green ideas, your ingenious tips and the many inspirational things you’ve been doing to make the world a better place. Now that the nights are drawing in and the leaves have begun to turn golden we’re looking at the new challenges that autumn brings and the fun we can all have in the natural environment. We have our bumper green listings (Pages 10&11), which detail the best outdoor events this autumn. Lots of them are free and they’re a great excuse to get the family out to enjoy the great outdoors together. Please do keep your news coming – email me at jade.wright@liverpool.com, message me on Twitter (@its_our_world) or log on to the green blog http://blogs.liverpool echo.co.uk/ecowarrior/ and share your green news with the world. I’ll feature as much as I can in my weekly pages and in the forthcoming It’s Our World supplements which will continue to appear every three months in your paper. We all want to do more for our planet and, bit by bit, it really seems that we’re getting there. Let’s continue taking these small steps and making Merseyside a brighter place.
Forest tracks to Olympics 2012
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HE Mersey Forest, the network of regional community woodlands and green spaces that stretches from Sefton Coast Woodlands to Cheshire, is bringing the magic and spirit of the Olympic Games to local people. Running Rings, a new initiative from The Mersey Forest to help get local communities active, has become the 100th project across the region to get involved in the official London 2012 Inspire programme. Encouraging people who live and work close to The Mersey Forest to explore their local woodlands by using several brand new circular tracks Running Rings will also create a regional legacy for the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games. At least seven woodland tracks, varying in length, for walking or running are to be created across a network of woodlands and green spaces that take in the seven local authorities of Sefton, Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Halton, Warrington, and Cheshire West and Chester. Local schoolchildren and residents
will be invited to get involved with the design and creation of the routes through tree planning and environmental volunteer opportunities. Once the routes are up and running, which will be before the start of the 2012 Olympics, The Mersey Forest estimates that more than 25,000 people will access the trails each year. Paul Nolan, director of The Mersey Forest, said the team was extremely pleased to be the 100th project in the region to receive the Inspire mark for the sustainability of the Running Rings projects. “After more than 60 years the Games are returning to the UK. This is a great chance for our region of sport enthusiasts to become part of this once-in-a-lifetime event through Running Rings. The Mersey Forest’s legacy to the Games is the stimulus for the North West to make their region a greener place or just set themselves the personal goal to get fitter physically and mentally with the aid of our woodland trails.” Around the edge of the trails will be signs and information boards that will
link through to the Olympic & Paralympic Games and its values of respect, friendship and equality for all. Sarah Case Upton, Inspire Programmer for the North West, said: “We are very proud to see Running Rings presented with their Inspire Certificate to mark the 100th project in the North West joining the London 2012 Inspire programme. Running Rings is a fantastic project which is using the inspiration of the Games to drive participation in physical activity, involving and inspiring a generation of young people to become involved in the Games in their local community.” The Inspire programme was set up to enable organisations to link its events and projects to the 2012 Olympic Games. The North West's legacy ambitions focus on three areas: social, sporting and economic development. The goals are to drive greater levels of engagement, participation and inspiration, leading to social and community development, increased sporting participation and physical activity levels and added economic value.
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NEWS 3
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
RERS
CONKE battled it out in ● Sefton Park to win the
coveted Golden Conker award made from a conker sprayed with gold paint. More than 100 people took part with competition growing fierce as hopefuls vied for the crown. Cllr Tim Moore, Liverpool council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “This is one of the most popular events in the park’s calendar and every year more and more people take part. It is surprising how competitive people get – especially the dads who are determined to get their hands on the sought-after golden conker trophy. It was also a great opportunity for people to have a walk around the beautifully restored Sefton Park which is set to be completed within the next month.” ● Here Amy Allport, nine, and 11-year-old Laura McLoughlin battle it out in Sefton Park at the Liverpool Conker Championships.
from across
PUPILS Merseyside have been learning ● te about typhoon Ketsana from Dan
IF you go down to the woods ● today... keep your eye out for tree rotting mus
hrooms. Meripilus giganteus is a root and buttress rotting fungus which can have a severe affect on tree stab ility. And it has been making a nuis of itself in some of the city’s openance spaces. Mature beeches are particularly prone to this disease which appears round the base of the tree in autu It can also be found on oaks and mn. occasionally poplars. If you spot it, or any other off-looking mushroom or toadstoo don’t try to remove it yourself – l, it could be entirely harmless. Instead please contact Liverpool Direct on 0151-233 3001 stating the site and approximate location. An officer subsequently carry out an inspectiwill on.
Dalabajan, a Philippines aid worker who saved many lives during the disaster. Hosted by Oxfam in the Foresight Centre, the event, , Tackling Global Poverty Together ple peo g youn 100 than e mor saw from 18 schools take part in workshops to understand how ge. poverty is linked to climate chan More than 10 million people were affected by the typhoon in Ketsana, which hit the Philippines October 2009. A month’s worth of rain fell in one day washing away houses and stranding people on rooftops. Hundreds lost their lives and thousands lost their homes and livelihoods. Dante, directly involved in relief efforts, is an expert on climate change adaptation and working in disaster zones in poor Oxfam estimates that 30 million people may face starvation in 2050 because of climate change. The event is part of Oxfam’s Youth and Schools programme of five regional conferences from October 4-22 in England and Scotland.
4 NEWS
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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Have your say on bins .. don’t waste it T
HERE are few things quite as frustrating as problems with your bin collection. Whether you’re having difficulty recycling or you need a more regular collection it’s a problem that seems to irk our readers more than almost anything else. Thankfully this week sees the launch of a major public consultation to help shape the future management of waste on Merseyside. With a collective recycling rate of 33% Merseyside has made significant improvements in its
recycling performance in the past few years. However more still needs to be done. The cost of disposal to landfill is increasing and officials are committed to ensuring the region continues to improve all aspects of waste management in the face of changing and new legislation and an ever-present need to divert more and more waste away from landfill. Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA) in partnership with the five local authorities – Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton, and
Wirral Council – is conducting a review of the waste management strategy for Merseyside to find out what best suits residents over the next 20 years. And they need your help. Carl Beer, Director of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, explained: “We need to ensure that we maximise the use of our natural resources we produce as a society. The types of waste being produced and the way in which waste is managed and controlled is changing rapidly. It’s vital that our plans for waste management in
Check up on your sell-by dates GO into any supermarket at closing time and you'll see masses of it – discounted food that will easily last for days but which will be sent to landfill if it is not sold. It's looks like perfectly good food and wise shoppers can get a bargain. But is it actually safe to eat? Yes, it is. But keep an eye on your dates and make sure you know what they really mean. Use by, best before and sell by. Confused? You're not alone. Every year we chuck out an estimated half million tons of perfectly good food because we think it has gone off, or is about to, when it hasn't and isn't. The plethora of best-before, sell-by, display-until and use-by dates means that many of us err, irrationally, on the side of caution and dispose of food that is
perfectly good to eat, much of it still in its packaging. Much of this is down to confusion about what the differing expiry dates actually mean. Here are the facts behind the date labels from the Food Standards Agency. USE BY: Never eat products after this date and follow the storage instructions. However check to see if the food can be frozen if you need to eat it at a later date. BEST BEFORE: These dates refer to quality rather than food safety.
Foods with a best before date should be safe to eat after the “best before” date. But they may no longer be at their best. One exception is eggs. Never eat eggs after the “best before” date. DISPLAY UNTIL & SELL BY: Date marks such as “display until” or “sell by” often appear near or next to the “best before” or “use by” date. They are used by some shops to help with stock control and are instructions for shop staff not shoppers. ● For more information see www.lovefoodhate waste.com/save_ time_and_ money/ food_dates and www. eatwell.gov.uk/food labels/labellingterms/
Date with Charles
Merseyside are appropriate to the challenges ahead but provide waste management services of a high quality that offer good value for money and take account of the environmental, economic and social benefits of waste management activities.” The Partnership has pledged to engage with residents on the development of the Strategy and has now announced that it is to launch a major public consultation during the autumn. The consultation starts with an element of widespread direct face-to-face engagement with a representative sample of 3,000 residents from across the five districts of Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral and is planned to start on Tuesday, October 12, for four weeks. Interviewers calling at homes will have identification badges and letters of authority from MWDA. There will also be Don’t Waste Your Say roadshows where you can ask questions and find out more about the process. The roadshows, which will be open from 10am to 5pm, will be at: ● St Helens, Church Square (WA10 1BN) – Monday, October 25. ● Sefton, Chapel Street, Southport (PR8 1AF) – Thursday, October 28. ● Knowsley, Derby Road, Huyton (L36 5RT) – Friday, October 29. ● Liverpool, Williamson Square (L1 1EL) – Tuesday, November 2. ● Wirral, Liscard Way (Liscard Village/Lloyds TSB end) (CH44 5TL) – Thursday, November 4. ■ For more details see www.merseysidewda.gov.uk.
A MERSEYSIDE community farm that is soon to be powered by wind energy given the chance to showcase its successes to the Prince of Wales. A team of four from Randle’s Bridge Farm, in Croxteth, talked to Prince Charles about their forthcoming plans to install a wind turbine to power the farm. They were chosen out of 400 guests attending the Business in the Community dinner at The Monastery, in Manchester, to step forward and meet Charles in person. Alan Johnson, from Randle’s Bridge Farm, said: “The turbine will be a high profile example of how communities can generate their own energy in a sustainable and efficient manner. “The help and support of local renewable energy specialists Eco Environments has been invaluable in assisting with the choice of turbine and the planning process. “We’re really looking forward to the turbine going up.” The turbine, which Eco Environments will install this autumn, was funded by Liverpool city council and Foundation, a climate fund for the North West, along with the Community Sustainable Energy Programme. It should generate around 27% of the farm’s overall energy needs (between 12,000 and 15,000 kwh per year) saving approximately eight tonnes of CO2 per year or 160 tonnes in its lifetime. Liverpool city council’s cabinet member for the environment Cllr Tim Moore, said: “We want to encourage everyone to become as sustainable as possible and I’m delighted we can help Randle’s Bridge Farm to achieve their green dream. I hope it encourages other community groups and organisations to follow their example and make the most of renewable energy.”
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
★★★★
If you can cycle or walk to work (or school) you save money and get fit too
NEWS 5
Get on your bike and save a packet D ITCHING the car on short journeys can save you a fortune – and increase your fitness. Families in Merseyside are walking and cycling their way to healthier, greener lives this autumn – and saving money with every step and pedal. More than 70,000 children and their parents took part in Walk to School Week (October 4-8). As well as helping the environment by cutting congestion and the amount of fumes emitted from cars, a 20-minute walk to school can burn around 100 calories and help pupils start the day energised and alert. Walking to school can also help develop a child’s road sense – as well as helping parents save money. Neil Scales, Chairman of the Merseyside Transport Partnership, says: “As well as the obvious health and environmental benefits of walking to school, walking can be great fun. We hope Walk to School Week has encouraged children and their parents to think about the environmental choices they make every day and that families carry on walking to school.” Families are also being encouraged to get out in the fresh air on their bikes this autumn and a TravelWise scheme is offering Merseyside residents free, cycle-skills training and bike maintenance courses. Being rolled out in Liverpool first, with the support of Liverpool PCT, the cycle skills sessions are the perfect way to learn to ride a bike for the first time or improve confidence and on-road cycling skills. Open to all adults cycle training sessions can last for as little as two hours. Both one-to-one and group sessions are available and taster, basic and intermediate level training can be tailored to suit all needs. Bike maintenance courses are also available at two levels – basic to find out how to fix punctures, adjust brakes and gears and generally
ensure your bike stays in full working order and intermediate, covering more complex repairs and adjustments. The cycling sessions were developed with the support of Liverpool PCT. Andy Hull, Director of Stakeholder Engagement at Liverpool PCT, explained: “Merseyside’s rates of obesity are higher than the UK average and many people are affected by conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.” Budding cyclists will be able to test out their skills on a Halloween-themed bike ride on Sunday, October 31. Catering for all ages and abilities the Sankey Valley Hallowe’en ride will be a cheap, easy and fun day out for families and will start at St Helens train station at 11am. The ride is the last of a series of free TravelWise Bike Time rides taking place since the start of autumn. Jane Moore, TravelWise Officer, said: “The rides are a great opportunity for people with an interest in the local area to explore Merseyside whilst rediscovering the benefits of cycling. “The ride will be at a leisurely pace and we’ll also be making a stop for refreshments halfway through. Bikes are carried free at all times on Merseyside’s trains and ferries and budding cyclists from across the region are welcome to come and join in.” ● To book your free cycle skills and maintenance session email amyu@cyclingsolutions.co.uk or call 0151 234 9484. Details of Bike Time rides can be found at www.LetsTavelWise.org or call 0151 330 1290. A series of cycle maps showing easy cycling routes around Merseyside are also available free of charge.
Keep a close eye on the clocks this winter . . . THE clocks go back at the end of the month so don’t forget to adjust your heating controls. And while you’re at it here are some hot heating tips as the weather starts to cool: ● Make sure your heating thermostat is set at around 18- 21°C and use thermostatic radiator valves if they are fitted. ● Set the timer on the heating to switch off an hour before you go to bed or go out for the day. It takes around an hour for the house to cool
down when the heating shuts off so you can save an hour of burning fuel. ● Now is the time to make sure your home is fully insulated for the winter months too. Your home can lose around 30% of its heat through uninsulated walls and 25% of the heat can disappear through an uninsulated roof – it’s no wonder we are feeling the squeeze on our fuel bills. The Energy Saving Trust can advise you on local grants to help with the cost of insulation. ● Make sure pipes are insulated and
you have draught-proofing where appropriate. ● If you don’t have double glazing draw the curtains as soon as the sun goes down to keep the heat in your rooms. FOR MORE free impartial energy advice including renewable technologies and feed-in-tariff call the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 or complete a free home energy check online at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
Turn down the heat
6 NEWS
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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A
seems S the economy struggles and it er corn y ever nd arou cuts there are to it’s only natural for everybody tighten their belts and think how they can make savings. ronment But rather than har ming the envi n cause. gree in many cases it really helps the waste hurt the Over-consumption and excess ets. pock our as h muc as planet will help the Here we list 50 thrifty tips that this et wall r you as environment as well autumn... . If your tyres ● 1. Check your tyre pressure drive more 'll you sure pres t are at the righ . fuel smoothly and save item of ● 2. If you lose a button off an h it back on stitc and it of hold keep hing clot is Value Lew n Joh the keep – y straight awa desk or g dba han r you Sewing Kit (£2) in it to a drawer. If the button is lost take to match it. haberdashery – they may be able surer way no re's The . ney jour r you ● 3. Plan internet the Use . lost get to to waste fuel than it should take. to check the distances and time travel – don't And think about the time you avoid it. can you if r hou rush the travel in r shape or thei lost have pers ● 4. If wool jum making them gone bobbly beyond repair try them on a hot into felt by machine washing cosy cushion e mak to felt the use wash and ter hat. win nice a or es covers, tea cozi e out of one ● 5. Make a draft excluder snak of tights stuffed leg of an old clean woolly pair it a lovely scent with old clean clothes. To give d herbs from drie or r nde lave d add some drie er doors and the garden. It'll stop drafts und ng it. you can have lots of fun decorati iture. The furn old for skip a hire 't Don ● 6. ates 400 rdin co-o ork Netw se Fur niture Re-u collect a wide organisations in the UK which es to donate to range of furniture and applianc you can donate re whe out Find . need in le peop .org.uk your unwanted items at www.frn s and will ● 7. Drive slower. It can save live more fuel also save you money. You use 30% ph 50m than ph 70m at ing driv pop them into ● 8. To help candles last longer you use re befo rs hou few the freezer for a ced candles them. Look out for locally-produ such as made from renewable sources paraffin than er rath , wax bees or e vegetabl n relax The . rket rma supe the wax ones from and enjoy the romantic glow. le of wine but ● 9. Don't fancy finishing a bott e yourself forc se, wor (or it te was to t reluctan wine into an ice to drink it!)? Pour the leftover Then add a zer. free the cube tray and put in cooking to add a cube or two when you're next soups – and bit of flavour to sauces, gravy, of. k thin can you anything else
50 ● 10. Use a milk del ivery service – the gla ss bottle kind – if there' s one in your area. Fin by looking at www.m d out ilkandmore.co.uk or asking neighbours. Unlike plastic cartons milk bottles can be re-used. And you can now buy a wh ole range of grocery pro ducts from most del ivery services – not just mi lk. ● 11. Roll citrus fru its back and forth on the kitchen table before squ get more juice. You als eezing it and you will o warm the lemon an yourself with the exe d rcise. ● 12. Make your ow n preserves from an y seasonal gluts of fru it and vegetables. Ste rilise old jars or get some reu jam jars from Lakelan sable Kilner Jars and d (£24.99 ref 13219 an d £5.99 ref 3818). Lift ho me chutney out of the ord -made jam, pickles and inary with preservin presentation packs (£5 g .99 sealed in the goodness , ref 12185). Once you’ve crown your jar with pretty cover, then fin a ish it off with the coordinating string and pretty tag-style label. They make lovely Ch ristmas presents. ● 13. Farm shops or markets can be very economical – a sack of potatoes for a few pounds can be the basis for many meals for a cou ple of months.
Go green ... with eco toilets, solar powered radios and keep moths at bay with cedar wood; and don’t forget to make some jam, enjoy a glass of eco wine and relax in candle-light
● WE asked readers for tips via facebook and Twitter. Here are some of the best. On Twitter we’re @Its_Our_World, on facebook we’re the group It’s Our World. Do come and say hello if you’re online... ● 1. Instead of buying something brand new put a wanted post on FreeCycle and get it for free. Wear things out, and only buy things that
can be repaired when they break, rather than things with hidden moulded bits. Alun Parry ● 2. Ever wondered what to do with those bits of crushed cornflakes at the bottom of the pack? I add them into muesli to make it go further. Tessa Baker ● 3. Walk short distances instead of
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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ways to save your planet
● 24. Cut down old, foil-lined juice and milk cartons to be used as seed planters in the gree ● 25. The plastic lids from a Prin nhouse or garden gles tub make good covers for cat/dog food tins. ● 26. An empty freezer wastes money. When shopping buy up the bread products that are This is an economic way of fillin reduced to clear. g space in your freezer, cutting down on shopping bills and wasting less food. ● 27. Pass on children's clothes which they have outgrown to other family mem bers or friends whose children are younger. ● 28. Soya mince is a lot chea per than meat minces, a good source of protein and free of any disease or antibiotics. Health food shops and co-operatives typically have very reasonable bags of dried soya mince and chunks. ● 29. Next time you get the vacu um cleaner out run the cleaner gently over the coils on the back of the fridge to remove the dust. The motor will run for shorter periods and save you cash.
tricity monitor. energy you waste with an elec ● 14. Find out just how much and easy to read, use and less wire is is) Lew n Joh from ty The OWL CM119 (£34.95 ch can sound when your electrici amount of install. It also has an alar m whi the lay disp also can unit limit. The ient consumption exceeds a pre-set amb as well as ng, usage is generati greenhouse gases your power your home. at night. temperature and humidity in es at the wall before going to bed connected to ● 15. Switch off all your applianc if off le whi even ty trici elec to use Many electrical items continue a clock? A battery use the oven or microwave as an outlet. Do you really need to less power. powered wall clock uses much use when you e by reducing the amount you ● 16. Cut down your water usag rn. But the new ciste the in k bric a ing putt est flush your loo. Some people sugg Eco Loo To Go (£89.99), cut water use by g the superloos from B&Q, includin e from recycled plastic too. 35%. Plus the toilet seat is mad n outside nsive – line drying is free. Whe expe ● 17. Tumble drying is very could be used if that s ator radi have you ther whe drying is not possible consider se and may lead to ease the humidity in your hou on anyway – but this will incr damp if it's not well ventilated. ators to reflect lation sheets to put behind radi ● 18. You can buy special insu does this too. foil m iniu alum in pped wra ard the heat back into them. Cardbo clothes and m war ring wea – too f late yoursel ● 19. Don't forget you can insu . layers can reduce heating bills re the better s. You will soon work out whe ● 20. Trawl second-hand shop s for a fraction item new ly near or new up pick clothes are and can sometimes of the nor mal price. Don’t bother healthiest thing you can drink. ● 21. Water is the cheapest and not been freighted around it’s plus do, will tap the s, with fancy bottled varietie r skin, lessening er does amazing things for you the world. Drinking lots of wat . products ate of soda on the need for expensive skincare ners use a teaspoon of bicarbon ● 22. Instead of using cream clea . well a damp cloth – it works just as ’t like the smell perfectly good clothes. If you don roy dest hs mot let ’t Don 23. ● lls great. To sme and hs mot ls repe it – ead of moth balls use cedar wood inst Cedar Wood iece 30-P es. piec den sand the woo reinvigorate the aroma, lightly Set (£6.49, Ref 22267 Lakeland).
driving. Saves on fuel bills and gym bills. If you have a garden consider a compost toilet. It's easy, doesn't smell and will enrich your garden no end – and will save huge amounts of water. Joseph Peace ● 4. Learn how to darn holes in things. You just don't seem to see good darning these days, which is a pity, as it is something of a lost
artform, as well being a superb money saver. Erica Wright ● 5. Don’t use cling film, foil or sandwich bags again. We take our butties to work in these from www.wrap-n-mat.com, and they fold out into a mini picnic blanket. Katharine Butler ● 6. Cycling – there has been massive rise in the number of people
cycling to and from No-one seems to bother work since the recession picking them, they are hit. It's free, kind on the all free and free from environment and keeps pesticides. you healthy. Join your local library. James Maloney Rather than buy books ● 7. Take advantage of that you read once for the stuff that's free and £9.99, loan them for growing wild on trees. free. Saves you money, There are still there is less waste and blackberries knocking fewer books have to be about, apples are in printed. season, hazelnuts and (if Mitch Poole you know where to ● 8. If your washing-up look) sloe berries. liquid runs out, run
NEWS 7
ns – comes draw the curtai are ● 30. A soon as dusk d) aze -gl ble dou e y’r if the und your windows (even This can save you aro an energy leak point. r pan – £15 per year king use a lid on you ● 31. When you’re coo energy used. the it dramatically cuts ng l load in your washi ● 32. Always put a ful amounts of ge lar ste wa ds loa machine – small all energy. r bags as liners for sm ● 33. Reuse old carrie over bins. be recycled over and ● 34. Aluminium can of quality, or wrap your s los again without any of paper, food with greasepro sandwiches or picnic afterwards. Store your t which you can compos le Tupperware container sab packed lunch in a reu Reusable containers are tub. or empty ice-cream dge or g leftovers in the fri rin sto for at gre o als te. pla a th d wi simply cover your foo ric in a gar ment, but not fab o ● 35. If you like the seams and make it int the shape, unpick the pound in ld (so k pic un ick something else. A qu easy. rs) makes this really d irons shops or haberdashe an s ate tpl ho ic ovens, ● 36. Switch off electr p using them sto to ed ne you ore a few minutes bef a long time. Heating – they will stay hot for that anything else. er devices use more pow rays for free electricity. ’s ● 37. Harness the sun (John Lewis, £79.95) uses B2 crystal The Roberts SolarDA ket, letting you enjoy the sun as a power soc ver you are. Its integral ere clear digital radio wh tinuous play under con rgeable solar panel provides ile topping up a recha n or adequate sunlight wh s dow goe sun the en wh in battery which kicks things get gloomy. es such at for cleaning surfac ● 38. Vinegar is gre you have if e, fre nt to be smear as glass that you wa egar and half vin lf ha th wi it fill an old spray bottle er. ow and mirror clean water for a great wind envelope that comes ry ● 39. Start saving eve . Keep them tidy with an box these) through your letter le tend to drop lots of elastic band (postpeop and reuse them. write d boxes and use it to ● 40. Cut up old foo en recycle them Th . on tes no or ts shopping lis when you’re done.
some hot water over the nozzle of the bottle. So much liquid solidifies in a gunky lump around the nozzle that you can get one or two extra washing-ups out of it. Jamie McLoughlin ● 9. Composting, buying local (cuts down on food miles) and of course energy saving bulbs. @cromwellswirral
● 10. Using essential oils when you are cleaning – lemon oil to wipe down the kitchen surfaces – only need a drop and no nasty chemicals. With a bit of lavender oil and lemon oil you can do loads; with, for beauty/ bath stuff and as air fresheners too, save using plug in air fresheners. @SheenaIgnatia
8 NEWS
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
★★★★
Some of the team from Wirral's B&M waste services ... these chaps are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
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EET the team making Wirral greener, one bin load at a time ... Earlier this year Wirral Council’s Waste and Recycling team employed six workers through the Future Jobs Fund scheme. For the past six months they have been working together with Biffa collection crews to improve recycling performances across Wirral by reducing contamination in residents’ bins. The teams identified recycling bins that were contaminated and followed this up with a personal visit to each household to offer advice on what can and can’t be recycled. In most cases the residents were recycling – but just getting it slightly wrong. This personal approach has proved successful and produced remarkable results. In the first week of the project the teams found an average of 91 contaminated bins on each round. Through working together with residents this has now been reduced to 12 bins per round. As a result of the efforts made it is estimated the waste diverted from landfill is more than 29 tonnes. One of the team members Dave Munro said on behalf of the whole team: “It’s been great getting back into regular work and particularly working as part of the Recycling Team. “We've been doing real jobs and having been so successful and having the respect of our colleagues has helped restore our confidence. We only wish the jobs were for longer.” Residents have fully embraced the scheme and worked with the teams to improve their recycling performance. The majority of residents were all recycling but many did not realise that they were contaminating their bins. The most common mistake was residents placing their recycling into plastic bags. Recycling is sent to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that separates and sorts all recycling ready to be turned into new products. The MRF cannot separate and recycle items that are contained in plastic bags. In these cases residents were thanked for their recycling efforts and advised to place all recyclable items into their recycling bins loose. Cabinet member for environment Councillor Gill Gardiner said: “The results of this project are fantastic. It has been positive to see the council, Biffa and residents all working together to improve Wirral’s recycling performance.” Following this project GAP Personnel, which provides BIFFA with temporary and ultimately permanent staff have made an offer to take on all six workers at the end of their council contract. ● Further information on what can and can’t be recycled can be found at www.wirral.gov.uk/recycling and on all local authority websites.
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WE all want to do our bit to make Merseyside a greener place, but sometimes knowing what to do for the best can be difficult. Here, we meet some of the people at the forefront of the region’s environmental push, and find out their top tips ...
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OVE Food Hate Waste offers lots of advice and guidance to help us reduce our food waste. But is it suitable for busy everyday people? Or is it only suitable for those with time on their hands or a keen interest in the environment? We caught up with Jane Little Smith, Waste Prevention officer, who for the past two years has been spreading the Love Food Hate Waste message across Merseyside. Where did you hear about Love Food Hate Waste? I first heard about the project in 2008. It really grabbed my attention. I started doing little bits like not getting drawn into promotional offers. But the real change started when I landed the job of Merseyside Waste Prevention Officer and I started coordinating the Love Food Hate Waste Campaign for Merseyside and Halton. Why did you decide to try out Love Food Hate Waste? Well as I was working on the project I only thought it right that I should practice what I was preaching. It also gives me good talking points when out and about. I am able to talk to others about my successes and my failures – none of us are perfect, are we? I never used to think about how much food I was buying. I’d go shopping and pile my trolley high with meats, fruit and vegetables without thinking what meals I would actually need them for. Now I plan meals for the week, take a shopping list and make best use of the food I buy. I curse every time I throw something in the bin. Luckily we have a dog so he does get our plate leftovers. My hubby loves the shopping list. It means less time spent in the supermarket. I’m no gourmet chef but I do like pottering around the kitchen rustling something up.
But if you’re not interested in cooking there are plenty of other ways you can get involved. Storing your food correctly and making the most of your freezer can make a huge difference. Do people have to have an interest in the environment? Saving money is a huge factor for many people. Most people are shocked to learn that they could be wasting £50 a month on food. I always want new shoes so saving money is always at the forefront of my mind. What have you learned most? Today I’ve been writing my shopping list and pulling together my meal planner for the week. It helps with the shopping, saves time each evening and saves me money. I needed to use up some carrots as they were going black so I peeled them along with some fresher ones and made a carrot and coriander soup to take to work for tomorrow’s lunch. Getting portions right – for instance a mug full of rice will serve four adults. It might not look much but once it’s cooked there’s plenty for everyone. I freeze all my vegetables or buy frozen. This way I don’t have to worry about them going off. There were two bananas left in my fruit bowl this week that were past their best so I made a banana loaf. This has become something I make quite often now – before the bananas would have gone in the bin. I also have days when I use up what’s in the cupboards or freezer. Yesterday I went to the freezer and used up some bags of stir-fry. I’d taken these off a friend a few months back as they were reaching their best-before date and she was not going to use them. I cooked them and put some breaded mushrooms in the oven and made some homemade garlic mayonnaise on the side. It went down a treat.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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Kitchen tips to prevent waste
Jane Little Smith, Waste Prevention officer for Love Food Hate Waste
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Tuesday, October 12, 2-4pm, Sefton Park Palm House, Tea Dance amidst the Palms, £3.50 admission on door. More details go to www.palmhouse.org.uk / 0151 726 2415. Wednesday, October 13. Tam O'Shanter Urban Farm, Bidston, Wirral, CH43 7PD - History Walk on the Hill. 10am - 12.30pm. Join the Ranger for a short ramble over Bidston Hill and uncover some of its hidden history. Meet in the courtyard at Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm, Bidston. Suitable footwear required. Free event. No need to book. Saturday, October 16, 9am-12pm, Clarke Gardens, Compost Giveaway, Free. Call 0161 233 3007 for more information. Saturday, October 16. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre, Thurstaston - Star Watch Event. 7:00pm - 9:30pm. Join the Liverpool Astronomical Society and Rangers as they set up the 30ft Telescope to search deep into the night sky looking for planets and asteroids. Also have a look through one of their other amazing telescopes and see the Moon as you have never seen it before. Meet at the Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre. Sorry no dogs. No need to book, free event. Email: wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk Sunday, October 17, 12pm-6pm, Sefton Park Palm House, Black History Month – Cultural Food Feast. Free admission. More info go to www.palmhouse.org.uk. Sunday, October 17. Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre, Autumn Watch Walk. 2:00pm - 3:30pm. Look for the signs of autumn and the trees cloaked in gold and amber on this Ranger-led guided walk. Suitable for the whole family. Dogs allowed on a lead. Free event. Wednesday, October 20. Leasowe Lighthouse, Wirral, CH46 4TA – North Wirral Coastal Park Task Day. 10:00am 3:00pm. Help the Ranger and the Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park undertake some practical environmental conservation work within this 200-acre award-winning Park. Free event. Booking essential by Telephone: 0151 678 5488 or Email: coastalpark@wirral.gov.uk Thursday, October 21, 1pm, Princes Park, Discover Princes Park. Free – meet at Sunburst Gates on Princes Road. Thursday, October 21, 7.30pm, Croxteth Hall, Murder Mystery Night Special with the Unusual Suspects. £19.50. To book call 0151 233 6390. Friday, October 22. West Kirby Marine Lake – Birdwatch. 9:30am - 12:30pm. Come and join the Rangers, the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens and staff from the RSPB at the Marine Lake Car Park, West Kirby, and watch the birds as they feed and roost on the tide-line. This event is suitable for all the family to enjoy. All children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Dress warmly and bring binoculars if you have them. Meet at the Marine Lake Car Park, Dee Lane, West Kirby. Free event. Telephone 0151 678 5488 or RSPB 0151 336 7681 Email: coastalpark@wirral.gov.uk Saturday, October 23 & Sunday, October 24. Birkenhead Park – Meadow Creation. 2:00pm - 4:00pm. Come and help sow the wildflower seeds for the meadow near Park Road East. The sowing will take place over the two days with a 2.00pm start each day. Free event. No need to book. Telephone 0151 652 5197. Email: birkenheadpark@wirral.gov.uk Saturday, October 23, 1pm, Sefton Park, Know Your Nuts. Free, call 0151 233 3007 for more info. Saturday, October 23. Conker fun at King George V Playing Field, Huyton. Have a go at beating your buddies at conkers. Competition kicks off at 1pm. All conkers will be supplied by the rangers. For further information please contact them on 0151 443 2431.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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Autumn dates Sunday, October 24. Tree planting at Halewood Park. Help out on this practical task, planting native trees to help sustain woodlands for future generations to enjoy. Please bring wellies! All other equipment provided. For further information please contact the rangers on 0151 488 6151 Monday, October 25. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre – Pumpkin Creations. 1.30pm-3.30pm. Bring your own pumpkin to carve. Five years and over. Free event. Drop in, no need to book. Children to be accompanied by an adult. Monday October 25, 11am, Isla Gladstone Conservatory, Stanley Park. Memories of Gladstone. Free. Call 0151 233 3007 for more info. Tuesday, October 26. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre – Batty about Bats 1.30 pm -3.00pm. Find out about the bats in the park and help make decorations for the Claire House Ghost Walk at Hallowe’en; eight years and over. Children to be accompanied by an adult. Free event. Booking essential. Call 0151 648 4371 or email wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk Wednesday, October 27. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre – Pumpkin Creations 1.30pm-3.30pm. Bring your own pumpkin to carve. Five years and over, children to be accompanied by an adult. Free event. Drop in, no need to book. Wednesday, October 27, 11am, Visitor’s Centre, Otterspool Park and Prom, Let’s go fly a kite. Free. Booking essential on 0151 233 3007. Wednesday, October 27. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre – Estuary Watch: Thurstaston Shore. 9:30am. Wader watching at low tide on Thurstaston Shore is a real treat for the birdwatcher. Black-tailed Godwit, Knot, Oystercatcher, Curlew & Redshank can all be seen at this special site. Please bring binoculars and warm waterproofs. Free event. No need to book. Wednesday, October 27. Heswall Dales, Oldfield Road, Wirral, CH60 6SG – Up Hill and Down Dale, Heswall Dales. 10:30am. A short local walk of a couple of hours taking in Heswall Dales, River Dee and the Dungeon. Meet Entrance to Heswall Dales, off Oldfield Road, Heswall. Sorry no dogs. Please wear suitable stout footwear. Free event. No need to book. For more info call 0151 677 7594.
Thursday, October 28, 9pm-3am, Croxteth Hall, The Haunted Truth, £79 per person. Booking essential on 07505 958 853 or www.ukhaunted.co.uk. Thursday, October 28. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre – Batty about Bats. 1.30pm -3.00pm. Find out about the bats in the park and help make decorations for the Claire House Ghost Walk at Hallowe’en. Make a bat box with the Rangers to put up in the Park or take it home for £3. Eight years and over, children to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Call 0151 648 4371 or email wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk
Autumnal moods ... in the forest
Sunday, October 31 – TravelWise Sankey Valley Hallowe’en Bike Ride – Hallowe’en-themed bike ride. Meet at 11am at St Helens train station. Free. For more information visit www.LetsTravelWise.org or call 0151 330 1290 Sunday, October 31. Royden Park, Hill Bark Road, Frankby, CH48 1NP – Autumn Wildlife at Royden Park. 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Discover what animals and plants have or are preparing for winter. Look for signs of animal movements on this short walk around Royden Park and Thurstaston Common with the Ranger. Sorry no dogs. Free event. No need to book. Meet at the Ranger’s Office, Royden Park. For further info email: midwirralrangers@wirral.gov.uk Sunday, October 31. Hallowe’en Horrors at Stadt Moers Park, 5-7pm. Beware the ghostly swamp and haunted tunnel while following the clues to get you around the scary trail. If you survive the ghosts and ghouls come back to the hut to claim your treat. Bring torches and boots. Children should be accompanied by an adult. For further information please contact the rangers on 0151 489123 Saturday, November 6. Kings Gap Foreshore, Hoylake – Birdwatch at Kings Gap – Hoylake. 9:30am. Come along to Hoylake Foreshore and join members of
the Coastal Rangers, the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens and the RSPB and see what birds can be seen feeding on the outgoing tide. This event is suitable for all the family to enjoy. All children under eight must be accompanied by an adult. Dress warmly and bring binoculars if you have them. Meet at King’s Gap on Hoylake Promenade. Free event. For further enquiries call 0151 678 5488 or RSPB 0151 336 7681 or email: coastalpark@wirral.gov.uk Saturday, November 6. Association of Formby Artists, Autumn Exhibition – Holy Trinity Church Hall, Rosemary Lane, Formby. More than 250 pictures and other works of art by local artists will be on display at this popular event between 9.30am -4.30pm. Entrance 50p for adults and 20p for children. For details call 01704 831226. Saturday, November 6. Royden Park, Hill Bark Road, Frankby, Wirral, CH48 1NP – Beneath Our Feet. 1:00pm 3:00pm. A look at the vegetation, soils, and geology of Royden Park and Thurstaston Common. Suitable clothing and footwear. Meet at the Ranger’s Office, Royden Park. Free event. No need to book. For further enquiries call 0151 677 7594 or email: midwirralrangers@wirral.gov.uk Sunday, November 7. Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve, Spital Road, Bromborough, CH62 2BJ – Conservation at Dibbinsdale. 10:00am - 12:30pm.
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for your diary Fun on earth and in the heavens ... with autumn leaves and the sky at night
Discover Wirral’s secret valley. One of a series of talks and walks focusing on Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve, Bromborough. Strong footwear and suitable clothing advised. Sorry no dogs. Not suitable for young children. Free event. Booking essential call 0151 334 9851 or email: easthamrangers@wirral.gov.uk Thursday, November 11. Wirral Way, Melloncroft Drive West, Caldy, Wirral, CH48 2JD – Willow Coppicing Task Day. 10:15am - 3:30pm. Join the Rangers for a traditional management of willow – you can take some cut willow to weave at home. Meet at end of Melloncroft Drive West access to Wirral Way/Cubbins Green. Suitable clothing, strong footwear, gloves required and packed lunch. No children under 16. Sorry no dogs. Free event. No need to book. Saturday, November 13. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre – How it all
began. 2:30pm. The making of the Wirral Way and Britain’s first ever Country Park. An illustrated talk by Senior Ranger James Locke. Meet WCP Visitor Centre. Free event. No need to book. For further info call 0151 648 4371 or email: wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk Saturday, November 13. New Ferry Village Hall, Wirral, CH62 5AX – Wirral’s Farmers Market. 9.00-1.00. This award-winning market held in New Ferry Hall on the second Saturday of each month. There is the usual large variety of food on offer at the market including award-winning cheeses, quails eggs, sausages, Welsh Black Beef, lamb, free range chickens, smoked food, fresh fish, free range eggs, local honey, pies, plants, cakes and soups along with plenty of seasonal vegetables. Free event. Booking not required. Free car parking. To find out more www.wirralfarmersmarket.co.uk Sunday, November 14. Wirral
Country Park Visitor Centre – Willow Weaving. 12:30am - 2:30pm. Ideal for children and adults alike to learn the basics and maybe help to produce a small willow sculpture. Children to be accompanied by an adult. Free Event. No need to book, just turn up at the Visitor Centre between times stated. Sunday, November 14. Heswall Dales, Oldfield Road, Heswall, CH60 6SG – Heathland Restoration at Heswall Dales. 10:30am - 3:30pm. Help continue the good work saving one of Wirral’s best examples of Lowland Heath. Enjoy a physical fun day clearing the invading scrub from the Dales. Meet at the entrance to Heswall Dales off Oldfield Road, Heswall. Suitable clothing and
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010
footwear and bring a packed lunch. Free event. No need to book. Sunday, November 14. Winter Boundary Walk, Pear Tree, Pub Bank Hall, Road, Kirkby, 10am-1pm. Fresh air and beautiful scenery guaranteed on this pleasant and informative walk around the rural landscape. For further information please contact Kevin on 07810 054 159 Sunday, November 14. Eastham Country Park – Garden Bird Activity Afternoon. 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Come and
find out how to help our feathered friends through the winter. Make a bird feeder to take home for your garden, follow the bird trail through the woods plus craft activities. Free event. No need to book. For further details call 0151 327 1007 or email: easthamrangers@wirral.gov.uk Wednesday, November 17. Leasowe Lighthouse, Moreton, CH46 4TA – North Wirral Coastal Park Task Day. 10:00am 3:00pm. Help the Ranger and the Friends of North Wirral Coastal Park undertake some practical environmental conservation work within this 200-acre award winning park. Free event. Booking essential. Call 0151 678 5488 or email: coastalpark@wirral.gov.uk Sunday, November 20. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre, Thurstaston – Watch Club: Mud Soup. 10:00am 12:00pm. We’ll be out and about on Thurstaston Shore to look at the thousands of water birds that visit us in the winter. They feed on worms in the gloopy mud but we won’t be getting muddy as we’ll use telescopes to spy on them. Sorry no dogs. Open to Watch Club members. There is a £2 charge for this event. For further enquiries & bookings call 0151 648 4371 or email: wirralcountrypark@ wirral.gov.uk Monday, November 21. Thurstaston Common, Telegraph Road, CH61 0HJ – Help This Heathland. 1:00pm - 3:30pm. Come and help clear invading scrub on this important heathland site. Meet at Thurstaston Hill car park, off Telegraph Road. Gloves and tools provided. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. Bring a packed lunch. Free event. No need to book. Monday, November 21. Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre, Park Drive, Birkenhead CH41 4HY – Celebrities of Birkenhead Park. 1:30pm 3:00pm. A Ranger-led guided walk looking at the famous people who made and use the park, past and present. Dogs allowed on a lead. Suitable for the whole family. Free event. To book call 0151 652 5197 or email: birkenheadpark@wirral.gov.uk Saturday, November 27. Eastham Country Park. Woodland Task Day. 10:00am - 12:30pm. Join the Rangers and help with a habitat management task at Eastham Country Park on a bracing November morning. Warm up afterwards with hot soup in the volunteer centre. Wear strong footwear & suitable clothing. Suitable for age 14+. Free event. No need to book. Sunday, November 28. Wirral Country Park Visitor Centre, Thurstaston – Bird Feeder Making. 1:00pm - 2:00pm. Make a bird feeder with the Rangers to put up in the Park or take home. Ideal for children to get involved and learn more about feeding birds. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free event. Booking essential. Call 0151 648 4371 or email: wirralcountrypark@wirral.gov.uk
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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Autumn sunshine in Sefton Park as Freya and Eve Niblock from Hunts Cross play with the autumn leaves Picture by COLIN LANE
Fun in the autumn leaves