Welcome to “Sunday Snippets” a weekly feature from birkenhead.news. It is a round-up of our most popular good news stories from the last seven days. Click on each story to read the full article.
Hoylake RNLI volunteers step up to Mayday Mile challenge
It may have pouring down with rain but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the RNLI volunteers, who are used to launching in all weathers. The group of lifeboat crew, tractors drivers and station officials donned their iconic yellow kit as part of their challenge, before setting off to run a mile along Hoylake promenade, around Meols Parade Gardens and crossing the finish line back at Hoylake Lifeboat Station.
The run was organised as part of the RNLI’s national Mayday campaign, which this year is asking people to sign up and cover at least one mile in any way they like to raise vital funds.
A first look at East Float at Wirral Waters
House by Urban Splash and Peel L&P have unveiled a new image showing the future of East Float, a new community that will form part of the Northbank neighbourhood at Wirral Waters between Birkenhead and Wallasey in Merseyside.
When complete, East Float will bring 350 homes to Peel L&P’s Wirral Waters, with the new CGI showing the distinctive, red Row House homes, a new take on the Victorian terrace which comes in three sizes and layouts. Row House is surrounded by the award-winning Town House homes – properties which occupy a prime position overlooking the water – and the Mansion House apartments. The first homes will be launched at an event in the summer.
Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice to perform at Floral Pavilion
The Floral Pavilion has announced that Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice will be performing their touring show ‘Him & Me’ at New Brighton on Monday 5 July.
This show has been two years in the making, with the ‘Stricly Come Dancing’ duo looking forward to the show at the Floral Pavilion, “There’ll be dancing, singing, and general repartee – and I for one can’t wait!”, Anton said.
Joined by a world-class cast of dancers and singers, Anton and Giovanni have come together to put on “the show to end all shows – the ultimate entertaining night out!”
Lady Lever and all NML museums and galleries set to reopen
The Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight and all other National Museums Liverpool’s museums and galleries will reopen to the public on Tuesday 18 May following the government’s announcement that lockdown restrictions will be eased.
At Lady Lever Art Gallery, The Last Bohemian: Augustus John will showcase around 40 works by one of Britain’s most iconic and controversial artists. The exhibition will include 18 loans from across the North West and National Museum Wales and will run until 30 August 2021. Visitors will also be delighted to see the return of some Pre-Raphaelite artworks which have been on loan to other galleries around the world.
Visits to NML’s venues will remain free, but timed entry slots must be pre-booked ahead of visiting via www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk 
International Nurses Day celebration – 50 new nurses from across the world join Wirral hospitals
Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) is celebrating International Nurses Day today, Wednesday 12 May, and the Trust has recently recruited more than 50 Registered Nurses from across the world.
A huge recruitment drive to strengthen the nursing team at the Trust has resulted in nurses travelling from as far as Kenya, Zimbabwe and India to work at its Arrowe Park, Wirral Women and Children’s and Clatterbridge hospitals.
The nurses joined throughout March and April ahead of International Nurses Day and this has been a boost to the existing WUTH team who have worked tirelessly to care for patients over the past year. The new nurses have undergone the required self-solation on entering the country.
Lock up your lawnmowers this month
Wirral Council is doing its bit to support a national month-long initiative that promotes the welfare of bees, butterflies and the wider environment.
The ‘No Mow May’ campaign, which is led by the conservation charity Plantlife, encourages people to lock up their lawnmowers for the month of May and let wildflowers and other important pollinators shine through.
Wirral Council is playing its part by suspending grass cutting in large parts of its parks and open spaces, though areas that are dedicated to leisure activities will continue to be maintained as usual.
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The changes you can expect from 17 May
The Prime Minister has confirmed that England will move to Step 3 of the Government’s Roadmap as scheduled on Monday 17 May.
Government guidance remains that you should stay 2 metres apart from anyone who is not in your household or support bubble where possible from 17 May. As part of Step 3, new guidance on meeting friends and family will emphasise personal responsibility rather than government rules. So instead of instructing you to stay 2m apart away from anyone you don’t live with, the public will be encouraged to exercise caution and consider the risks.
The Oval in Bebington and Woodchurch vaccination sites will not reopen all their facilities as they are still being used to assist with the COVID-19 response.
The Leasowe Food Hub has now closed and works will commence to prepare the site for reopening. Browsing will shortly resume at four central Libraries (Birkenhead Central, Wallasey Central, Bebington and West Kirby) and the Williamson Art Gallery will also prepare to reopen during Step 3.
Never Greater Slaughter: Did the battle that secured England’s future take place in Wirral?
‘Never Greater Slaughter’ is a fascinating study of one of the most significant conflicts in the long history of the British Isles, where Athelstan, king of England, defeated an alliance of the Viking and Celtic Kings of Dublin, Scotland and Strathclyde in a battle that secured England’s future as an independent, unified kingdom.
Late in AD 937, four armies met in a place called Brunanburh. On one side stood the shield-wall of the expanding kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons. On the other side stood a remarkable alliance of rival kings – at least two from across
the sea – who’d come together to destroy them once and for all. The stakes were no less than the survival of the
dream that would become England.
British coastal walk fundraiser Dad reaches Wirral
Chris Howard is a dad of three from Cambridge and during the first lockdown, he decided to walk the entire coast of Britain in aid of Children in Need. birkenhead.news spoke to him on his leg between New Brighton and Woodside, Birkenhead, “I’m heading clockwise from North Norfolk so really I just have to keep the sea on my left.”, he said.
“I have three amazing children of my own and I want to inspire them and others to always push their limits and help others. I’ve chosen Children in need because they support so many children and young people organisations reaching every corner of the UK.”, Chris explained.
Key moment for Birkenhead – join in the conversation on its future
Wirral’s main town is at a key moment in its history the borough’s regeneration chief explained today – and there is still time to have your say on its future.
The Birkenhead 2040 Framework outlines the vast scale of the ambitious proposals to revitalise Birkenhead and show how it could meet the needs of everyone who lives in, works in and cares about the town.
An eight-week consultation has been taking place on this Framework and everyone with a stake in the future of Birkenhead is being urged to get involved and comment on the plans, give their ideas and tell us what they think the town needs to succeed in the future.
This chance to be involved in how the town develops in the coming years continues until May 19.
Indoor fitness classes make a come-back at Wirral Leisure
Wirral Leisure plans to relaunch its timetable of more than 50 indoor fitness classes from next week, bringing exercise classes available every week to a total of 120.
As the next stage of the national roadmap is confirmed, indoor classes will restart from Monday 17 May at West Kirby Leisure Centre, Wirral Tennis Centre (Bidston) and Europa Leisure Centre. Classes are available to book online from 9am Thursday 13 May.
Mersey Ferry River Explorer Cruises due to set sail once again
Mersey Ferries are gearing up to welcome people back on board the cruises, following the latest Government announcement regarding a further relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.
With a Visit England ‘We’re Good To Go’ certification secured in recognition of the safety and hygiene measures that have been put in place to help keep everyone safe, passengers can travel on the ferries with confidence.
Taking in the best views of Liverpool, Wirral, and the UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront, the 50-minute cruises will operate round trips between Liverpool, Pier Head and Birkenhead, Woodside terminals between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am and 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Seacombe Ferry terminal remains closed during the ongoing maintenance work there.
Socialising from 17 May: What you need to know
As we move into Step 3 of the Government’s Covid roadmap, Merseyside Police and partners are ensuring communities are up-to-date with the latest guidance on socialising indoors and outdoors.
With the news this week that cases of a Covid-19 variant first identified in India are rising rapidly in the Liverpool City Region, and the Prime Minister stating yesterday (Thursday 13 May) that he is “anxious” about its spread, we are also urging caution and asking the public to abide by the latest Public Health guidance.
From Monday 17 May, people will be able to meet friends and family indoors again – with a maximum of six people, or two households. Children of all ages count towards the rule of six.
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